Books in the Applause Books series

David Rothenberg's multilayered life thrust him into Broadway's brightest lights, prison riots, political campaigns, civil rights sit-ins, and a Central American civil war. In his memoir, Fortune in My Eyes, his journey includes many of the most celebrated names in the theater: Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, Bette Davis, Sir John Gielgud, Peggy Lee, Alvin Ailey, Lauren Bacall, Christine Ebersole, and numerous others.He produced an Off-Broadway prison drama, Fortune and Men's Eyes, which reshaped his life. John Herbert's chilling play led directly to the creation of the Fortune Society, which has evolved into one of the nation's most formidable advocacy and service organizations in criminal justice.Rothenberg was Elizabeth Taylor's opening night date at the Richard Burton Hamlet - a distant cry from his entering Attica prison during that institution's famed inmate uprising; these are just two of the experiences revealed in this memoir. As a theater publicist and producer - and as a social activist - he shares experiences with politicians and with anonymous men and women, out of prison, who have fought to reclaim their lives. The human drama of the formerly incarcerated that unfolds in this book is a match for many of the entertainment world's most fabled characters.

CYRANO DE BERGERAC

The rise of Golda Meir from impoverished Russian schoolgirl to Prime Minister of Israel is one of the most amazing stories of the 20th century. Now her life has been transformed into a one-woman play of overwhelming power and triumph by William Gibson, author of The Miracle Worker. Golda's Balcony earned actress Tovah Feldshuh a 2003 Drama Desk award."Enlightening ... Now, hearing from someone who was there at the birth of the country, who sacrificed to make that happen, helps remind us where the Middle East standoff came from and why it never seems to end."- The New York Times"A valentine to the famously tough prime minister."- New York Post

THE TELEVISION PLAYS OF PADDY CHAYEFSKY

There has been a great change in the last twenty years to actor auditions which now require the demonstration of enormous flexibility. The actor is often expected to show more range than ever before and often several shorter audition speeches are asked for instead of one or two longer ones. To stay at the top of his or her game the Shakespearean actor needs more knowledge of what makes the play tick especially since the early plays demand a different style from the later ones. Each genre (comedy history tragedy) has different requirements. No current monologue book deals directly with the bulk of these concerns. ÊOne More unto the Speech Dear FriendsÊ now fills that gap. This three volume set will help actors discover the extra details of humanity that the original folio texts automatically offer. Of Shakespeare''s 37 plays only ÊPericlesÊ is not included. In the trilogy of books there are over 900 separate audition possibilities. This represents about 600 more monologues than are available in any other series.ÞÞThere are four parts to each speech: Û A background giving context and approximate timing; Û A modern text version; Û The original folio version; Û Commentary to explain the differences between the two texts including full discussion of the devices peculiar to that speech''s genre the age and gender of the character and more.

"...a play about power, leadership, and the rough-and tumble process of social change. In its multifaceted search for the meaning behind the headline-grabbing events in Memphis, and in its depiction of the roots of black-vs.-black power struggles, it offers both food for thought and an emotional punch." - Chicago Sun-Times

COMPLETE SCREENPLAYS OF DYLAN THOMAS

The playscript to Ghost in the Machine by David Gilman begins with a common situation - that of a missing fifty dollar bill - and spins it into intriguing questions of probability, chance and the complexities of musical composition: illusion and reality.

When a routine burglary in an elegant, upscale Virginia mansion goes awry, career thief Luther Whitney finds himself witness to a brutal murder involving none other than Alan Richmond, the youthful, charming, and thoroughly corrupt President of the United States. Torn between fear for his life and devotion to his family and country, Luther must make a decision that will change not only his own destiny, but the destiny of the world as we know it. Based on the best-selling thriller by David Baldacci, described as "relentlessly entertaining" by The Atlanta Journal & Constitution, William Goldman''s screenplay captures the paranoia, greed, and corruption of politics through the ages and around the world.