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THRILL MAKER: The Story of My Musical "Thrill Me"
312 pages, Paperback
Published January 18, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 30, 2025
I have an odd history with Thrill Me because I only discovered the show through foreign language studies. Had I still been in the UK when it first played there, I doubtless would have gone to see it, but I had already moved to Australia by then, so the musical passed me by until recently when I started learning Korean. I found highlights from the Korean production on YouTube and only then learnt it was an English-language show originally. I got to see the Korean production during a visit to Seoul in 2024, so I actually know the songs in Korean but have only heard a couple in English.
Thrill Maker was an interesting read since it took the reader on a journey from the show's initial concept to its ongoing success (up to 2024). I enjoyed learning the background to the creation of the show, and the evolution of the songs and staging. Stephen shared many behind-the-scenes tales from the early days, right through to the work he continues to do licensing various productions around the world. Stephen is clearly passionate about the show, but there were odd times around the middle of the book when he came across as a bit controlling. In some of the scenarios he mentioned, I could understand why he would have been upset at the liberties taken with his work. I am a published author and have had books pirated, so I know the feeling. But in a few of the scenarios, it seemed to me an overreaction. This put me offside now and then, but not in any major way and, as the creator, he is entitled to act in whatever way he finds fitting in relation to protecting his work. The book was fun and entertaining throughout, but the one aspect I thought could have been improved was the lack of pictures. Stephen talked often of great design work and amazing photos taken, but we never got shown any of them. This may have been a cost factor in terms of the book's production, but to see a few colour plates with poster designs and set/cast images would have given that extra shine. For those keen, though, such images are available to view on Stephen's website, as he notes in the book. Overall, I am giving this book four stars. It's a fascinating read whether you are already a fan of Thrill Me or are a fan of musicals in general and want to learn more of the background and work that goes into creating a show.
Thrill Maker was an interesting read since it took the reader on a journey from the show's initial concept to its ongoing success (up to 2024). I enjoyed learning the background to the creation of the show, and the evolution of the songs and staging. Stephen shared many behind-the-scenes tales from the early days, right through to the work he continues to do licensing various productions around the world. Stephen is clearly passionate about the show, but there were odd times around the middle of the book when he came across as a bit controlling. In some of the scenarios he mentioned, I could understand why he would have been upset at the liberties taken with his work. I am a published author and have had books pirated, so I know the feeling. But in a few of the scenarios, it seemed to me an overreaction. This put me offside now and then, but not in any major way and, as the creator, he is entitled to act in whatever way he finds fitting in relation to protecting his work. The book was fun and entertaining throughout, but the one aspect I thought could have been improved was the lack of pictures. Stephen talked often of great design work and amazing photos taken, but we never got shown any of them. This may have been a cost factor in terms of the book's production, but to see a few colour plates with poster designs and set/cast images would have given that extra shine. For those keen, though, such images are available to view on Stephen's website, as he notes in the book. Overall, I am giving this book four stars. It's a fascinating read whether you are already a fan of Thrill Me or are a fan of musicals in general and want to learn more of the background and work that goes into creating a show.
January 24, 2024
You don't have to have seen Thrill Me or read the script to understand and and appreciate this book. Thrill Maker is a look behind the curtain at how Dolginoff's Thrill Me was created and the unexpected life of its own it has had in the 30 years since, going far beyond his wildest imagination. Very much a story of the life of a modern musical, the behind the scenes nature of Dolginoff's storytelling reminds me a lot of Razzle Dazzle: The Battle for Broadway. If you enjoy theater, you'll love Thrill Maker.
July 4, 2024
You could tell the author put his heart and soul into this musical. Very easy to read. I enjoyed it-wished I had seen it
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews