Moss Hart: A Prince of the Theater

by Jared Brown

• The author is the first person outside the family to have access to Hart’s diary

• Dozens of never-before-published photos—many from his family

• Written with the consent and cooperation of Hart’s widow, Kitty Carlisle Hart, and
his children

• Frank, thoroughly researched, insightful look at the Golden Age of Broadway

• Features interviews with dozens of Hart’s
colleagues, including Gregory Peck, Julie Andrews, Robert Goulet, and many more



He’s a legend of The Great White Way whose very name is synonymous with the Golden Age of Broadway Moss Hart . In Moss A Prince of the Theater , acclaimed biographer Jared Brown examines this Pulitzer Prize–winning legend with a meticulously researched, sensitive look at the life and work of a major American artist. Brown examines Hart’s early days writing with George S. Kaufman, his collaborations with Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Kurt Weill, and Ira Gershwin, his career as a movie director, and his final act as director of the stage smashes My Fair Lady and Camelot . More than just an assessment of Hart’s career, this is a personal portrait as well, with frank discussions of Hart’s rumored bisexuality, his battles with anxiety and depression, and his marriage. This long-awaited biography, written with the full cooperation of Hart’s family and friends, is truly the definitive picture of a theatrical giant.

400 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2006

About the author

Jared A. Brown is Professor Emeritus of Theatre from Western Illinois University and the former Director of the School of Theatre Arts at Illinois Wesleyan University. He earned his BFA from Ithaca College, a MA in Theatre from San Francisco State College, and a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota.

Reviews

[LeAnn Swieczkowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want a history of Broadway from 1930 to 1960 read this book. It also gives a lesson on how to preserver through failures to become proffient at the skill of writing. Writing is a skill that could take years to develop and failures only assist the writer in learning. Page 181 discusses the writing process in depth when one writer is collaborating with another. Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman, collaborated on several very successful plays before Moss went out on his own to write about themes that Kaufman didn't care to explore. On page 234 the WWII play, Winged Victory, is discussed. This play was a tribute and fund raiser for the Army Air Corps. I would liken it to Irving Berlin's Army fund raiser, This Is The Army. The book ends with the discussion of Moss's Director credits, My Fair Lady and Camelot. I greatly enjoyed the book and because of it now am reading, Act One, Moss's autobiography. Am going to send this book to my friend, Max Blumenfeld, the aspiring playwright.