The Fantasticks

by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt

Book Overview

"Richly illustrated, it is ideal for fans of the show, as well as admirers of musical theatre." - Variety - "Anybody who has seen the show (who hasn't?) should read the book" - Entertainment Today - "The perfect present for any Fantasticks fans." -, Cleveland Plain Dealer - "A valuable resource. Recommended for all collections." - Choice

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1557831416
• ISBN13: 9781557831415
• Release Date: February 2000
• Publisher: Applause Books
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.68 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.9" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Why, it's fantastic!

Who would have guessed that such a simple, straightfoward musical would be the longest running show in New York history? Read this copy of the libretto, and you'll know why. The show is very simple and very honest. It has drama and lighthearted comedy in just the right amounts to create what is, in many ways, the perfect musical. This volume also contains lots of extra information about the show, including the lyrics to a new song written for the show in its later years, and a number of photos. The music is missing, of course, but even without the OCR to the show, you get a great sense here of what makes The Fantasticks so, well, fantastic.

No Woder It's the Longest Running Show in American History!

It never fails to amaze me that Jones & Schmidt were capable of such powerful poetry while still studying for their masters degrees. This thesis show is a powerhouse of simplicity and a panorama of minimalism. Sound oxymoronic? It is. The show is so disceptively simple, but the stories it tells are universal, and they are guaranteed to ring true for even the most tarnished audience member. One read, and it won't be hard to "try to remember" this show for a long time!

The most wonderful musical ever!

This is one of the most wonderful musicals ever. It has a wonderful story and plot but the best part about it is the music. The music is absolutely FANTASTICK! The musical contains a wide variety of songs, each with its own mood and purpose. There are funny and amuzing songs, ominous songs, loving songs, wishful songs... there's something for everybody. I first saw the Fantasticks in New York and fell in love with the music. I have almost all the songs completely memorized and I am working on putting a few of the song into my audition repertoire. This is music that every true musical fan should have. Its brilliant.

An amazing look at the long life of The Fantasticks.

It has been two years since I was first introduced to The Fantasticks. Ever since I saw the show I have been captivated by its remarkable story, lyrics, and music. It was only recently that I read this 30th anniversary edition and truly found out how amazing this show is.Tom Jones' personal account of The Fantasticks shows the reader what exactly goes in to a show before it actually debuts. The first section "Try to Remember" is well set as the first chapter of the book. The reader will benefit more from reading this chapter before the show. The third section (the second was the libretto) is a look at the actors really shows you the life of the longest running Off-Broadway show. I know my words cannot do justice to this amazing book. I would recommend this book to any die-hard Fantasticks fan, or to anyone interested in getting to know the best musical ever written.