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The Rovers Return: The Rovers Return Story
by Tim RandallCoronation Street is the world's longest-running TV soap-opera and a hugely popular national institution. From the moment the very first episode flickered onto our screens on 9 December 1960, the very heart of the show has always been the Rovers Return public house. It may just be a backstreet boozer, but TV's most famous pub has been at the centre of the action week in week out for the last 53 years. As longest-serving barmaid Betty once sagely noted: 'If you're not being talked about in this pub, you're not worth serving', and under the watchful eye of legendary landladies such as Annie Walker, Bet Lynch and Liz McDonald, the Rovers has witnessed everything from births, deaths, brawls and break-ups, to weddings, wakes and even its own ghost. But despite any drama that may be about to unfold, regulars are guaranteed a warm welcome, a shoulder to cry on and more often than not the waft of a hearty hotpot seeping through from the kitchen out back. This year proved to be the Rovers' most explosive to date when the pub was ripped apart by a devastating blaze, rocking the lives of the residents forever. As the boozer was gradually restored to its former glory, it hit home to the regulars just how much the heart of their community really meant to them... Including exclusive access to the Coronation Street archives, THE ROVERS RETURN STORY celebrates over five decades of tears and laughter inside Weatherfield's iconic watering hole. It's the book no fan would want to be without.
Funny on Purpose: The Definitive Guide to an Unpredictable Career in Comedy
by Joe Randazzo John HodgmanIt takes guts to be a comedian, and it takes smarts to make a living off it. In this insider's guide, former Onion Editor Joe Randazzo delivers a funny and insightful blueprint for those looking to turn their sense of humor into a vocation. Explaining how it works and how to break in, Joe provides tips and guidance, outlines successful career paths, and solicits advice and stories from the likes of Judd Apatow, Jack Handey, Joan Rivers, Tim & Eric, and more. From writing for TV to doing standup or developing a successful YouTube channel, Funny on Purpose gives readers the knowledge and inspiration to launch a career in comedy with confidence.
The Swan Family: Individual Student Edition Blue (levels 9-11)
by Beverley RandellA Father swan protects his family with his neck, feathers, and wide wing span. Swan Family Grade 1: Rigby PM Plus Blue, Student Reader (Level 10)
Transforming Faces for the Screen: Horror and Romance in the 1920s
by Karen Randell Alexis WeedonThis book brings together research from medical and film archives to illustrate the cultural impact of film and literature in its relationship to the discourse of plastic surgery in the 1920s. This different take on reading the body after the First World War enables students of multiple disciplines, and readers interested in both Hollywood and post-war culture, to understand some of the complexities of medical interventions gained after the First World War and the way in which they filtered into the world of Hollywood film making. It also allows readers who may not be familiar with these two 1920s stars to access the films of Lon Chaney and the books and films of Elinor Glyn and gain new insights into 1920s visual culture. For ease of readership, the book is organised so that each of the main chapters focuses on a particular film (either Lon Chaney or Elinor Glyn). This is particularly useful for use in the classroom or for online education. Readers can refer to the film directly, aided by illustrations of frames from the films. This book tells the story of how two stars of Hollywood film transformed their character’s faces on screen through a close reading of three films in the 1920s. It reveals how they applied their embodied knowledge of surgery and surgical procedures to broaden their audience’s emotional and intellectual understanding of the treatment of deformity and disability.
