Mainly on Directing

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As a playwright, screenwriter, and director, Arthur Laurents offers a compelling account of his experiences in theater, focusing on the creation of two iconic American musicals, West Side Story and Gypsy. He details his bilingual production of West Side Story and shares how his latest Gypsy production emerged from a deep love that permeated the entire company, resulting in a unique rendition. Laurents provides behind-the-scenes insights into his directorial work, including I Can Get It for You Wholesale, featuring young stars Barbra Streisand and Elliott Gould, and Stephen Sondheim's Anyone Can Whistle, which marked the musical theater debuts of Angela Lansbury and Lee Remick. He also discusses the groundbreaking La Cage aux Folles, the first major Broadway musical celebrating gay culture. Interwoven throughout the narrative is Laurents's profound love for theater and his partner of fifty-two years, Tom Hatcher, who inspired and shared in every aspect of his life and work. This account presents a vivid portrait of an artist collaborating with other talents, offering a unique perspective on contemporary American musical theater from someone who has been at its vibrant core for over five decades.