Never Mind the Happy: Showbiz Stories from a Sore Winner

by Marc Shaiman

From the award-winning composer/co-lyricist behind such iconic projects as Hairspray , Sister Act , Mary Poppins Returns , and Smash comes a wickedly funny, no-holds-barred memoir.

In Never Mind the Happy, musical dynamo Marc Shaiman looks back on five decades of Broadway triumphs, Hollywood hijinks, and unforgettable collaborations. Along the way, he charts the personal highs and heartbreaks that have shaped him—spending his teenage years in community theater, starting a decades-long collaboration with Bette Midler in the ’70s, surviving the AIDS crisis of the ’80s, his award-winning film music career in the Hollywood of the ’90s, right up to the peaks (and valleys) of creating Broadway musicals from 2000 on.

Candid, hilarious, and deeply human, Shaiman’s story is a tribute to the power of music, the pull of the spotlight, and the beat that never stops.

Part showbiz tell-all, part love letter to the melancholy that fuels creativity, told with perfect comic timing—along with a few wrong notes, and plenty of standing ovations.

This audiobook includes music performed by Marc Shaiman, with special guest appearances from Norbert Leo Butz, Martin Short, Christine Ebersole, Ben Whishaw, and more!

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Biography, Music, Audiobook, Humor, Biography Memoir

Audible Audio

Published January 27, 2026

Reviews

[Ilyse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, it was such a name droppy gossipy story of someone whose work I've loved since high school (our thespian troupe took a trip to see Hairspray). If youre a fan of any of Marc's work id recommend picking up this book.

Specifically the audiobook, because not only does Marc sing, he has some musical theater legends singing too! I listen at 2.5x speed but I slowed the playback down to listen to the singing but also to the list of names in chapter 8 you can hear the emotion in his voice during that part specifically.

Thank you RBMedia and NetGalley for this audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Jack Nix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly recommend listening to the audiobook! Marc narrates, sings many of the mentioned songs, and brings in special guests (Martin Short, Matthew Broderick, Jennifer Lewis, Megan Hilty, and many more).
Filled with some wonderful behind the scenes show business stories. Every theater and movie lover should check this out!

[Rossi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The audiobook was just *chefs kiss* - getting to hear Marc’s music woven into his life story was such a smart, immersive touch.

Was it a little name-droppy at times? Sure. Did the first half occasionally feel like a Bette Midler biography? Maybe. And did it get a little irrationally “woe is me”? Yes. But did I enjoy it? You bet!

[Margie Bunting · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good celebrity memoir, so Marc Shaiman's Never Mind the Happy was firmly in my reading wheelhouse. Shaiman is the musical genius responsible for composing award-winning scores and songs for many notable movies and for co-creating successful Broadway shows, a multitalent who has also arranged and orchestrated musical numbers and accompanied a panoply of famous singers on the piano.

From a recent tour of his Some Like It Hot musical to the most touching song in the movie Mary Poppins Returns to the excitement of "Let Me Be Your Star" on the TV show Smash, his music has definitely been part of my life. He has also been a collaborator and friend of many celebrities, with long-term working relationships with Bette Midler, Martin Shore, Billy Crystal, and many more. For his first Broadway show, Hairspray, he takes us through the entire process, step by step, with all of the highs and lows, giving us the behind-the-scenes details we love. And his section on losing many of his friends during the AIDS epidemic is touching and memorable. Sprinkled throughout the book are lyrics that he wrote, co-wrote, or adapted which made him especially proud. It's a very entertaining read for those who enjoy musical theater and films and iwnt to learn more about them from an insider.

My review is based on a complimentary pre-release copy of this book.

[Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would gladly listen to an entire audiobook detailing the ins and outs of Marc Shaiman at Marty Short’s Christmas Party -

Shaiman’s coke period was WILD.

[Rachel Norton · Rating 4 out of 5]

For fans of music, Broadway, and musical scores - especially those of the 80s and 90s, Marc Shaiman brings us behind the scenes of his life in the music business. He wrote the musical score for Mary Poppins Returns, City Slickers, Sleepless In Seattle, Hairspray, The American President, The Addams Family, and Beaches, just to name a few. It was interesting to hear the behind the scenes that went into the writes and re-writes for movies and musical productions. I listened to the memoir, and a bonus was hearing him, alongside some special guests, sing a few of the numbers he wrote over the years. It was a short listen, and it made me want to watch some of these movies all over again, just to pay special attention to the music.

