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Jewish Thighs on Broadway: Misadventures of a Little Trouper
Breaking into Show Business is like breaking into Fort Knox; breaking out, we're talking Alcatraz. Penny Orloff's novel is populated by a meshuggah family, on-again-off-again lovers, diets from Hell, and a Rogue's Gallery from the Showbiz underworld. Miriam Rosen has been in love with Show Business since childhood, perpetually fantasizing herself as the Little Trouper Who Finds Stardom and True Love by the end of the movie. After a hundred shows and a hundred one-night stands, love and fame still elude her, and she'd rather suck a tailpipe than face another audition. Complicating her search for the Busby Berkeley ending is her primitive alter-ego—The Beast. This creature can track, kill, and devour a whole cheesecake; can kick the crap out of smaller muggers on the sidewalks of New York; and can't say no to recreational sex with a famous director on the Third Ring of the New York State Theater while a public tour is in progress. When Miriam finds true love at last, she is faced with an agonizing Showbiz or The Guy.
- GenresMusic
214 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 7, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 23, 2022
Jewish thighs on Broadway by Penny Orloff
This is the story of a Jewish Broadway star. She has been in love with show business since childhood. By sixth grade she was in many plays already. She had written, produced and directed them. She is a very accomplished lady. This is such a fabulous story. I learned that a New York City apartment was $44 a month when this wonderful lady moved into an apartment many years ago.
The positive aspects of the book were learning so much about the life of a Broadway star. She stuck it out and made it on Broadway against all the odds.She received a nice salary and stayed at four star hotels. She also found true love. On a side note, I loved the Yiddish words that were thrown into the book.
This is a must read. It tells you about the Jewish involving of the theatre from its inception. I highly recommend this book and give it 5 stars.
This is the story of a Jewish Broadway star. She has been in love with show business since childhood. By sixth grade she was in many plays already. She had written, produced and directed them. She is a very accomplished lady. This is such a fabulous story. I learned that a New York City apartment was $44 a month when this wonderful lady moved into an apartment many years ago.
The positive aspects of the book were learning so much about the life of a Broadway star. She stuck it out and made it on Broadway against all the odds.She received a nice salary and stayed at four star hotels. She also found true love. On a side note, I loved the Yiddish words that were thrown into the book.
This is a must read. It tells you about the Jewish involving of the theatre from its inception. I highly recommend this book and give it 5 stars.
March 18, 2025
Jewish Thighs on Broadway
This story about an almost famous singer/dancer/actress named Abigail Paine, who struggles her whole life hovering at the brink of stardom, shows how difficult it is to achieve lasting success. Something most observers take for granted.
The author Penny Orloff, through Abigal’s voice, reprises her ride on the carousel of life in the performing arts. She relates her tales of reaching again and again for the brass ring, only to come up inches away and sometimes falling completely off the carousel in her attempts to grab the elusive prize.
What can I say about a story that frustrates you, yet makes you laugh at the same time? Every time you think Abigal has made it to the top and you want to smile in triumph, then her career takes a downturn, and she begins again.
I can say, "It’s an imaginative and fun read."
This story about an almost famous singer/dancer/actress named Abigail Paine, who struggles her whole life hovering at the brink of stardom, shows how difficult it is to achieve lasting success. Something most observers take for granted.
The author Penny Orloff, through Abigal’s voice, reprises her ride on the carousel of life in the performing arts. She relates her tales of reaching again and again for the brass ring, only to come up inches away and sometimes falling completely off the carousel in her attempts to grab the elusive prize.
What can I say about a story that frustrates you, yet makes you laugh at the same time? Every time you think Abigal has made it to the top and you want to smile in triumph, then her career takes a downturn, and she begins again.
I can say, "It’s an imaginative and fun read."
March 8, 2025
The ideal book for Broadway or theater aficionados! This book provides insights and laughs on what goes on behind the curtains. Told with a good dose of comedy. Get ready to learn about some Jewish delicacies and enhance your Yiddish. I've seen the author in action at one of our local author events--she's the real deal!
February 5, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyable
To be honest, I assumed this was an autobiography and it’s very likely many experiences from her career influenced the story. No doubt the most fun I’ve had reading for many years.
To be honest, I assumed this was an autobiography and it’s very likely many experiences from her career influenced the story. No doubt the most fun I’ve had reading for many years.
February 19, 2025
This book is the autobiography of Penny Orloff, a Broadway actress and a soprano with the NYC Opera. Readers working in or connected to the industry would likely appreciate the humor and references to theatre and live perfomance, but I couldn't relate.
December 18, 2025
A delightful romp of a book. I laughed out loud several times, and caught myself smiling a lot.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews