February 2024 MBR The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

Jesus Christ Superstar
Ellis Nassour
Applause Books
c/o Globe Pequot
c/o Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
www.rowman.com
9781493068043, $36.95, HC, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Christ-Superstar-Worldwide-Phenomenon/dp/14930=
68040

Synopsis: In 1969, when Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice decided to write a=
 rock opera about Jesus Christ, they had little idea they were about to emb=
ark on one of the most popular, boundary-pushing, and influential musicals =
ever.

The show's success was hardly assured at first: unable to secure enough fun=
ding, they initially resorted to just releasing its title song as a single.=
 A full album followed to widespread acclaim, and only then could a full pr=
oduction get underway. More than fifty years later, Jesus Christ Superstar =
continues to be beloved in all its forms -- the live show, various cast alb=
ums, and the wildly successful movie.

Few people had the chance to witness the musical's evolution from as many a=
ngles as Ellis Nassour, whether collaborating with Rice and Lloyd Webber at=
 MCA, writing for the New York Times, or assisting with the Broadway and LA=
 productions. In this expansive, beautifully illustrated book, Nassour draw=
s on a wealth of knowledge, first-hand experience, and new interviews to gi=
ve the definitive story of the musical.

Combining an engaging narrative with abundant photographs (many in color an=
d never before published) he follows the show from its uncertain beginnings=
, through setbacks and controversies, to Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's=
 ultimate triumph, serving up an unparalleled look at one of the most impor=
tant and best-selling musical works of all time.

Critique: Simply stated, "Jesus Christ Superstar: Behind the Scenes of the =
Worldwide Musical Phenomenon" by Ellis Nassour is an essential 'must read' =
selection for the legions of Jesus Christ Superstar fans. While also availa=
ble for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $26.49). "=
Jesus Christ Superstar: Behind the Scenes of the Worldwide Musical Phenomen=
on" will prove to be an immediately-in-demand and enduringly popular additi=
on to community and college/university library Theatre/Cinema collections a=
nd Music History/Broadway Musical curriculum studies lists.

Apocalypse Television
David Craig, author
Applause Books
c/o Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
www.rowman.com
9781493079179, $36.95, HC, 272pp

https://www.amazon.com/Apocalypse-Television-After-Helped-Cold/dp/149307917=
4

Synopsis: On November 20, 1983, a three-hour made-for-TV movie, "The Day Af=
ter" premiered on ABC. Set in the heartland of Lawrence, Kansas, the film d=
epicted the events before, during, and after a Soviet nuclear attack with v=
ivid scenes of the post-apocalyptic hellscape that would follow.

The film was viewed by over 100 million Americans and remains the highest r=
ated TV movie in history. After the premiere, ABC News aired an episode of =
Viewpoint, a live special featuring some of the most prominent public intel=
lectuals of the debating the virtues of the Arms Race and the prospect of a=
 winnable nuclear war. The response to the film proved more powerful than p=
erhaps any film or television program in the history of media. Aside from i=
ts record-shattering Nielsen ratings, it enjoyed critical acclaim as well a=
s international box office success in theatrical screenings.

The path to primetime for "The Day After" proved nearly as treacherous as t=
he film's narrative. Battles ensued behind the scenes at the network, betwe=
en the network and the filmmakers, with Broadcast Standards and Ad Sales, i=
n the edit room and on the set, including the "nuke-mares" experienced by t=
he cast.

After the director was pushed aside, he contemplated suicide while also eng=
ineering a comeback through the press. But these skirmishes pale in compari=
son to the culture wars triggered by the film in the press, alongside a gro=
wing Nuclear Freeze movement, and from a united, pro-nuclear Right. Once ef=
forts to alter the script failed, the White House conducted a full-throttle=
d propaganda campaign to hijack the film's message.

With the publications of "Apocalypse Television: How The Day After Helped E=
nd the Cold War", Professor David Craig features a dramatic insider's accou=
nt of the making of and backlash against "The Day After".

No other study has told this story in similar fashion, taking the reader be=
hind-the-scenes of the programming and news divisions at ABC, Reagan offici=
als in the White House who mounted the propaganda campaign, rogue publicist=
s who hijacked the film to promote a Nuclear Freeze, the backlash from the =
conservative movement and Religious Right, the challenges encountered by fi=
lm's production team from conception to reception, and the experiences of t=
he citizens of Lawrence, Kansas, where the film was set and shot, if also, =
ground zero in America's nuclear heartland.

Critique: An inherently fascinating read from beginning to end, "Apocalypse=
 Television: How The Day After Helped End the Cold War" is an extraordinary=
 and seminal study that will prove to be of immense value for readers with =
an interest in television history/criticism, and the cultural/political imp=
act of movies and the performing arts. Exceptionally well researched, writt=
en, organized and presented, "Apocalypse Television" is unreservedly recomm=
ended for community and college/university library 20th Century Film collec=
tions and Cinematic History curriculum studies. It should be noted for pers=
onal reading lists that "Apocalypse Television" is also readily available i=
n a digital book format (Kindle, $29.65) as well.

Editorial Note: David Craig (https://www.davidrcraig.com) is a Clinical Pro=
fessor at the University of Southern California in the Annenberg School at =
the University of Southern California. He is one of the world's leading sch=
olars of the "emerging creator" industries, marked by social media entrepre=
neurs and influencers harnessing global platforms. Craig has been cited in =
major outlets including the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, H=
ollywood Reporter, Vox, CNN, Bloomberg, and NBC News. Prior to his academic=
 career, he was a multiple Emmy-nominated Hollywood producer and cable tele=
vision executive involved in over thirty projects, from feature films to te=
levision programs, web series and stage productions. His television project=
s garnered critical acclaim and were nominated for over seventy Emmy, Peabo=
dy, and Golden Globe awards.

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