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Charles Strouse
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Put on a Happy Face: A Broadway Memoir Hardcover – July 1, 2008

by Charles Strouse (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars 27 ratings
Just about everyone who can hum knows and loves Charles Strouse’s music. He composed some of the most successful shows in Broadway history (Annie, Bye Bye Birdie, Applause, and Golden Boy); wrote the film score for Bonnie and Clyde as well as the unforgettable theme song for All in the Family; has been sampled by one of today’s biggest rap stars—Jay-Z, in the Grammy-winning Hard Knock Life; and his songs have been sung by musical greats from Frank Sinatra to Ray Charles to Barbra Streisand.
Timed to coincide with public celebrations of his 80th birthday, Put on a Happy Face grants an insider’s glimpse of Broadway, Hollywood, and beyond. With sparkling wit, Strouse relates the behind-the-curtain stories of his remarkable achievements, and tells fascinating tales about the people he’s worked with along the way, including Butterfly McQueen, Gower Champion, Sammy Davis Jr., Lauren Bacall, Mel Brooks, Clifford Odets, Warren Beatty, Hal Prince and Carol Burnett.Strouse is a musical-theater legend who is as entertaining on the page as his work is on the stage!
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  1. Print length
    336 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Union Square Press
  4. Publication date
    July 1, 2008
  5. Dimensions
    5.75 x 1 x 8.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1402758898
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1402758898
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The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Strouse is best-known for having written the music for the Broadway hits Bye Bye Birdie and Annie, both somewhat lightweight shows—the first, a lighthearted look at teen life, circa 1960; the other, a singing-dancing version of the classic comic strip Little Orphan Annie. Yet both have grace and power that haven’t diminished over the years. The same may come to be said of this lively, highly readable memoir. Strouse touches on the darker themes in his life—his mother’s mental illness, his own battles with self-esteem—but lightly. He spends much more time recounting, in a gentle, amusing tone, the episodes of his life: Depression-era childhood, years of struggle working for summer camps and playing dance rehearsals, and myriad triumphs and bombs on Broadway and off. What is truly remarkable is how free of ego and bitterness this autobiography is. Even Strouse’s two much-publicized Broadway flops, Nick and Nora and Dance a Little Closer (speciously aka Close a Little Faster), are handled with aplomb. One finishes the book utterly charmed by the man and his wit. --Jack Helbig

Review

“Charles Strouse is one of the most talented composers ever known to Broadway.  His life in music makes for truly wonderful reading.”

—Mel Brooks (Book writer for All-American, 1962)

 

“Charles Strouse is an American treasure. Put on a Happy Face tells the remarkable story of his amazing life and achievements, with hefty doses of Charles' trademark humor and humility.”

 —Carol Burnett (Miss Hannigan in the film version of Annie, 1989)

 

“I have vivid and marvelous memories of working with Charles Strouse, first on his revue By Strouse and then in the Broadway cast of Annie. He is a great writer, a completely musical person, and a great teacher.”

—Sarah Jessica Parker (Annie in the original Broadway run of Annie, 1979)

 

“Charles is one of the great ones.”

—Dick Van Dyke (Albert Peterson in the original Broadway run of Bye Bye Birdie, 1960)

 

“Charles has enriched Broadway and our lives with his remarkable talent.”

—Chita Rivera (Rose Alvarez in the original Broadway run of Bye Bye Birdie, 1960)

 

“Charles Strouse's music goes down in Broadway history--it's as apple pie as you can get!”

—Vanessa Williams (Rose Alvarez in the television movie Bye Bye Birdie, 1995)

 

"Strouse's superb backstage memoir deserves a standing ovation."--Publishers Weekly

 

"[a] lively, highly readable memoir...One finishes the book utterly charmed by the man and his wit. —Booklist

 

"[F]ull of funny anecdotes [and] juicy gossip… [B]eautifully written, funny and touching…a wonderful evocation of a great career." --Howard Kissell, The Daily News

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Union Square Press
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 1, 2008
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1402758898
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1402758898
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.25 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.75 x 1 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 27 ratings

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Charles Strouse

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
27 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this Broadway memoir heartwarming and entertaining, with one noting it's a must-read for musical theater fans. The book is well-written and funny, and customers praise the author's talent as a composer.