[Kerri Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you don’t like musical theater, this may not be for you. But it was very much for me! I would heavily recommend listening to the audiobook so you can hear Marc and several legends sing songs referenced in the book. This was a fun, sassy and nostalgic account of Marc’s life and career

[Douglas Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This autobiography was lots of fun for me! If you think you don’t know Marc Shaiman, and you’re straight- you may be correct, but if you think you don’t know Marc Shaiman and you’re gay- you’re mistaken. Aside from his mega hit Hairspray (he wrote the Broadway show and helped on Broadway) but he also wrote the Broadway scores for Catch Me if You Can, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Some Like it Hot, and Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me. For TV he wrote music for Smash and created the Sweeney Sister for SNL, and for film he did a ton of scores, and lyrics and music for South Park, Bigger, Longer, and Uncut. (I’m just listing a few of his major accomplishments)
His book is a fun and fast read filled to the brim with name dropping and celebrity dishing (which fans of Arts Journal! know that i live for!!) He’s best friends with Bette Midler (and wrote Otto Titsling and other songs for Beaches!)
Shaiman mainly focuses this book on his career with just brief mentions of his love life and his cocaine addiction, he does go into great detail about the process of scoring some of the films he worked on, which was a little less interesting for me.
I highly recommend this one to fans of Broadway, movies, music, and just gay stuff in general. 4 out of 5 stars.

[Beth Kanarek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of the movie and musical, Hairspray, so when I found out the composer wrote a memoir I was intrigued! If he wrote a whole 300 pages on the making of the Hairspray musical I would eat it up. Those chapters were easily my favorite parts of the book.

It had so much entertaining Broadway gossip through the years. It was interesting learning about both his successful and not so successful theater and movie endeavors.

You definitely need a wide breadth of celebrity and Broadway knowledge to enjoy this book. I’m not as knowledgeable about some of these 80s/90s folks so some of that went over my head. If you’re a similar age to Marc I’m sure it’s a great blast from the past!

[Joe · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book left me deeply disappointed. What could have been a thoughtful or self-aware memoir instead feels stuck in a loop of nostalgia and grievance. Much of the book revolves around Marc Shaiman’s fixation on past glories, particularly his long-running admiration for Bette Midler, which quickly becomes repetitive rather than illuminating.

Instead of offering fresh insight, humor, or growth, the narrative often comes across as self-indulgent and stuck in the past. The tone frequently veers into complaining, with anecdotes that feel more exhausting than entertaining. Attempts at humor rarely land, and the constant revisiting of old stories gives the impression of someone unable or unwilling to move forward.

Ultimately, the book feels less like a celebration of a creative life and more like a prolonged lament. For readers hoping for wit, reflection, or even warmth, Never Mind the Happy may prove to be an irritating and surprisingly joyless read.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful, honest, humorous, and heartfelt book about Marc Shaiman's life and accomplishments.
Shaiman is a gay, Jewish, musical prodigy who knew what he wanted to do from an early age. He has been living a phenomenal life, working closely with big-name stars (Bette Midler, Billy Crystal, etc.), earning industry recognition (Grammys, Emmys, Tony, etc.), and having two great loves in his life. Yet, just as it's said one can never be too rich or too thin, Marc still occasionally falls short in his own eyes, missing that star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, that Oscar, that name recognition that others have achieved. For example, he's won many awards for the musical Hairspray: I am familiar with Hairspray, but had not heard of the talented Marc Shaiman before listening to this book.
A couple of times, the author/narrator suggests buying the book to see the included photos. However, the audiobook is full of music and songs performed by Shaiman and many of his friends and colleagues. I highly recommend the audiobook version! This is an excellent book for anyone interested in Broadway, Hollywood, music scoring, or memoir. Fans of Randy Rainbow would also enjoy this.
My thanks to the author @MarcShaiman, @RBMedia, @RecordedBooks, and #NetGalley for early access to the terrific audiobook of #NeverMindtheHappy for review purposes. Publication date: 27 January 2026.

[Dorian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marc's book is wonderful!

What a great collection of his journey in the entertainment industry since the 70's. His music and lyrics have touched so many lives in a profound way. His score for MARY POPPINS RETURNS is whimsical and deeply moving. His work with Bette Midler has so many landmark moments.

