Staged

by Ruby Preston

Aspiring Broadway producer Scarlett Savoy has almost everything she needs to make her first musical a huge success- millions in financial backing, a talented (not to mention handsome) young director, and a big-name Hollywood starlet as her female lead. But with none of the theater owners in town willing to back a novice, she’s missing one final piece of the a Broadway theater. Just when Scarlett thinks her show might never see the footlights of day, an unexpected meeting with the young, eligible son in the Stewart theatrical empire changes Scarlett’s Broadway prospects forever.STAGED, the second novel by real-life Broadway producer, Ruby Preston. @BroadwayRuby

Genres: Chick Lit

252 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 9, 2013

About the author

Ruby Preston is a young Broadway producer currently working on several new musicals on the Great White Way. She couldn't be more thrilled to be living her dreams in the Times Square trenches of Manhattan.

Reviews

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Orginally published on The Bookish Thespian The Bookish Thespian
A quote from a review of the first book in this series, Showbiz, describes it perfectly. “Will have you dreaming of Broadway even if you’re miles away.” (TheatreMania) As I was reading this I found myself remembering my own adventures in NYC… and I was homesick. So much that I actually created an entire board on Pinterest dedicated to it. The author describes the city in such detail, and with such affection, that I was completely immersed in the story. The culture and charm of New York simply oozed from the pages, it’s obvious that the author has a lot of affection for it. I got excited every time she talked about something that I remembered seeing for myself when I was in NYC, the TKTS bleachers, the hawkers in Times Square vying for your attention, trying to get you to come see their show, the restaurants…







The story itself was quite enjoyable too. I felt like I knew the characters personally, because I know people, friends, who are very similar. Especially Scarlett’s brother and her best friend, I swear I know people just like them. I felt myself stressing along with Scarlett as she struggled to make her show work. I’ve been part of a production that is just getting started. The stress of finding just the right people for the show, funding, location, publicity, funding, going to read throughs, did I mention funding? Scarlett’s deep devotion and love for the theatre is evident on every page. Not just the “oh, the Arts are popular and we must preserve them”. But the love of the history, culture, tradition… I feel like we're kindred spirits.







The only part of the book that I felt was a bit off was the situation Scarlett finds herself in, it was a bit far-fetched and almost felt out of place with the realism of the rest of the book. And yet… it’s New York, and even more importantly, Broadway. ANYTHING is possible.



Oh, and as a warning to those who appreciate show tunes. They are referenced constantly throughout the book. You WILL have them running through your head for days after. I think I'm going to make a Spotify playlist for the songs referenced in this book...

[Mina De Caro (Mina's Bookshelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extended review on Mina's Bookshelf http://minadecaro.blogspot.com/2013/0...

For those who like me are firmly convinced that the marriage between iconic actor Tom Cruise and tv teen drama starlet Katie Holmes was just a big hoax, it won't be hard to accept the idea that, in a business that plays on 'dress up, pretend and make-believe', staged affairs and marriage contracts happen more often than we, paying audience, would imagine. [...]
Well, when an award-winning Broadway producer such as Ruby Preston decides to enter the literary arena with a series of chick lit novels evolving around a young Broadway producer and the lengths she has to go in order to bring her first musical to the stage, you can be sure that a plot otherwise implausible to any stretch of imagination (aspiring Broadway producer Scarlett Savoy accepts to pose as girlfriend of a theater mogul Graham Steward in order to secure a stage for her first musical) becomes an entertaining and 'not too hard to believe' portrayal of a world where acting goes on even when the curtains are down and where more than appears on the scene is staged. Through the expert perspective of an insider we can expect back-room business deals, behind-the-scene dramas and back-stage secrets to be spilled in the pages of a piece of fiction.
In Staged, Scarlet is an up and coming producer in desperate need of a theater for her first musical, Swan Song. Graham is a theater tycoon in desperate need of a "prop" fiancee in order to convince his family and the board members that he is the most reliable heir of the Stuart Broadway empire. The young producer will enter into a fictional relationship with the powerful CFO as part of a business proposition. After all, she isn't looking for real romance at this point of her life and, like Graham, she is focusing all her energy on the achievement of her career goals. So far so good: up to this point I didn't have to try too hard to suspend my disbelief. Less convincing for me was the characterization of the two protagonists: to be able to carry on in the Broadway showbiz, Scarlet is supposed to be a tough-as-nail producer, and Graham is introduced as a hard-as-granite tycoon, but there are circumstances throughout the narration where they both come off as inconsistently insecure, vulnerable, and swinging between conflicting moods. Graham's personality is not fully nuanced (I think the author willingly left part of his story and personality in the dark in view of a future development), while Scarlet has a back-story and an emotional arc that go back to the prequel book published in 2012 (Showbiz). Staged is, in fact, the transition installment of a trilogy (the sequel, Starstruck, should be in the works) and it reads as a transition novel, where new characters are introduced in order to set the scene for open-ended plot developments, and old acquaintances complete the picture and add zest with their colorful and somehow more convincing characterization (see Scarlet's drag queen brother, her best friend Cassie, the gay playwriters Buff and Jeremy Jersey). Overall, Staged is an enjoyable read: it features the addicting qualities of a light tv drama and it definitely fired my interest. I will read the sequel.

