I Got the Show Right Here

by Ken Gross Cy Feuer, Robert Blumenfeld (Reader)

Guys & Dolls… The Boyfriend…How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying… Can-Can… These are just a few of the many Broadway shows produced by the legendary Cy Feuer, who, in partnership with the late Ernest H. Martin, brought to life many of America's most enduring musicals. Cy Feuer was at the center of these creations, as well as the films based on two of Broadway's most exceptional musicals, Cabaret and A Chorus Line . He was the man in charge, the one responsible for putting everything together, and—almost more important—for holding it together. Now, at age 92, as Cy Feuer looks back on the remarkable career he had on Broadway and in Hollywood, the stories he has to tell of the people he worked with are fabulously rich and entertaining. Add to the list such glamorous figures as Cole Porter, Julie Andrews, Abe Burrows, Gwen Verdon, John Steinbeck, Martin Scorsese, and George Balanchine, and you have a sense of the unbeatable cast of characters who populate this fabulous story of a young trumpet player from Brooklyn who became musical director for the Republic Pictures film studio, then feverishly tackled Broadway, back when "putting on a show" did not require the support of major corporations, and when dreams of overnight success really did have a chance of coming true. Funny, witty, and immensely entertaining, I Got the Show Right Here is a treat for anyone who loves show business, a story wonderfully told by one of Broadway's greatest and most talented producers.

Genres: Theatre

MP3 CD

First published March 4, 2003

Reviews

[Russell Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re a theater nut, I got the book right here: Cy Feuer’s I Got the Show Right Here…The Amazing, True Story of How an Obscure Brooklyn Horn Player Became the Last Great Broadway Showman. Feuer, at age 90, looks back on his life and with remarkable clarity, wisdom, and humor relates how he became part of a two man team who produced such giant Broadway hit musicals as Where’s Charley?, Guys and Dolls, Can-Can, and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. His anecdotes are priceless for theater buffs. This was the golden age of Broadway musicals, and Feuer and his partner Ernie Martin are responsible for bringing composer Frank Loesser to Broadway, first with Where’s Charley? and again with one of Broadway’s finest achievements, Guys and Dolls. The stories about the latter show are worth reading the book for, even if you’ve never heard of some of the other shows. But to learn how all their shows came about, how composers, writers, directors, and stars acted as shows developed is a treasure trove for people like me, who lives and breathes Broadway musicals. In the book, we hear how legendary playwright George S. Kaufmann was fired from one of the duo’s shows, we experience Cole Porter’s personal excesses and are apprised of the reason for them, we find out how Julie Andrews blossomed into a star, and we go on the journey of Cabaret, the movie, as Feuer deals with the genius of Bob Fosse. These are only the highlights of the book. It is chockfull of stories, long and short, that are funny, sad, and full of heart. Feuer, himself, was a treasure, and we are blessed that he wrote this book.

[James Roman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must-read for any fan of the American Theater. Cy Feuer explains how he got where he got, as one of the most successful Broadway producers of the 20th century, delivering some absolute classics. Endless details and insights into how a show becomes a hit. The ending is a surprise too, with his ventures into some memorable films.

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. Wish he included even more.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this history of the shows produced by this musical theatre team. Their names don't roll off your tongue like Rogers & Hammerstein, but they produced a solid body of classic musicals. The best part of the book for me was all the backstage gossip, inside information, and little tidbits about famous people. But it was written in an easy to read style.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely showbiz memoir. The beginning is a kind of "and then...and then..." recounting. But as the book progresses, Feuer adds nuance and the stories become much richer. They sure don't make musicals like they used to!

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this at Marden's for something like 50 cents or a dollar. Fabulous, read it mostly at work at the G-Hop during lunch breaks.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best show business books I ever read. I wanted more!