Marc's work with Rob Reiner has produced some of the best movie scores ever written. There is no end to the joy you will share as Marc tells of his many encounters with the entertainment industry greats (and near greats)!

I also bought the audio book. It is so wonderful to hear Marc's unique voice as he tells the many exciting moments that have formed one of the great composer/lyracist careers. And he plays and sings while telling his stories - what could be more fun than that?

NEVER MIND THE HAPPY is a great read (or listen). The magic of this book has delighted me. And I think you'll agree.

[Michael Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great read if you happen to be a show queen ( which I do.). Super gay and super connected, Shaman’s campy style and pervading sense of “gee whiz” makes him completely relatable for all of the average joes who might pick this up. I had no idea he had his fingers in so many pies and maybe didn’t need to hear as much about where else he put them. No Sondheim but also not to be sneezed at.

[Joni Daniels · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you have seen an award winning movie or a Broadway show from the 60’s to today, then you have heard Marc Shaiman’s work. A musical savant and high school dropout there is lot’s of name dropping Bette Midler, Billy Crystal, Martin Short, Rob Reiner), gossip, behind the scene stories and dives into musical arranging, scoring, and song writing. What was lacking was a thoughtful reflection of a life of success that far outweighs failures. There are complaints about awards not received, disagreements that lack insight, and a breeziness that only briefly stops when mentioning the long list of friends lost to AIDS.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook 1000/10

[Dan Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fabulous walk through Broadway history! Thanks for the music, Marc!

[Wynward Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a dishy, delightful book. Hearing Marc tell his story on the audiobook is an added treat. If you're a theatre queen, this book is definitely for you.

[Zen KOH]

Behind the glamour, creative achievement is sustained by admiration, insecurity, failure and the uncomfortable fact that even legends are human.

There is something extraordinary about watching a person you have worshipped since childhood lose their composure in your living room.

For composer and lyricist Marc Shaiman, that moment arrived in November 1999, when Stephen Sondheim, one of musical theatre's most revered figures, attended a party at his New York apartment.

What followed was equal parts absurd comedy and genuine panic.

After sharing marijuana with Shaiman and two fellow musicians, Sondheim became unsteady and collapsed three times. Shaiman, suddenly terrified that he might have accidentally killed his musical hero, struggled to reconcile the vulnerable man on the floor with the seemingly untouchable artistic genius he had admired for decades.

Sondheim recovered. The next morning, when Shaiman telephoned to check on him, the older composer made one request: wait until he was dead before telling the story.

Shaiman honoured that request for more than twenty years.

This remarkable anecdote, recounted on pages 178–181 of Never Mind the Happy: Showbiz Stories from a Sore Winner, reveals something more interesting than backstage gossip. It exposes the uneasy relationship between admiration and intimacy, artistic greatness and ordinary human vulnerability.

It also offers an unusually revealing introduction to Shaiman himself.

The most interesting person in the room is not always the most famous.

Shaiman has spent almost five decades at the intersection of Broadway, Hollywood and popular music.

His career spans collaborations with some of entertainment's most recognisable performers, award-winning film scores, and stage musicals including Hairspray, Catch Me If You Can and Some Like It Hot.

Yet the most revealing characteristic of his storytelling is not his access to celebrated people. It is his enduring astonishment at being allowed into their world.

As a teenager, Shaiman travelled into Manhattan to purchase piano scores of Sondheim's musicals. He studied the music, played along with recordings and absorbed the compositional imagination of an artist who represented everything he hoped to become.

Years later, that same artist stood inside his apartment.

The relationship had changed physically, but not entirely psychologically.

Shaiman was now a successful professional with significant achievements of his own. Nevertheless, in Sondheim's presence, he remained partly the teenager who had once marvelled at those scores.

That tension is the memoir's most compelling psychological territory.

Professional success does not necessarily erase the hierarchies we establish in our minds when we are young. The people who shaped our ambitions can retain an almost mythical authority long after we have become their professional peers.

This is true well beyond entertainment. Scientists, entrepreneurs, writers and artists frequently discover that recognition within their profession does not eliminate the emotional power of those whose work first inspired them.

Shaiman's anecdote gives that experience an unexpectedly comic expression.