*Review copy generously offered by the author in return of an unbiased opinion.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome back to the bright lights and lively musicals that is Broadway! When we last saw aspiring Broadway producer Scarlett Savoy in Showbiz, the first book of the Broadway Trilogy, she was spreading her wings and learning the ropes. Now in the second installment of the trilogy, Staged, Scarlett has wrangled funding for her pet project, a new musical called Swan Song. With the funding secured, a talented young director hired, and a Hollywood star for the female lead, all Scarlett needs to do to get the musical in production is a Broadway theater. And there lies the problem, because the theater owners aren't willing to take a chance on a novice producer, what's a tenacious girl to do? Why kick up her heels and attract the attention of the eligible son and heir apparent to the Stewart theatrical empire!

When I read Showbiz, I couldn't imagine author Ruby Preston being able to recapture the magic and mystique that is Broadway in another story. Well, I stand corrected, because Staged transports the reader back to the magical Great White Way in a seamless and entertaining style. Once again author Ruby Preston pulls out all the stops and sprinkles fairy dust on another fascinating tale of the inner workings of NY's famed musical theater industry.

Written in the third person narrative, the reader follows sassy and persistent Scarlett Savoy as she tries to get her first big musical, Swan Song in the big lights and on the stage of a famed Broadway theater. Even with the trials and tribulations that she endures along the way, there's no stopping this Broadway baby from getting her way! And if that isn't enough, the author mixes in a delicious romance to keep our hearts fluttering!

With an exciting cast of characters who are realistic, have flamboyant personalities and larger than life egos; humorous dialogues and interactions; and a masterful style of creating a storyline with chapters that are set as scenes, and plenty of show tunes spread throughout the story to keep you humming along, Staged pulls out all the stops and provides excitement and entertainment that is simply Broadway!

Author Ruby Preston stays true to the musical theater that is part of her real life profession. She provides the reader with a fascinating story rich in detail and vivid descriptions of the inner workings of the production of the musical theater industry with a touch of romance that keeps the reader engaged and wanting more! I look forward to seeing what the third book in the trilogy has in store for us! Bravo, Ruby!


Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scarlett from SHOWBIZ is back. With her own production company she is ready to present her first work on broadway, Swan Song. The problem is that she can't get a theater, but she can't let that hold her back. So, she works on finding a director, gets a young hollywood star as a lead lined up. As she keeps working on a place to present the work Scarlett has to consider what lines she is willing to cross and how many friends she is willing to alienate in order to pursue her dream.

I still love Preston's works. I am excited to see that this is a trilogy, so we will be able to continue to read about Scarlett and maybe see her dream come to fruition. Again as a theater person I found this plot very relatable, but don't think that others who don't have a theater background would be lost. Scarlett is developed in this book, but I personally think if you didn't have the background of the first book on her and some of her main supporting friends you may be a little lost. Having read both of the books I could relate to Scarlett and the situations she found herself in and feel due to that I could understand why she made some of the decisions she did in a way you might not without the background.

I would highly recommend this book to others especially someone who worked in theater/did theater as a hobby or even just someone who always wished they could work in theater. This plot focused more on the life outside the theater then the last one, but you knew that aspect was still there. Someone who enjoys Smash the television show would enjoy this book.

I was disappointed by a few aspects of this book compared to the last. That was time passed between the two books and character development/relationships changed in that time and those changes were not well presented to the reader but as kind of second hand news/after the fact oh yeah I should tell you details to fill us in. I personally would have liked to know more about those relationships too and have gotten that insight. I think that part of it for me was I felt like I knew the characters and they were like my friends, so I would like to know about the details I missed. That is just me and didn't distract from the overall plots.

I have to give this book 4 stars in it lacked a few things for me, but it was still really enjoyable. I would encourage others to go read it and the others in the series.

I was provided a copy of the book for review, but the summary and thoughts on the book are mine.

[Samantha March · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruby Preston is on tour now with CLP Blog Tours and Staged. I was super excited to get this book, as I highly enjoyed the first in this Broadway series, Showbiz. Scarlett Savoy is back and ready to conquer the Broadway biz – for real this time. She is now a producer for her own company, has financial backing thanks to a good friend, has a hit show on her hands, and even more pieces fall into place when she snags a sought-after director and a Hollywood starlet to play the lead. The only thing she needs now? A theater.

Oh, there is so much more to Staged than just Scarlett trying to find a theater and making her show a success. The most intriguing part to me was the romance – just who was Scarlett going to end up with? I hate to drop a (very minor) spoiler, but it looks like we won’t know that answer until the third and final book in this series. I’m not sure you would absolutely need to read Showbiz in order to catch on to this book, but I actually like the first just a smidge more, so I would recommend it anyway! And I’m definitely looking forward to the third and seeing how Scarlett’s journey comes to an end.

[Kristin (Kritters Ramblings) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings

A sequel to Showbiz that I read and reviewed here at Kritters Ramblings that centers around a young woman who has been working in the Broadway world and wants to become a famous Broadway producer. Scarlett is back and this book starts just as the first book ended. I appreciated the few moments of reminders in the beginning of this book to remind me what occurred in the first book.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with Ruby Preston the moment I picked up her first book, Showbiz. Having such a love of Broadway, without the skill, I wanted to delve deeper in the world I've always dreamed of. She didn't disappoint with Staged. I was left on the cliff on my seat battling between which love I wanted her to choose and which theatre exec to slap with nearest playbill. I can't wait until the third and final book. Thanks again for all the love Ruby!

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little cliche but cute

A very cute story. As a Broadway fan, I loved getting to read about the inner workings of Broadway, and this book gives the nitty gritty. There are characters you want to root for, even if they are a little bit clichéd.

[Maurice Wijnen · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of the same! Still very enjoyable, still not perfect. The Broadway equivalent of a beach-read.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like the first, lots of fun to read but not the best writing. I'm looking forward to the third book!