Third Girl from the Left

By: Christine Barker

Narrated by: Betsy Struxness

“A beautifully written memoir of life on the Broadway stage at the onset of the 1980s AIDS epidemic.... Compelling, and remarkably hopeful.” (Mara Liasson, national political correspondent, NPR)

A moving, real-life account of making it as a dancer in New York City, embracing the changing faces of love and family, and being at ground-zero for one of the most fatal epidemics of modern times....

Wanting to be a dancer while growing up in a large military family made Christine Barker somewhat of a black sheep, but she followed her dreams to New York City, where—in a moment of almost unbelievable good fortune—she was chosen for the London cast of A Chorus Line.

London, and then New York, in the '70s and '80s opened up Christine’s world. The creativity, culture, and nightlife were intoxicating, enough so to compel her older brother Laughlin to join her. Once there, the divorced father, veteran, and corporate lawyer met rising fashion star Perry Ellis. Romance and success soon followed—as well as rumors of a devastating new disease....

Broadway’s theater community is ravaged by loss as the AIDS epidemic takes hold, and Christine is shocked by the toll it’s taken on her inner circle. Holding on tight to friends and loved ones left behind, the crisis becomes a crucible moment for her family and for all of society. And Christine is once again forced to go her own way to make sense of the tragedy.

©2023 Christine Barker (P)2023 Audible, Inc.

All my grief came flooding back

I lived through all of it and had a somewhat similar life where all my best friends were gay men and tragically lost one after another. This is a very important story to either remind people or educate young people about what happened back then.
Sometimes I fell like this was a novel because it was so well written .
I wished that the author narrated it. The narrator was good but I felt like she was rushing through the story like she had some sort of deadline. It was sometimes distracting..

A must listen

This book was an excellent story of Broadway in the 70’s and 80’s and an intimate look into the AIDS crisis. It has so much insight on one of the best shows A Chorus Line. Having staged and danced that show, I loved listening to the beginnings of the success of that show. Also…I lost friends during the time of this book to AIDS and it did bring that horrifying time into focus. Betsy Struxness was amazing. She draws you into the story and keeps you engaged and brings so much emotion. I hope she narrates more.

Powerful and Poignant

Christine and Betsy are a powerful team. Both know what it is to perform on Broadway, and both love humanity.
This comes out as Betsy performs Christine's story - Third Girl from the Left.
So rich in writing and performing, can’t say enough about this book on audible.
A must listen!

Great Portrayal of the Times and the Grief

Christine paid homage to A Chorus Line, life on broadway, AIDS victims, Perry Ellis and the 1980’s in a relatable, poignant book.

A Dancer’s Dream Told with Heart

I lost a husband to HIV in 1997. With love, poignance, and beautiful prose, Ms. Barker portrays the confusion, heartbreak, and immense sense of loss during the early days of the AIDS pandemic. She also conveys the challenges women faced in industries dominated by men.