He has achieved enough to host Sondheim at his own party. Yet he remains so deferential that the group repeatedly passes the marijuana back to their distinguished guest.

The social hierarchy survives even when it has become ridiculous.

Humour becomes more powerful when it exposes vulnerability.

The Sondheim episode is structured with impressive comic timing.

An extraordinary guest arrives unexpectedly. The host offers hospitality. Everyone relaxes. The conversation becomes animated.

Then comes the first collapse.

A recovery follows, allowing everyone to believe the episode has passed.

Then comes the second.

By the third collapse, the story has crossed from embarrassment into genuine alarm.

Shaiman's instinct is to interpret the unfolding disaster through the exaggerated theatrical logic of his profession. He imagines that, just before his own Broadway breakthrough, he has somehow brought about the death of the composer he reveres.

It is a brilliantly absurd thought, but the physical incident itself was potentially serious.

The humour works because Shaiman does not present himself as a heroic participant. He is the anxious, socially overwhelmed host whose attempt at conviviality has gone spectacularly wrong.

He allows himself to appear foolish.

That willingness is central to the appeal of a good memoir.

Celebrity autobiographies often suffer when their authors insist on remaining the most impressive people in every story. Every encounter becomes proof of influence, every disagreement evidence of superior judgement, every achievement another reminder of exceptional talent.

Shaiman's better instinct, at least in this excerpt, is to let the situation diminish his own grandeur.

He becomes the comic supporting character in his own account.

And precisely because of that, he becomes more interesting.

The title reveals an unresolved relationship with success.

Never Mind the Happy is an intriguing title for a memoir by someone who has accumulated professional recognition that most aspiring musicians could scarcely imagine.

Its subtitle, Showbiz Stories from a Sore Winner, makes the contradiction explicit.

The idea of a sore winner is more psychologically revealing than that of a sore loser.

A sore loser struggles with failure. A sore winner has achieved success yet remains troubled by disappointment, insecurity, resentment or the sense that something essential is still missing.

Shaiman's broader memoir, as described by its publisher and contemporary reviewers, moves between professional triumph, artistic frustration, personal relationships and painful losses, including the devastating effects of the AIDS epidemic on his generation.

That broader context matters.

A career cannot be measured solely through productions, awards or celebrated collaborators. Its emotional history includes the work that failed, recognition that arrived too late, relationships altered by success and people who did not live long enough to witness what came afterwards.

The title suggests that achievement and contentment do not progress together.

This is perhaps the memoir's most compelling proposition: creative ambition can sustain a person for decades while denying them the satisfaction of feeling that they have finally done enough.

There is an inherent danger in this form of self-examination, however.

Self-deprecation can illuminate insecurity, but repeated grievance can become self-indulgent. A successful artist's complaints may eventually test the reader's sympathy, particularly when the narrative returns too often to professional slights or disappointments.

Contemporary critical responses to the memoir reflect this tension. Some praise its humour, warmth and candour; others find its celebrity anecdotes excessive and wish it devoted more attention to the creative process and important personal relationships.

That is a legitimate reservation.

The great opportunity in a memoir by an accomplished composer is not simply to discover whom he met. It is to understand how he thought, how he worked with others, how creative disagreements shaped the finished work and how he reconciled artistic ambition with the compromises of commercial entertainment.

The Sondheim episode succeeds because it tells us something about its narrator's emotional world.

Other anecdotes must meet the same standard if they are to become more than entertaining recollections.

The decision to keep a secret may be the most revealing part of the story.

The most consequential moment in the Sondheim anecdote comes after the comic chaos.

It is the telephone call the following morning.

When Sondheim asks Shaiman to postpone telling the story until after his death, the joke becomes a question of discretion and trust.

A younger artist possesses an extraordinary anecdote about a celebrated figure. It is funny, memorable and almost guaranteed to attract attention.

Yet he chooses not to use it.

For more than two decades, Shaiman keeps the story private.

This restraint complicates our understanding of the entertainment industry, where proximity to famous people is itself a form of social currency.

The episode illustrates a distinction that is easily overlooked: access to another person's private life does not necessarily confer an unrestricted right to publicise it.

Of course, the ethical question does not disappear merely because the story is eventually told after death. Sondheim's request established a boundary about timing, not necessarily an unlimited endorsement of every possible retelling.

But Shaiman's decision to honour that boundary remains meaningful.

