PERHAPS A GIFT VOUCHER FOR MUM?: MOTHER'S DAY
Douglas J. Cohen is a composer, lyricist, and librettist who is the recipient of two Richard Rodgers Awards, a Jonathan Larson Grant, Drama Desk and Drama League nominations, and the Fred Ebb Award for his body of work. His nearly 300 global productions include Off-Broadway’s Manhattan Theatre Club (The Gig), The York Theatre Company (No Way to Treat a Lady), and The Cell Theatre (The Evolution of Mann). Douglas is also a vocal coach who has taught at the Neighborhood Playhouse and Jacob’s Pillow, as well as serving as Timothée Chalamet’s voice coach for the film A Rainy Day in New York.
In How to Survive a Killer Musical, Cohen gives a wonderful first-hand account of the roller coaster ride that is developing a brand new musical. With great humor and vivid characterizations of some of the most important writers, directors, and actors of the last half century, the reader gets a front seat view to the remarkable triumphs and dramatic vicissitudes of show business. --Alex Timbers, Tony Award-winning director (Here Lies Love, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Beetlejuice, and Peter and the Starcatcher) Doug Cohen's How to Survive a Killer Musical is a surprising page turner, an exhilarating, cautionary tale of a young creator's path to production. It's all here: thrills, disasters, betrayals, and ultimately . . . wisdom. This is a poignant primer for anyone daring to try. --Tony Gilroy, Academy Award nominated writer/director; Executive Producer/Showrunner of Andor, the Star Wars prequel for Disney+ I don't care if you've never seen a Broadway play, this tale of almost making it in the big leagues of musical theater will have you turning the pages. Full of self-deprecating humor, unforgettable characters, and heartbreaking twists of fate, How to Survive a Killer Musical is a delight. --Nathaniel Philbrick, bestselling author of In the Heart of the Sea and Travels with George This fascinating tale about how to get a musical produced, from page to stage, is made even more fascinating because of the writer's candor, wit, and passionate desire to give his musical a life against all odds. It's always a little miracle to me when that happens. And when you have such a good writer telling the tale, it's irresistible reading. --Donna McKechnie, Tony Award-winning actress (A Chorus Line, Company, Sweet Charity) This is a story of dreams and hard work and persistence. It is a story about what success usually looks like. And most of all, it is a glorious reminder that the destination is never as rewarding as the journey. I am thrilled to have been part of this journey. I am even more thrilled that Doug has found this fabulous way of inviting you along. --Jason Alexander, Tony and Emmy Award-winning actor (Seinfeld, Jerome Robbins Broadway, Pretty Woman)