That Will Never Work: The Birth of Netflix by the first CEO and co-founder Marc Randolph
by Marc RandolphIn the tradition of Phil Knight's Shoe Dog comes the incredible untold story of how Netflix went from concept to company - all revealed by co-founder and first CEO Marc Randolph.Once upon a time, brick-and-mortar video stores were king. Late fees were ubiquitous, video-streaming unheard of, and widespread DVD adoption seemed about as imminent as flying cars. These were the widely accepted laws of the land in 1997 when Marc Randolph had an idea. It was a simple thought - leveraging the internet to rent movies - and was just one of many more proposals, like personalised baseball bats and a shampoo delivery service, that Randolph would pitch to his business partner, Reed Hastings, on their commute to work each morning. But Hastings was intrigued, and the pair - with Hastings as the primary investor and Randolph as the CEO - founded a company. Now with over 150 million subscribers, Netflix's triumph feels inevitable but the twenty-first century's most disruptive start-up began with few believers and calamity at every turn. From having to pitch his own mother on being an early investor, to the motel conference room that served as a first office, to server crashes on launch day, to the now-infamous meeting when they pitched Blockbuster to acquire them, Marc Randolph's transformational journey exemplifies how anyone with grit, gut instincts and determination can change the world - even with an idea that many think will never work. What emerges, however, isn't just the inside story of one of the world's most iconic companies. Full of counter-intuitive concepts and written in binge-worthy prose, it answers some of our most fundamental questions about taking that leap of faith in business or in life: How do you begin? How do you weather disappointment and failure? How do you deal with success? What even is success? From idea generation to team building to knowing when it's time to let go, That Will Never Work is not only the ultimate follow-your-dreams parable but also one of the most dramatic and insightful entrepreneurial stories of our time. (p) 2019 Octopus Publishing Group
That Will Never Work: The Birth of Netflix by the first CEO and co-founder Marc Randolph
by Marc RandolphIn the tradition of Phil Knight's Shoe Dog comes the incredible untold story of how Netflix went from concept to company - all revealed by co-founder and first CEO Marc Randolph."Engaging and insightful." --Reed Hastings, CEO of Netflix "As the founding CEO, Marc Randolph's leadership defined the culture of Netflix and laid the groundwork for successive, global revolutions in how we make and consume entertainment." --Gina Keating, author of Netflixed: The Epic Battle for America's Eyeballs "Charming, fascinating and very funny. If you've ever wondered how to turn an idea into a global household name, Marc Randolph will demystify the world of Silicon Valley start-ups, and make you laugh a lot along the way." --Decca Aitkenhead, The Sunday Times "A charming first-person account of the early days of one of the most successful tech start-ups ever. An engaging read that will engross any would-be entrepreneur." --The Washington PostOnce upon a time, brick-and-mortar video stores were king. Late fees were ubiquitous, video-streaming unheard of, and widespread DVD adoption seemed about as imminent as flying cars. These were the widely accepted laws of the land in 1997 when Marc Randolph had an idea. It was a simple thought - leveraging the internet to rent movies - and was just one of many more proposals, like personalised baseball bats and a shampoo delivery service, that Randolph would pitch to his business partner, Reed Hastings, on their commute to work each morning. But Hastings was intrigued, and the pair - with Hastings as the primary investor and Randolph as the CEO - founded a company. Now with over 150 million subscribers, Netflix's triumph feels inevitable but the twenty-first century's most disruptive start-up began with few believers and calamity at every turn. From having to pitch his own mother on being an early investor, to the motel conference room that served as a first office, to server crashes on launch day, to the now-infamous meeting when they pitched Blockbuster to acquire them, Marc Randolph's transformational journey exemplifies how anyone with grit, gut instincts and determination can change the world - even with an idea that many think will never work. What emerges, however, isn't just the inside story of one of the world's most iconic companies. Full of counter-intuitive concepts and written in binge-worthy prose, it answers our most fundamental questions about taking that leap of faith in business or in life: How do you begin? How do you weather disappointment and failure? How do you deal with success? What even is success? From idea generation to team building to knowing when it's time to let go, That Will Never Work is not only the ultimate follow-your-dreams parable but also one of the most dramatic and insightful entrepreneurial stories of our time. "Marc wastes no time cutting through the noise. He understands what is important whether it is your product, your marketing, or your business plan. A remarkable and one of a kind visionary." --Mitch Lowe, founder of RedBox and CEO of MoviePass "An entertaining chronicle of creativity, luck, and unflagging perseverance." --Kirkus
Banana Banana Meatball (GoNoodle)
by Random HouseDance, laugh, and learn with this GoNoodle storybook!Get ready to learn about patterns with the Blazer Fresh crew! Introduce readers to some of their favorite GoNoodle characters with this new hardcover storybook based on "Banana Banana Meatball," the popular video and song that embraces dancing, diversity, education, and good old-fashioned fun! Get up and get moving with GoNoodle!