He understood that the professional and personal relationships sustaining a creative community depend on more than talent.

They depend on trust.

When Sondheim died in 2021, public tributes celebrated his musical achievements and artistic influence. Shaiman joined a gathering in Times Square where admirers sang Sunday, one of the composer's best-known songs.

He remembered both the artistic giant and the vulnerable man from his apartment.

There is something deeply human in that coexistence.

The public version of a great artist is assembled from achievements. The private version contains awkward moments, weaknesses, ordinary pleasures and occasional lapses of judgement.

Neither version is complete by itself.

The memoir's greatest value may lie beneath its celebrity stories.

The broader appeal of Never Mind the Happy appears to rest on Shaiman's ability to turn an extraordinary professional life into an accessible, frequently self-mocking narrative.

Its setting is glamorous. Its underlying emotions are not.

Admiration, ambition, disappointment, grief, insecurity, friendship and the desire to be recognised are familiar experiences, even when they unfold among celebrated artists and major theatrical productions.

That is what distinguishes a potentially lasting memoir from a collection of entertaining backstage anecdotes.

The reader should emerge understanding something about the person who lived the experiences, not merely the famous people who happened to be present.

Based on the Sondheim excerpt and the broader critical accounts, Shaiman's strengths are his conversational energy, sharp comic timing and willingness to acknowledge how deeply the people around him shaped his life.

The potential weakness is that the sheer abundance of celebrity encounters can compete with a more searching account of the creative work and relationships underlying his success.

Yet even that tension is revealing.

Shaiman's artistic identity seems inseparable from his lifelong enthusiasm for other performers. He is a creator who remains a fan.

Perhaps that is not an inadequacy to overcome. Perhaps it is one of the qualities that has sustained his creative life.

The teenager studying Sondheim's scores and the successful composer entertaining Sondheim in his apartment are still recognisably the same person.

The distance between them is measured in decades of work. The continuity between them is measured in admiration.

Final assessment

Never Mind the Happy offers more than the promise of an amusing journey through entertainment history.

At its most revealing, it explores the paradox of a creative life in which achievement does not extinguish insecurity, professional recognition does not eliminate youthful admiration, and artistic greatness remains inseparable from ordinary human frailty.

The memoir's celebrity stories will naturally attract readers interested in Broadway and Hollywood. Its more enduring value lies in the moments when Shaiman stops treating extraordinary people as monuments and allows them, and himself, to appear human.

The Sondheim anecdote captures that quality beautifully.

A young admirer becomes a successful peer. A revered genius becomes a vulnerable party guest. An embarrassing secret becomes an act of discretion. And, years later, the story becomes an affectionate reminder that a person's greatness need not depend on being flawless.

The most meaningful tribute we can pay to genius may be to remember the person behind it, rather than preserve the illusion that genius exists above ordinary humanity.

[Cyndie Adamski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was exactly what I thought it would be. A lifetime working with famous people in the music world.
I love music and was interested in the background of singers like Bette Midler, Streisand etc.
I enjoyed the book and as I said it delivered.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

For full effect, this book really needs to be read in two formats -- the visual book (print or ebook) and as the audiobook because the latter includes performances of lesser known songs, sung by Nathan Lane, Christine Ebersole, etc. and you don't want to miss Jennifer Lewis singing "Black Don't Crack." But the prinit versions include photos.

[Jackie Leibowitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a joy to read for a musical theatre geek like me who grew up idolizing Tracy Turnblad and listening to that cast album on constant repeat. Marc’s music has essentially scored my entire adolescence and hearing him talk about it all was such a joy.

HIGHLY recommend the audiobook so you get to enjoy the bonus performances!!
(But if you speed up the book to 1.3x speed like me…remember to change it back for the songs or you’ll wonder why the hell Norbert Leo Butz is singing Don’t Break the Rules at an insane pace 🤣🤣)

[Mo Brady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy moly. For a theater kid-turned-professional, Shaiman has been an icon of the industry for as long as I remember. But his memoir clued me in to exactly how many endearing classics he had a hand in creating across film, music and theater.

Shaiman's balance of personal stories with professional anecdotes was perfect for me. I loved starting with stories of how he fell in love with music (and that for the most part, personal stories tied into the professional). However, the vast majority of this book is musings of key moments from his career.