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ReadabilityHumorPacingTalent of composer
8 customers mention "Readability"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a heartwarming autobiography that is among their favorite biographies, with one customer noting it's a must-read for musical theatre fans.

"...In person, Charles Strouse is warm, gracious, and, to borrow the title of one of his songs, a "perfect gentleman."..." Read more

"...Delightful!" Read more

"...If you love musical theater, this is a memoir you'll cherish." Read more

"...Charles Strouse is so endearing and hilarious, and so open and honest about his insecurities that you just fall in love with him...." Read more

4 customers mention "Humor"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book humorous, describing it as funny as hell.

"Well written, funny as hell, and eminently readable "Put On a Happy Face" is as entertaining as any of Charles Strouse's best shows...." Read more

"...a brilliant composer, is also a very witty, self-deprecating, amusing writer. I wish he'd write a few more books. He's not getting any younger...." Read more

"...Charles Strouse is so endearing and hilarious, and so open and honest about his insecurities that you just fall in love with him...." Read more

"...for all fans of musical theatre, this heart-warming candid and funny autobiography provides a fascinating look into the world of showbusiness...." Read more

4 customers mention "Pacing"4 positive0 negative

Customers praise the book's pacing, with one noting it is very witty.

"Well written, funny as hell, and eminently readable "Put On a Happy Face" is as entertaining as any of Charles Strouse's best shows...." Read more

"...Charles Strouse, aside from being a brilliant composer, is also a very witty, self-deprecating, amusing writer. I wish he'd write a few more books...." Read more

"...You'll finish reading it and realize that Strouse is not only a terrific writer, but a real mensch...." Read more

"Superbly Written, Entertaining Autobiography of a Talented Composer..." Read more

4 customers mention "Talent of composer"4 positive0 negative

Customers praise the composer's talent, with one describing it as the best musical theater biography.

"...Charles Strouse, aside from being a brilliant composer, is also a very witty, self-deprecating, amusing writer. I wish he'd write a few more books...." Read more