Being Patient with Cookie Monster: Sesame Street Monster Meditation in collaboration with Headspace (Monster Meditation)
by Random HouseCookie Monster learns simple meditation techniques and plays a fun game to help be more patient--based on the popular Sesame Street Monster Meditation video on YouTube made in collaboration with the mindfulness app Headspace.Sometimes everyone needs to slow down and take some cleansing belly breaths--even Cookie Monster! This terrific board book features Cookie Monster learning a calming game to help pass the time as he waits for his cookies to finish baking. The game is a fun and simple one that all young boys and girls can easily play whenever they need to be patient.This is Book 1 in a series of 6 books, all inspired by the popular Sesame Street Monster Meditation videos on YouTube, that will help young girls and boys learn mindfulness techniques along with their favorite characters. The videos are made in collaboration with Headspace, the mindfulness app. Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, aims to help kids grow smarter, stronger, and kinder through its many unique domestic and international initiatives. These projects cover a wide array of topics for families around the world.
A Change of Plans for Elmo!: Sesame Street Monster Meditation in collaboration with Headspace
by Random HouseElmo is all set to have a playdate, until it gets cancelled. Luckily, he learns fun breathing activities and a game to help get over his disappointment—based on the popular "Sesame Street Monster Meditation" video on YouTube, made in collaboration with the mindfulness app Headspace.When Abby gets the sniffles and can't have a playdate with Elmo, the furry red monster becomes rather disappointed. But he learns a game called 1, 2, 3, Freeze and discovers that a change of plans doesn't have to ruin his day! Preschoolers will love learning some Monster Meditation exercises along with Elmo in this colorful board book. Plus, there's an offer in the book for a free month of the Headspace app! This book is inspired by the popular Sesame Street Monster Meditation videos on YouTube that help young children learn mindfulness techniques along with their favorite characters. The videos are made in collaboration with Headspace, the mindfulness app. The art style in the books is the same as in the videos--bright and simple, to appeal to the youngest Sesame Street fans.Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, aims to help kids grow smarter, stronger, and kinder through its many unique domestic and international initiatives. These projects cover a wide array of topics for families around the world.
Elmo Is Mindful (Sesame Street): How to Stay Focused, Calm, and Kind
by Random HouseElmo shares mindfulness tips to help his Sesame Street friends--and preschoolers everywhere--stay calm and focused.Just like kids everywhere, Elmo, Grover, Cookie Monster, and their Sesame Street friends sometimes have trouble controlling their emotions. This board book offers thoughtful suggestions as to what to do when you're scared, angry, frustrated, upset, and overwhelmed. Young children can learn simple techniques to stay calm and focused such as belly breathing, counting to 10, hugging yourself, and using a glitter jar. This oversized board book, filled with color photographs and illustrations of Elmo and the other Sesame Street muppets, is a perfect format for parents and caretakers to read with their children. Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, aims to help kids grow smarter, stronger, and kinder through its many unique domestic and international initiatives. These projects cover a wide array of topics for families around the world.
Getting Ready for Bed with Elmo: Sesame Street Monster Meditation in collaboration with Headspace (Monster Meditation)
by Random HouseElmo learns simple meditation techniques and plays a relaxing game to help him fall asleep--based on the popular Sesame Street Monster Meditation video on YouTube made in collaboration with the mindfulness app Headspace.Sometimes everyone needs to slow down and take some cleansing belly breaths--even Elmo! This terrific board book features Elmo learning a game to help him settle down and fall asleep. The game is a fun and simple one that all young boys and girls can easily learn and play by themselves at bedtime. Plus there's an offer in the book for a free month of the Headspace app!This is Book 2 in a series of 6 books, all inspired by the popular Sesame Street Monster Meditation videos on YouTube, that will help young girls and boys learn mindfulness techniques along with their favorite characters. The videos are made in collaboration with Headspace, the mindfulness app. The art style in the books is the same as in the videos--bright and simple, to appeal to the youngest Sesame Street fans. Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, aims to help kids grow smarter, stronger, and kinder through its many unique domestic and international initiatives. These projects cover a wide array of topics for families around the world.
I Love My Hair (Sesame Street)
by Random HouseSesame Street's Gabrielle lets everyone know how much she loves her beautiful black hair in this joyful board book. It's based on the song of the same name and the popular Sesame Street video, viewed more than 19 million times on YouTube.I love something—yes, I do. It's curly and it's brown...and it's right up there. You know what I love? That's right—my hair!One of Sesame Street's newest neighbors is super proud of her hair, and she shares all the reasons why in this empowering board book. Young Black girls and boys will not only identify with Gabrielle but learn to love their natural beauty!Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, aims to help kids grow smarter, stronger, and kinder through its many unique domestic and international initiatives. These projects cover a wide array of topics for families around the world.