As someone who first encountered his genius through Hairspray, I was surprised the sheer depth of Shaiman's professional experience. There were previous accolades that I was slightly aware of (his friendship and working relationship with Bette Midler and Jenifer Lewis, most notably).

Therefore, learning about his work on SNL and with most of the movies I fell in love with in my childhood make me admire him even more.

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I wish the book was longer! Hairspray's two chapters take up the longest portion of the book, but I would have loved more about his early brushes with Broadway and his most recent career endeavors.

[Liam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never Mind the Happy by Marc Shaiman is not just an audiobook. It’s a full-blown theatrical event poured straight into your headphones. And I mean this sincerely: this is the best audiobook I have ever listened to.

First, a huge thank you to NetGalley for the ARC audio copy. What an absolute gift.

Marc Shaiman’s storytelling is sharp, funny, candid, and wonderfully self-aware. He reflects on his life and career with honesty and that unmistakable wit that anyone familiar with his work will recognise instantly. It feels intimate, like you’re being let in on backstage stories that shaped not only his career but entire eras of musical theatre and film.

But the real magic? The music.

This audiobook doesn’t just talk about songs. It gives you the songs. Featuring performances sung by Marc Shaiman himself, Megan Hilty, Marisha Wallace, and other genuine theatre superstars, it becomes something far bigger than a standard memoir narration. It’s layered, immersive, and bursting with talent. Every musical moment feels intentional and celebratory, like a love letter to theatre lovers everywhere.

It’s rare that an audiobook elevates the written material so completely, but this one does. The performances add emotional weight, humour, nostalgia, and joy in a way that text alone simply couldn’t.

Five stars without hesitation. If you love theatre, storytelling, or simply hearing passionate, creative people reflect on their journey, this is unmissable. An unforgettable listening experience from start to finish.

[Joanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was absolutely CHARMING! Marc Shaiman is one of my musical heroes and has been all my life! Between “Hairspray”, “The First Wives Club” his work with Bette Midler — he raised me! Then add on his recent work with “Mary Poppins Returns” & “Some Like It Hot” his influence has carried me into adulthood especially as a songwriter. His scoring is instantly recognizable in nearly every rom com we ever watched. And if you remember “Smash” (my much preferred TV show over “Glee”) you know his signature touch!

I of course listened to the audiobook as I read along and it was filled with musical sequences performed by Marc himself in addition to some notable icons: Martin Short, Christine Ebersole, Megan Hilty to name a few!!!

10/10!!!! For a self described “Eyeore” this book is witty, fabulous and filled with joy!!!

[Brigitte · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a joy! I loved this book—and with all the bonus audio content, listening to the audiobook was the way to go. I’ve been such a big fan of Marc’s for years. He’s the genius behind so many of my favorite things. I was also hoping to hear a few Bette Midler mentions and boy was I not disappointed. The whole book was dedicated to her! Marc completely adores her…finally someone who gets my obsession! I just love when her talent is appreciated.
But he had so many other good stories too. He knows Billy Crystal, Marty Short, and there was a whole chapter on Rob Reiner which was nice.
What a charmed life he’s lead—and earned! He manifested his success in an amazing way and really made a fabulous career for himself. I hope someday he gets that Oscar cuz he deserves to be an EGOT winner. Maybe he and The Divine Miss M can work on a project together and both win that last award!

[Willis Barber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Truly 10/10 and then some. My only complaint is that it ended. I could listen to Marc Shaiman tell showbiz stories for days and never get tired of it.

I’m so glad I chose the audiobook version because it adds an entirely new layer to the experience. Several chapters include musical performances by Marc’s celebrity friends. Some were songs I already knew from his Broadway and television work, while others were pieces he wrote for loved ones or special events. Hearing them performed as part of the storytelling made the book feel intimate, personal, and completely immersive. The highlight for me was the song he wrote for his father’s funeral, which was incredibly moving and beautifully shared.

As someone who has admired Shaiman’s work for decades, it was a thrill to hear these behind-the-scenes stories and reflections in his own voice. This memoir isn’t just entertaining. It feels like sitting down with a brilliant, funny, generous artist who’s letting you in on the stories behind a lifetime in show business.

[Adem Zakeriya · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ GREAT

Hilarious from the very first moments and somehow just keeps getting better. It is sharp and genuinely funny in that effortless way that only comes from someone who has truly lived the stories he is telling. Shaiman has a gift for timing. Every anecdote lands.

