Joel Grey; the Tony and Academy Award-winning Master of Ceremonies in Cabaret finally tells his remarkable life story. Born Joel David Katz to a wild and wooly Jewish American family in Cleveland; Ohio in 1932; Joel began his life in the theater at the age of 9; starting in childrenrsquo;s theater and then moving to the main stage. He was hooked; and his seven decades long career charts the evolution of American entertainment - from Vaudeville performances with his father; Mickey Katz to the seedy gangster filled nightclubs of the forties; the bright lights of Broadway and dizzying glamour of Hollywood; to juggernaut musicals like Cabaret; Chicago; and Wicked. Master of Ceremonies is a memoir of a life lived in and out of the limelight; but it is also the story of the man behind the stage makeup. Coming of age in a time when being yourself tended to be not only difficult but also dangerous; Joel has to act both on and off the stage. He spends his high school years sleeping with the girls-next-door while carrying on a scandalous affair with an older man. Romances with to-die-for Vegas Showgirls are balanced with late night liaisons with like-minded guys; until finally Joel falls in love and marries a talented and beautiful woman; starts a family; and has a pretty much picture perfect life. But 24 years later when the marriage dissolves; Joel has to once again find his place in a world that has radically changed. Drawing back the curtain on a career filled with show-stopping numbers; larger-than-life stars and even singing in the shower with Bjork; Master of Ceremonies is also a portrait of an artist coming to terms with his evolving identity. When an actor plays a character; he has to find out what makes them who they are; their needs; dreams; and fears. Itrsquo;s a difficult thing to do; but sometimes the hardest role in an actorrsquo;s life is that of himself. Deftly capturing the joy of performing as well as the pain and secrets of an era we have only just started to leave behind; Joelrsquo;s story is one of love; loss; hard-won honesty; redemption; and success.
#1617666 in eBooks 2015-07-13 2015-07-13File Name: B0115D4AGU
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Half a century ago I was a resident physician at CHOP and this book provided a nice picture of the remoter parts of the historyBy Carter D BrooksThis is a book with limited interest. Half a century ago I was a resident physician at CHOP and this book provided a nice picture of the remoter parts of the history of the institution about which I knew very little. For someone without a personal connection to the hospital this would probably not mean much. While the book did a reasonable job of identifying some of the luminaries in the hospitals past. it failed to address the issues of interest to me--the residents it trained. the services it rendered. the atmosphere it created and in which it functioned. In all it was good as far as it went but it didnt go where I would have liked.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Nice for those who have worked there but could have been much moreBy PandoraThis book is a good review of the pioneers in the establishment of CHOP but it does not delve into the actual institution itself. I worked at CHOP for 15 years and am well aware of how incredible an institution it really is. There is very little reference to the contributions CHOP makes daily to the lives of their patients and the people who work there. To be a part of that team was an incredible experience the book nicely reviews the high profile aspects but misses the day to day operations of the nurses. the residents fellows. the attending MDs who all contribute to an amazing place.0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Susan D. AngeloGreat information and pictures. Plus this book was written by my best childhood friend who lived next door!!!