Show Us How You Say Hello! (GoNoodle)
by Random HouseDance, laugh and learn with this GoNoodle storybook!How do you say &‘hello&’ to people that you know? Introduce readers to some of their favorite GoNoodle characters with this new hardcover storybook based on &‘Hello&’, the popular video and song which embraces dancing, diversity, education, and good-old fashioned fun! Get up and get moving with GoNoodle!
Time for School, Rosita!: Sesame Street Monster Meditation in collaboration with Headspace (Monster Meditation)
by Random HouseRosita learns a simple meditation called Belly Buddy Breathing to help calm her nerves before the first day of school—based on the popular Sesame Street Monster Meditation video on YouTube made in collaboration with the mindfulness app Headspace.Even monsters get nervous the first day of school! Luckily, Rosita learns a fun and easy way to calm her nerves! This terrific board book features Rosita learning a simple meditation that all young boys and girls can easily do whenever they feel nervous. This is Book 4 in a series of 6 books, all inspired by the popular Sesame Street Monster Meditation videos on YouTube, that will help young children learn mindfulness techniques along with their favorite characters. The videos are made in collaboration with Headspace, the mindfulness app. The art style in the books is the same as in the videos--bright and simple, to appeal to the youngest Sesame Street fans. Plus, there's an offer in the book for a free month of the Headspace app!Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, aims to help kids grow smarter, stronger, and kinder through its many unique domestic and international initiatives. These projects cover a wide array of topics for families around the world.
Time to Focus, Grover!: Sesame Street Monster Meditation in collaboration with Headspace (Monster Meditation)
by Random HouseGrover learns simple meditation techniques and plays a fun game to help him learn to focus on one thing at a time in this helpful board book—based on the popular Sesame Street Monster Meditation video on YouTube, made in collaboration with the mindfulness app Headspace.Sometimes everyone needs to slow down and take some cleansing belly breaths--even Grover! Grover is trying to do so many things at once that nothing's getting done! This terrific board book features Grover learning a game to help him focus and complete one task at a time. The game is a fun and simple one that all young children can easily learn and do whenever they feel overwhelmed. Plus there's an offer in the book for a free month of the Headspace app!This is book 3 in a series of six books, all inspired by the popular Sesame Street Monster Meditation videos on YouTube, that will help young girls and boys learn mindfulness techniques along with their favorite characters. The videos are made in collaboration with Headspace, the mindfulness app. The art style in the books is the same as in the videos--bright and simple, to appeal to the youngest Sesame Street fans. Look for Sesame Street: Monster Meditation books 1 and 2:Being Patient with Cookie MonsterGetting Ready for Bed with ElmoSesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, aims to help kids grow smarter, stronger, and kinder through its many unique domestic and international initiatives. These projects cover a wide array of topics for families around the world.
Try, Try Again, Two-Headed Monster!: Sesame Street Monster Meditation in collaboration with Headspace (Monster Meditation)
by Random HouseTwo-Headed Monster learns fun breathing activities to help calm him when he gets frustrated—based on the popular Sesame Street Monster Meditation video on YouTube, made in collaboration with the mindfulness app Headspace.It can be frustrating when things don't go right—but giving up isn't the answer! This terrific board book features Two-Headed Monster learning a calming Monster Meditation. Now when his block tower falls down, he does the simple breathing games and starts building his tower again. Plus, there's an offer in the book for a free month of the Headspace app!This is book five in a series of six books, all inspired by the popular Sesame Street Monster Meditation videos on YouTube, which help young girls and boys learn mindfulness techniques along with their favorite characters. The videos are made in collaboration with the mindfulness app Headspace. The art style in the books is the same as in the videos—bright and simple, to appeal to the youngest Sesame Street fans.Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, aims to help kids grow smarter, stronger, and kinder through its many unique domestic and international initiatives. These projects cover a wide array of topics for families around the world.