What gives the book its real weight is how quickly it can turn tender without ever feeling forced. One of the most moving sections is when Shaiman takes the time to personally name every friend he has lost to HIV. It’s direct and devastating in the best way. The humour never disappears, but it steps aside to make room for grief and that balance feels deeply earned.

I listened to the audiobook, which makes the experience even more special. Hearing Shaiman tell his own stories adds warmth and intimacy, and the fact that he sings many of the musical numbers himself is an absolute joy. On top of that, there are guest stars who also sing, turning the audiobook into something closer to a performance than a standard memoir. It feels alive and celebratory.

By the end, I felt like I really knew him. This memoir is funny, emotional, and full of heart. It is a love letter to music and show business in all its ridiculous glory.

[Jared · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last year, I found myself captivated by the memoirs of several people I admire—Edmund White, Lorne Michaels, and Graydon Carter—each at a stage in their careers where they can look back and reflect on their remarkable journeys. To that list, I now add Marc Shaiman’s "Never Mind the Happy: Showbiz Stories from a Sore Winne"r. Shaiman’s book is a wickedly funny, deeply personal chronicle of five decades in musical theater and film. As the award-winning composer and lyricist behind Hairspray, Mary Poppins Returns, and Sister Act, Shaiman delivers a candid account of the highs and heartbreaks along his path. Despite his impressive achievements, Shaiman refers to himself as an “Eeyore” and a “card-carrying pessimist,” always expecting the other shoe to drop (...we call that being Jewish). The memoir unfolds through a series of lively “showbiz tell-all” anecdotes, tracing his journey from a teenage musical prodigy (he played at Marie’s Crisis before he graduated high school!) and Bette Midler’s musical director to a Hollywood staple scoring classics like Sleepless in Seattle and The Addams Family. Among the stories: the time he inadvertently got Stephen Sondheim so high at a party that the iconic composer collapsed, his sparring with Nora Ephron (...I didn’t realize she was rude!), and Shaiman’s partnering with the creators of South Park.

Reading Shaiman’s detailed account of the creative process behind Hairspray was particularly interesting to me, as it brought me back to a world I experienced firsthand—I interned on the original Broadway production in the fall of 2002, just after its opening. Shaiman writes honestly about the peaks and valleys of making Broadway musicals, and being present during the Hairspray era felt like witnessing a once-in-a-generation “peak.” I vividly recall the energy at the Neil Simon Theatre, and his inside perspective on those years was a nostalgic homecoming. I sat in on rehearsals and saw them run through the show in street clothes while half-humming the musical numbers, and thought I was witnessing the most inside-theater moment, ever.

Shaiman is refreshingly candid about his fraught encounters with Hollywood royalty and never shies away from recounting his own struggles or setbacks. I especially appreciate his openness about his battles with substance abuse and his willingness to discuss professional failures without sugarcoating (Smash, anyone?) . I once crossed paths with him when I delivered something to his Chelsea apartment, which he shared at the time with his creative and life partner, Scott Whitman. (Shaiman addresses their relationship at length in the memoir—their transition from romantic partners to separately married best friends and collaborators is depicted with affection.) Despite my status as a humble intern, he treated me with exceptional kindness. That same generosity radiates throughout his writing, allowing readers to experience his warmth and big-heartedness firsthand.

Shaiman’s main advice for aspiring artists is to “show up” and say yes to every opportunity. He proves this lesson through his own bold leaps—from flying to L.A. with no money to land a gig with Midler, to his collaborations with Billy Crystal and Martin Short. The book is also a moving “love letter to the melancholy that fuels creativity,” confronting the loss of friends during the AIDS crisis. Whether you’re a fan of his scores or maybe you’re an artist in need of inspiration, Never Mind the Happy is pure showbiz joy. There’s so much to enjoy in these pages, I can’t recommend it highly enough.

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

The moment I saw this book in the recent additions to the catalog of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled of the Library of Congress; I knew that I just had to read it. And I must say that I loved every moment!

