"I appreciate Terry's sense of humor, his wry, dry wit, and his thinking outside the box. This delightful collection of memoirs epitomizes all those characteristics. Be prepared to chuckle, to sigh, to reflect-it is a worthy read." -Maridell Fryar, legendary Texas educator "Broxson did two things right: quitting law school and marrying Zoe. Everything else is questionable." -F. William Threadgill, noted raconteur "I enjoyed this memoir so much. Sometimes I laughed until I cried, and then other times I cried until I smiled. Some of the characters I knew, others I heard about, and others I met for the first time. I couldn't put it down." -Carol Trahan, legendary California educator
The popularity of musicals has reached an all-time high leading to the development of numerous original shows. In this comprehensive new guide, Beating Broadway: How to Create Stories for Musicals That Get Standing Ovations, written by veteran storyteller and successful creator of musicals Steve Cuden, readers learn how the plots and stories behind musicals are developed and honed. With a breezy, lighthearted approach, creators at all levels are provided key advice for building winning musical stories. Cuden, who has been there, done that, offers writers the know-how and encouragement to construct brilliant, attention-grabbing musical storylines. Beating Broadway provides readers with practical, down-to-earth advice for crafting successful musical theater stories that will reach audiences everywhere. This complete, two-part manual also guides aspiring writers in what it takes to develop shows that can attract Broadway producers. By showing writers the ins and outs of storytelling required for today's commercial musical theater, Beating Broadway places success firmly within grasp. Readers also gain insight into how stories function in forty of the world's most beloved stage and movie musicals as Cuden breaks down each one into key narrative beats and plot points. "Beating Broadway is a take-you-by-the-hand guided tutorial written by a seasoned professional who really knows his stuff. This book feeds your mind with how stories for musicals are made. If you are interested in creating or producing a musical, Steve's insights will be helpful and inspiring to you.JEFF MARX, Tony winning Composer/Lyricist of Avenue Q "Beating Broadway digs deep to the core of how stories for successful musicals are created. This is a must-have book for anyone who wants to write exceptional musicals or is just a fan."SCOTT WITTMAN, Tony Winning Lyricist of Hairspray and Co-Lyricist and Executive Producer for the Hit TV Series, Smash "Beat-by-beat, Steve Cuden breaks down story, structure, and song spotting so you can beat the Broadway musical before it beats you!"CHERI STEINKELLNER, Emmy-winning Writer/Producer of Cheers and Teacher's Pet, Tony-nominated Writer of Sister Act
If you had to purchase only one book about giving a speech effectively, Confidently Speaking is that book. Learn to lead with mastery right from the very start.If you had to purchase only one book about giving a speech effectively, Confidently Speaking is that book. Learn to lead with mastery right from the very start. Take the stage with Christine A. Robinson, a three-time contender in the Toastmasters International World Championships of Public Speaking. With years of experience presenting countless seminars and training sessions, Christine offers you a professional speaker's wisdom with ease, support, empathy, and humor.Use Confidently Speaking as your personal guide, and you achieve cutting-edge communication competence. Discover how to create captivating speeches. Develop dynamic stage presence while maintaining your authentic self in every form of communication: from boldly speaking to audiences of thousands, to Zoom rooms, to spontaneous toasts, to asking for a raise. Receive resounding results with Confidently Speaking."Whether you are a speaking novice or seasoned professional, this book provides practical and proven insights for delivering a great public speech. Drawing on a lifetime of speaking wisdom, Christine is the living embodiment of her message. I have seen her go from a quiet, unassuming introvert to a public speaking powerhouse and contest champion. If she can do it, you can do it. I challenge you to go, go, go read this book."-Michael R. Notaro, DTM, PIPToastmasters International President 2011-2012Author of The Call of the Leader"Christine Robinson is one of the best teachers of public speaking around. Her book, Confidently Speaking, may change your life."-Anne Lamott, Author of Bird by Bird
Scott McKain has discovered what the entertainment industry has always known--to be successful, companies must create an emotional link with their customers. This guide shows how to create an atmosphere and experience that will make clients want a repeat performance.