Immediations: The Humanitarian Impulse in Documentary
by Pooja RanganEndangered life is often used to justify humanitarian media intervention, but what if suffering humanity is both the fuel and outcome of such media representations? Pooja Rangan argues that this vicious circle is the result of immediation, a prevailing documentary ethos that seeks to render human suffering urgent and immediate at all costs. Rangan interrogates this ethos in films seeking to “give a voice to the voiceless,” an established method of validating the humanity of marginalized subjects, including children, refugees, autistics, and animals. She focuses on multiple examples of documentary subjects being invited to demonstrate their humanity: photography workshops for the children of sex workers in Calcutta; live eyewitness reporting by Hurricane Katrina survivors; attempts to facilitate speech in nonverbal autistics; and painting lessons for elephants. These subjects are obliged to represent themselves using immediations—tropes that reinforce their status as the “other” and reproduce definitions of the human that exclude non-normative modes of thinking, being, and doing. To counter these effects, Rangan calls for an approach to media that aims not to humanize but to realize the full, radical potential of giving the camera to the other.
As Good As It Gets: Life Lessons from a Reluctant Adult
by Romesh Ranganathan'One of the funniest people in the world. Annoyingly talented at everything he does which includes writing books. As Good As it Gets is hilarious.' - Rob BeckettConfronted by the realities of adulthood, Romesh Ranganathan must face an uncomfortable truth: this is not quite how he imagined it.Watching his friends descend into middle age, his waist thicken with every meal and his finances dwindle to fund his family's middle class aspirations, Romesh reflects on the demands of daily life and the challenges of adulting in the modern world.As he reluctantly concludes that he is indeed a grown man, Rom wrestles with the greater questions that threaten his being: Could I save my family in a crisis? Do I possess the skills to assemble flatpack furniture? Am I too old for streetwear? Is it alright to parent my kids through the medium of Fortnite? Is celibacy the secret to a passionate marriage?From one of the countries most beloved comedians and author of the Sunday Times bestseller STRAIGHT OUTTA CRAWLEY comes the hilarious and painfully accurate dissection of what it really means to grow up.
Lil' Muffin Drops the Mic: The brand-new children’s book from comedian Romesh Ranganathan!
by Romesh RanganathanFrom comedy superstar Romesh Ranganathan comes a hilarious and heartfelt tale that proves rap battles and baking muffins really can mix. The perfect story for readers age 8+ and fans of David Baddiel and Adam B Wins the Internet!Ever since his dad left, James can't seem to stop worrying about everything. His favourite hobby, baking, is a fun (and delicious!) distraction, but no matter how many AMAZING brownies he makes, James still feels like there's a missing ingredient in his life . . .Until he discovers rapping, and he's COMPLETELY hooked. It's not long before James starts writing his own raps about everything - from music and cakes to his giant pet rabbit, Graham!So when he hears that grime artist star Brukka is on the hunt for young talent, James starts to wonder: could this be his chance to share his MUFFINS, his MUSIC, and maybe even his feelings with the whole school? If he could only find the confidence . . .Full of laugh-out-loud illustrations from bestselling illustrator James Lancett, this is the children's read of the summer!
Straight Outta Crawley: Memoirs of a Distinctly Average Human Being
by Romesh RanganathanTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERStraight Outta Crawley is the hilarious and irreverent autobiography from comedian Romesh Ranganathan.'Very, very funny. I can't recommend it highly enough.' Jonathan Ross_________________________________At the age of 9, Romesh Ranganathan delivered his first ever stand-up set at a Pontin's holiday camp talent competition, smashing the other competitor, a young girl playing the kazoo.The gig went so well that Romesh retired his comic genius for twenty-two years, hiding behind the guise of a maths teacher, before finally revealing himself again (no, not like that) at the tender age of 31. In 2010, Ranganathan staged his epic comeback gig to an almost silent room, and has since gone on to earn his place as the most in-demand overweight vegan Sri Lankan comedian in Britain.Now, for the first time, he tells the full story of how he got here. From the delights of Sri Lankan hospitality to his struggles as a child, teacher and now parent, to his adolescent flirtation with a rap career and his attempts to make it in comedy, Straight Outta Crawley is Ranganathan's hilarious and irreverent autobiography.Have you read Romesh's latest book? As Good As It Gets: Life Lessons from a Reluctant Adult is Romesh Ranganathan's hilarious and painfully accurate dissection of what it really means to grow up.