Here’s the weird part though: I recognized the name Marc Shaiman, and I knew that he was a respected Broadway composer, but I could not for the life of me identify what he wrote! Given the many hours I spend each week listening to and reading about musical theater, this is shocking … and a bit frightening. I was happy to discover that he is responsible for many of my very favorite scores, and that, from what I can tell, he is a sincere human being with a great sense of humor (though I will never understand why he appreciates all things “South Park,” and why he became involved with that movie, 😊
I was happy to discover that even after all his years working with superstars, he’s still capable of being starstruck, and I enjoyed hearing him talk about some people whose work causes me to react in a similar fashion. And yes, for those who are wondering, I loved the Streisand anecdote, though it does show that she lives on a different plane than the rest of us! He discusses his many successes, but he is not at all shy when talking about mistakes he has made, both personally and professionally. I’ve had some experiences lately that have caused me to look back at the choices I’ve made over the years, especially about my work, that I now deeply regret. As strange as it may sound, hearing Chaiman talk so openly about his regrets and vulnerabilities was quite therapeutic. Don’t get me wrong though: this book is at its heart a joyful celebration by a man I’m glad to have met in its pages.

ADDENDUM: Many of you know that I react very badly when an audiobook does not follow the print book word by word. I cringe when an author who is reading their own work changes “readers” to “listeners;” it makes me nuts! As a blind person and a vocational rehabilitation counselor, I’ve spent a lot of time trying to convince people that how we get something done matters much less than if we get it done; you may read a novel with your eyes, I may read it with my fingers or my ears, but we’ve both read the same book! Several years ago, when Michael Feinstein wrote a book about his connection with Ira Gershwin, the audiobook included a song after each chapter. I eventually convinced myself that that was okay since the songs were kind of separate from the book. When my favorite performer, Ms. Streisand, inserted side comments and extra anecdotes into her audiobook, it bothered me, though I admit that I was thrilled to hear them. Well, … this audiobook really threw me for a loop! It is filled with wonderful musical interludes from the author and from performers whom he enlisted to sing some of his terrific songs. I cringed at first, but I must admit that these segments made a great book (if this can be called a book) even better, and they added immeasurably to my enjoyment. At one point, he mentions that listeners might want to take a look at some of the pictures in the print copy, and I’m sure the print copy doesn’t include the comments he makes when he introduces some of the performers. I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I’m awfully glad the audiobook is what it is, and that it is in fact a very different reading experience from the print book that bears the same title.

[Lauren Velasquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

### Review of *Never Mind the Happy: Showbiz Stories from a Sore Winner* by Marc Shaiman

*Never Mind the Happy: Showbiz Stories from a Sore Winner* promises an entertaining, candid, and deeply personal journey through the dazzling yet complicated world of show business. Marc Shaiman, the award-winning composer and co-lyricist behind celebrated productions such as *Hairspray*, *Sister Act*, and *Mary Poppins Returns*, brings five decades of professional experiences, personal challenges, and unforgettable collaborations into a memoir that balances humor with emotional honesty.

What makes this memoir especially appealing is its blend of backstage storytelling and personal reflection. From Shaiman’s early experiences in community theater to his long-standing collaboration with Bette Midler and his achievements in Hollywood and Broadway, the book offers readers a window into the creativity, ambition, relationships, and resilience that sustain a remarkable career in entertainment.

The memoir’s promise of unfiltered humor is equally inviting. Rather than presenting success as a seamless parade of awards and applause, Shaiman explores the disappointments, heartbreaks, and complicated emotions that accompany life in the spotlight. His experiences during the AIDS crisis also introduce a more poignant dimension, reminding readers that behind the glamour of the entertainment industry are real people navigating loss, uncertainty, and profound change.

The title itself suggests a refreshing willingness to challenge the conventional success story. By embracing the melancholy that can accompany creativity, Shaiman offers a perspective that goes beyond celebrity anecdotes to consider the emotional contradictions that often fuel artistic expression. The result is a memoir with the potential to entertain theater enthusiasts, music lovers, and anyone curious about the human experiences behind iconic cultural productions.

*Never Mind the Happy* stands out as a promising combination of showbiz candor, sharp humor, and heartfelt reflection. For readers who appreciate memoirs that reveal both the triumphs and the less polished realities of creative life, Marc Shaiman’s story offers an appealing invitation to look beyond the curtain and discover the person behind the music.

**A compelling pick for fans of Broadway, Hollywood, musical theater, and honest celebrity memoirs that find humor, humanity, and meaning in both the standing ovations and the difficult moments.**