Does public speaking paralyze you and tie your stomach into knots? Want to get a standing ovation every time? What goes into a dazzling opening and closing? Does the prospect of facing embarrassing judgment make your palms sweat? Or do you want to learn how to absolutely own the stage and become a magnetic speaker? Public speaking and presenting is one of the most common phobias -- and it’s completely understandable. When else in our lives are we so open and vulnerable? But it’s a necessary evil in all aspects of our lives, whether professionally and personally. From making a presentation in the boardroom to being more confident with the opposite sex, your speaking skills will take you to the next level and get what exactly what you want in your life. Fearless Public Speaking is the rare book that will (1) help you destroy your anxiety so you can confidently take any stage, and (2) once you’re up there, be unforgettable and captivating as a speaker. The tenets in this book come from studying the experiences of the best presenters in the world, from CEOs, standup comics, to actors, and more. Jason Bax, noted actor, speaker, and entrepreneur, lends his thoughts in a guest chapter. And me? I'm a social skills and charisma coach, speaker, and semi-professional musician who thrives in front of the crowd... but I wasn't always like this - I know your struggles and I can help you from point A to point B! How will you learn to captivate audiences? •Why knowing where your audience gets their news is key to your memorability. •How to construct a bulletproof opening and closing. •How to make sure you reach any audience emotionally. •Overcoming stage fright and jitters with mental rehearsal techniques. As well as... •What rehearsed spontaneity is and how it makes your audience connect. •Stage presence techniques of the masters of performance like Freddie Mercury. •How standup comics own the stage and win over hostile crowds. •What a memory palace is and how it will help you memorize your speech. Put the audience in the palm of your hand, starting now! •Feel confident and empowered in taking the stage anywhere, anytime. •Speak your way to better jobs and relationships with each mini-presentation. •Build a reputation as an effective and engaging speaker. •Learn to overcome judgment and build self-confidence. •Own the room, audience, and applause.
A New York Times bestseller in hardcover, Pulitzer Prize winner Alice Walker’s We Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For was called “stunningly insightful” and “a book that will inspire hope” by Publishers Weekly. Drawing equally on Walker’s spiritual grounding and her progressive political convictions, each chapter concludes with a recommended meditation to teach us patience, compassion, and forgiveness. We Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For takes on some of the greatest challenges of our times and in it Walker encourages readers to take faith in the fact that, despite the daunting predicaments we find ourselves in, we are uniquely prepared to create positive change. The hardcover edition of We Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For included a national tour that saw standing-room–only crowds and standing ovations. Walker’s clear vision and calm meditative voice—truly “a light in darkness”—has struck a deep chord among a large and devoted readership.
This book provides the first clear, comprehensive, and accessible account of complex adaptive social systems, by two of the field's leading authorities. Such systems--whether political parties, stock markets, or ant colonies--present some of the most intriguing theoretical and practical challenges confronting the social sciences. Engagingly written, and balancing technical detail with intuitive explanations, Complex Adaptive Systems focuses on the key tools and ideas that have emerged in the field since the mid-1990s, as well as the techniques needed to investigate such systems. It provides a detailed introduction to concepts such as emergence, self-organized criticality, automata, networks, diversity, adaptation, and feedback. It also demonstrates how complex adaptive systems can be explored using methods ranging from mathematics to computational models of adaptive agents. John Miller and Scott Page show how to combine ideas from economics, political science, biology, physics, and computer science to illuminate topics in organization, adaptation, decentralization, and robustness. They also demonstrate how the usual extremes used in modeling can be fruitfully transcended.
Discover the blueprint to connect with any audience! Need to speak and make a great impression? If you want to go from fearful to confident, and average to outstanding, then this is the book that will take you to a standing ovation.Acclaimed speaker Ron Tsang shows you 15 powerful public speaking lessons in this practical and entertaining book, From Presentation to Standing Ovation.You'll discover how to:* Overcome public speaking anxiety so that your expertise can shine* Win over hearts and minds using your natural speaking personality* Master the art of storytelling with 10 Hollywood secrets* Create captivating keynotes, seminars, and presentations* Present with more influence, power, and poise This quick read is for everyone from experts and business owners, to students and employees, who want to sell their ideas and wow their audiences. The book includes access to additional free online resources, giving you all the help you need for your speaking success.
From the star of Broadway's The Book of Mormon and HBO's Girls, the heartfelt and hilarious coming-of-age memoir of a Midwestern boy surviving bad auditions, bad relationships, and some really bad highlights as he chases his dreams in New York City With a new afterword • “Candid, funny, crisp . . . honest and tender about lessons of the heart.”—Vogue When Andrew Rannells left Nebraska for New York City in 1997, he, like many young hopefuls, saw the city as a chance to break free. To start over. To transform the fiercely ambitious but sexually confused teenager he saw in the mirror into the Broadway leading man of his dreams. In Too Much Is Not Enough, Rannells takes us on the journey of a twentysomething hungry to experience everything New York has to offer: new friends, wild nights, great art, standing ovations. At the heart of his hunger lies a powerful drive to reconcile the boy he was when he left Omaha with the man he desperately wants to be. As Rannells fumbles his way towards the Great White Way, he also shares the drama of failed auditions and behind-the-curtain romances, the heartbreak of losing his father at the height of his struggle, and the exhilaration of making his Broadway debut in Hairspray at the age of twenty-six. Along the way, he learns that you never really leave your past—or your family—behind; that the most painful, and perversely motivating, jobs are the ones you almost get; and that sometimes the most memorable nights with friends are marked not by the trendy club you danced at but by the recap over diner food afterward. Honest and hilarious, Too Much Is Not Enough is an unforgettable look at love, loss, and the powerful forces that determine who we become.