"Wonderful book from a down-to-earth musical master!..." Read more

"Best musical theater biography ever..." Read more

"Superbly Written, Entertaining Autobiography of a Talented Composer..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Charles Grippo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, impossible to put down
    Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2008
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Well written, funny as hell, and eminently readable "Put On a Happy Face" is as entertaining as any of Charles Strouse's best shows. In this book, whose title is taken from one of his many standards, Strouse takes us on a journey through the Broadway musical theater of the last fifty years. Along the way we meet the legends with whom he has worked (and with whom he has occasionally battled): David Merrick, Mel Brooks, Lauren Bacall, Dick Van Dyke, Gower Champion, Joshua Logan, Mike Nichols, Arthur Laurents, Alan Jay Lerner. He demonstrates how tough it is to write a musical and how much tougher it is to get it produced, only to have the critics break your heart. But he also shows the exhilaration and thrills when the show is a smash hit, like Bye Bye Birdie, Applause, or Annie.He clears up the confusion regarding his (and Lee Adams') contributions to Hello, Dolly!, especially laying to rest once and for all (one hopes) the rumors concerning the true authorship of "Before the Parade Passes By."
    Strouse has had a fabulous career. Besides the hit shows, so many of his songs have become standards: "Tomorrow," "You've Got Possibilities," "Once Upon a Time," "Kids," "A Lot of Livin' To Do," and others. Buffs worship his score for Rags. His title song for Dance a Little Closer is gorgeous. His theme song for All in the Family --- "Those Were the Days" is one of the best known tv themes ever. If you analyze "The Telephone Hour" measure by measure, you will be astonished by the musicianship. In person, Charles Strouse is warm, gracious, and, to borrow the title of one of his songs, a "perfect gentleman." All that talent and honest personality come through in the pages of this book.
    Don't miss it.
    10 people found this helpful
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  • G. Schneider
    5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly entertaining!
    Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I've been a Broadway nut since my first roommate in college started playing LPs of Broadway shows. One of my all-time favorites is BYE BYE BIRDIE. GOLDEN BOY ranks up there, too, along with IT'S A BIRD, IT'S A PLANE, IT'S SUPERMAN. So when I saw this book was available, I grabbed it. Charles Strouse, aside from being a brilliant composer, is also a very witty, self-deprecating, amusing writer. I wish he'd write a few more books. He's not getting any younger. (I am, but I'm taking stuff...) If you're into Broadway musicals -- pre-Andrew Lloyd Webber, that is -- then I highly recommend this book. Delightful!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • A. Silver
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book from a down-to-earth musical master!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Charles Strouse tells it like it is -- straight from his heart. Charles Strouse is totally unpretentious. Great stories about Bye Bye Birdie, Annie, Applause and all of Strouse's hits. You'll finish reading it and realize that Strouse is not only a terrific writer, but a real mensch. If you love musical theater, this is a memoir you'll cherish.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    1.0 out of 5 stars This is a scam.
    Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2017
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This is a scam! Don't believe the reviews! The reviews are for a book about broadway which is what I wanted. What I got was a total of 3 pages of sheet music.for the song "put on a happy face." I want my money back but I don't know how to get it.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Virginia H. Pike
    5.0 out of 5 stars Best musical theater biography ever
    Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    This is probably my favorite biography I ever read. Charles Strouse is so endearing and hilarious, and so open and honest about his insecurities that you just fall in love with him. I laughed out loud many times as I read it.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Beregond
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating memoir.
    Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2008
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Strouse is one of the most underrated composers of the American musical theatre. This is mostly due to the large number of failures he has been associated with. After reading his revealing memoir, it is easy to see why that happened. Strouse is singularly lacking in self esteem, and has been far too easily led, nor has he stood up for himself properly. This is a shame, because he wrote some of the best scores of the late twentieth century, including his masterpiece "Rags," a show that seems certain to be rediscovered one day and take it's place among the great ones.

    Strouse promised a lot of "dirt" in this book, but I can't say it really delivers in that regard. Other than revealing that Arthur Laurents is an egomaniacal bastard (hardly a news flash) and that Strouse and Adams made a contribution to the development of "Hello, Dolly!," there isn't anything much along those lines.

    One thing that emerges that is sort of surprising is how many close friends of Strouse's are gay; to the extent that it comes as a shock that he isn't gay himself! It is a testament to his open, accepting spirit.

    It becomes very clear by book's end that Strouse suffers from chronic depression. One wonders why he isn't on medication for it. His creative output, despite that, is astounding.

    I would have enjoyed more about Strouse's creative process, his aesthetic tastes, his opinions of the work of his contemporaries, and so on. The personal details are interesting, but after all, it is their work that fascinates us about these geniuses.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Coco Pazzo
    5.0 out of 5 stars A candid entertaining and heartwarming autobiography
    Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2008
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    A must-read for all fans of musical theatre, this heart-warming candid and funny autobiography provides a fascinating look into the world of showbusiness. Charles Strouse writes candidly about his ups-and-downs in showbusiness, the nagging insecurities that have followed him throughout his career and of course provides juicy tidbits about Teresa Stratas, Arthur Laurents, Leondard Bernstein and more.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Larry Gevirtz
    5.0 out of 5 stars Superbly Written, Entertaining Autobiography of a Talented Composer
    Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2017
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    This is an excellent autobiography by one of Broadway's top composers. A very easy and entertaining read.
    One person found this helpful
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