Drama

An Actor's Education

By: John Lithgow

Narrated by: John Lithgow

Length: 10 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

In this riveting and surprising personal history, John Lithgow shares a backstage view of his own struggle, crisis, and discovery, revealing the early life and career that took place out of the public eye.

Above all Lithgow’s memoir is a tribute to his most important influence: his father, Arthur Lithgow, who, as an actor, director, producer, and great lover of Shakespeare, brought theater to John’s boyhood. From bedtime stories to Arthur’s illustrious productions, performance and storytelling were constant and cherished parts of family life. Drama details with poignancy and sharp recollection the moments that introduced a budding young actor to the undeniable power of theater.

Before Lithgow gained fame with films like The World According to Garp and television shows like 3rd Rock from the Sun, his early years were full of scenes both hilarious and bittersweet. His ruminations on the nature of theater, film acting, and storytelling cut to the heart of why actors are driven to perform, and why people are driven to watch them do it.

Lithgow chronicles the harrowing moments of his past, reflecting with moving candor on friends made and lost, mistakes large and small, and the powerful love of a father who set him on the road to a life onstage. Illuminating, funny, affecting, and thoroughly engrossing, Drama raises the curtain on the making of one of our most beloved actors.

©2011 John Lithgow (P)2011 HarperCollinsPublishers

Lithgow has a deep knowledge of 20th century theater

Great story, much love for his parents and a humbleness of his mistakes. loved it and hope we get a 2nd volume that deals with his TV & movie career!!

Superb

Any additional comments?

John Lithgow is an actor I've long admired, but knew little about. In this book, he shares his life with the listener, both professional and personal. I now feel I know the man well. And I also have more to admire about him -- he's an excellent writer. As an actor myself, I learned much about his attitudes toward his craft and his life in the theater, in film, and much of it helpful. His particular career path was a winding one, his experiences, successes and failures, his self discovery -- how he learns from all of it. But it is his relationship with his father that takes center stage. Those are the moments most moving in the book, when he talks about his aging father and literature, drama, the love of words they shared. By book's end, it feels more like a fascinating conversation you've had with John Lithgow over after dinner drinks. Then you suddenly realize, you haven't said a word.

Pay attention to that man behind the curtain!

We all harbor the fantasy that yes, given the chance, we too could have nightly stood on the planks, awash with light, and moved the crowds to tears and laughter. But alas 'twas not to be. If only, if only..
Well John Lithgow has. With the best of them, and he shares his unique experience with us in a very engaging way. Yes, he's over the top at some points, "They loved me!" And there is a chapter on his marriage that should have been left out. It's a painful to read letter to his family, not germain at all. But the book it is a good read. It enhanced my respect for the very few masters of drama, like John Lithgow, who can move us to tears and laughter so well.

Very good

Mr Lithgow has a brilliant speaking voice and combine this with an interesting life in the theatre/TV/film makes for a very enjoyable listen.

His professionaly life nearly exclusively

Would you try another book from John Lithgow and/or John Lithgow?

Sure, he is one of the most versatile actors in the country and he is an astute observer of humanity.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

It would have been nice if there was somewhat more about him, the private person and broaden the perspective on him a little wider than the book does.

What else would you have wanted to know about John Lithgow’s life?

What makes him who he is? What are his priorities and motivations? What makes things matter to him?

Any additional comments?

If you're looking for a well told account of his professional life, then this is something you will appreciate. If you want anything outside of that realm, you may very well be disappointed.

Amazing and Inspiring

What made the experience of listening to Drama the most enjoyable?

John Lithgow's voice is calm and inspiring and the story of his life is so interesting. I loved to get to know him better.

Wonderful

I can recommend this for anyone who enjoys listening to a well told heartfelt story.

A life in drama is a life full of stories

John Lithgow has always been one of my favorite actors. I've never seen him in stage, but I've seen his TV and film performances, and I adored him on 3rd Rock From The Sun. He doesn't talk much about thst show or any movie in which he participated after the 1980s. Instead, he talks about life, what he wanted to be, what I was like growing up with a theater director as a father. He's honest, inspiring, hilarious, charming and so, so powerful.

Life is made of all the little details that we keep in our heads. Life is what we have to show for ourselves, not the stuff we can say about others. His journey was incredible, his stories about how he got out of the military, the embarrassment in front of Marcel Marceau, his affair with Liv Ullman, his experience as a theater actor going to Los Angeles for the first time... This book is so rich because of that.

Fantastic!

Where does Drama rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

top of the list

What did you like best about this story?

As a theatre professional myself it was so very refreshing and inspiring to hear a seasoned member of our

I've always liked John Lithgow...

Now I absolutely love him! This book was honest, inspiring, fascinating. He was unsparing about his flaws and mistakes, had no false modesty about his many achievements, and generous to his colleagues. When there was criticism, he gentlemanly changed the names of the characters involved. Although I was moved to do a little research to discover the identity of "Mr. Pleasant" in one story. His is a life well lived and well told.