This is the first full-scale biography of what Time Magazine called a 'made-in-the-USA genius' Jerome Robbins (1918-98) helped change American theatre forever with his choreography for Leonard Bernstein's musical On the Town (the one about the three sailors during the course of twenty-four hours in New York City). On Broadway, Robbins virtually invented the concept musical in which music, action and dancing are woven into a seamless whole. His life reflects the creative format of the post-war years, intersecting with the ...
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This is the first full-scale biography of what Time Magazine called a 'made-in-the-USA genius' Jerome Robbins (1918-98) helped change American theatre forever with his choreography for Leonard Bernstein's musical On the Town (the one about the three sailors during the course of twenty-four hours in New York City). On Broadway, Robbins virtually invented the concept musical in which music, action and dancing are woven into a seamless whole. His life reflects the creative format of the post-war years, intersecting with the likes of Arthur Miller, Irving Berlin, W.H. Auden, Leonard Bernstein and George Balachine. His work includes The King and I, Pajama Game, Fiddler on the Roof, Gypsy and, most famously, West Side Story. Robbins was part of other important 20th century narratives: the grim drama of the McCarthy blacklist; the emergence of gay culture; the epic of immigrant assimilation. A guarded and secretive man, Robbins had virtually no magazine profiles and no biography in his lifetime, but in 1998 Amanda Vaill was given unprecedented and unique access to Robbins' letters, diaries and meticulously kept journals. This has resulted in a detailed, densely populated narrative with a strong and charismatic central figure - a book that makes readers feel that they are experiencing an extraordinary time for themselves.
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Jerry Robbins was the premier modern choreographer for the mid 20th century and this bio captures him the best, despite others I have read. The genius, the insecurity and the enormous far seeing talent. That appearance at the White House, invited by Jacqueline Kennedy, gave him an imprimatur by America's then cultural queen!
LSDH
May 11, 2007
The best about the best!
I've read all of the books about Jerry Robbins that have been published since his demise, and this one finally tells us the whole story. His was an amazing life full of artistic triumphs, to be sure, but also a life of insecurities and pain. Having known Jerry, I had looked forward to a book such as this one that would focus less on his sometimes extreme measures in getting the performances he wanted from his dancers and other co-workers and more on what inspired and drove him and his creative life. How lovely that it has arrived! I highly recommend this well written study of one of America's true artists.