Decline and Reimagination in Cinematic New York (Routledge Advances in Film Studies)
by Cortland RankinDecline and Reimagination in Cinematic New York examines the cinematic representation of New York from the mid-1960s through the mid-1980s, placing the dominant discourse of urban decline in dialogue with marginal perspectives that reimagine the city along alternative paths as a resilient, adaptive, and endlessly inspiring place. Drawing on mainstream, independent, documentary, and experimental films, the book offers a multifaceted account of the power of film to imagine the city’s decline and reimagine its potential. The book analyzes how filmmakers mobilized derelict space and various articulations of “nature” as settings and signifiers that decenter traditional understandings of the city to represent New York alternately as a desolate wasteland, a hostile wilderness, a refuge and playground for outcasts, a home to resilient and resourceful communities, a studio for artistic experimentation, an arcadia conducive to alternative social arrangements, and a complex ecosystem. This book will be of interest to scholars and students of film studies, media studies, urban cinema, urban studies, and eco-cinema.
Film and the Afterlife (Routledge Studies in Religion and Film)
by David RankinThis book explores how post-death existence is represented in popular film, looking at issues such as continuity, personal identity, and the nature of existence beyond the grave. Film often returns to the theme of dying, death and the afterlife, both directly and indirectly, because there are very few subjects as compelling and universal. The book compares the representation of death, dying and the afterlife in films to scholarly surveys of attitudes towards life-after-death through the analysis of twenty films made between the end of World War II and now. It looks at the portrayals of stages between death and a final destination; spatio-temporal and personal continuity; the nature of afterlife existence in terms of embodiment, or not; and the contact between the worlds of the living and the dead. This book offers a wide-ranging view on a compelling subject in film. As such, it will be of great interest to scholars of Religion and Film, Religion and Media, the Philosophy of Religion, and the Sociology of Religion, as well as Religion, Media and Film Studies more generally .
Too Much Is Not Enough: A Memoir of Fumbling Toward Adulthood
by Andrew RannellsFrom 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 CityWhen 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.
Uncle of the Year: & Other Debatable Triumphs
by Andrew RannellsFrom the star of The Book of Mormon and Girls, candid, hilarious essays on anxiety, ambition, and the uncertain path to adulthood that ask: How will we know when we get there? &“With the unsparing eye of David Sedaris and the social wisdom of Nora Ephron, Andrew Rannells tackles the most foundational questions of growing up.&”—Lena DunhamIn Uncle of the Year, Andrew Rannells wonders: If he, now in his forties, has everything he&’s supposed to need to be an adult—a career, property, a well-tailored suit—why does he still feel like an anxious twenty-year-old climbing his way toward solid ground? Is it because he hasn&’t won a Tony, or found a husband, or had a child? And what if he doesn&’t want those things? (A husband and a child, that is. He wants a Tony.) In deeply personal essays drawn from his life as well as his career on Broadway and in Hollywood, Rannells argues that we all pretend—for friends, partners, parents, and others—that we are constantly succeeding in the process known as &“adulting.&” But if this acting is leaving us unfulfilled, then we need new markers of time, new milestones, new expectations of what adulthood is and can be. Along the way, Rannells navigates dating, aging, mental health, bad jobs, and much more. In his essay &“Uncle of the Year,&” he explores the role that children play in his life, as a man who never thought having kids was necessary or even possible—until his siblings have kids and he falls in love with a man with two of his own. In &“Always Sit Next to Mark Ruffalo,&” he reveals the thrills and absurdities of the awards circuit, and the desire to be recognized for one&’s work. And in &“Horses, Not Zebras,&” he shares the piece of wisdom that helped him finally come to terms with his anxiety and perfectionism. Filled with honest insights and a sharp wit, Uncle of the Year challenges us to take a long look at who we&’re pretending to be, who we know we are, and who we want to become.
The Beginner’s Guide to Opera Stage Management: Gathering the Tools You Need to Work in Opera
by Danielle RannoThe Beginner’s Guide to Opera Stage Management is the first book to cover theatrical stage management practices specifically for opera productions, providing an invaluable step-by-step guide. Beginning with a brief history of opera and detailing its difference from musical theatre, the book covers stage management best practices through prep, rehearsals, tech, performance, and wrap up. From the moment a manager accepts a contract, right through to archiving paperwork, this essential toolkit covers each step of a stage manager’s journey. Working with a score, reading music, working with singers, conductors, and musicians, basic duties of a stage manager versus an assistant stage manager, and other tasks specific to opera are also included in this comprehensive guide. This book is full of tips and tricks, as well as the good, bad, and ugly stories from opera stage managers, sharing both their experiences and mistakes. This is the perfect how-to book for the professional or emerging stage manager looking to work in opera, or to expand their existing stage management skillset.