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  • Song of Spider-Man

  • The Inside Story of the Most Controversial Musical in Broadway History
  • By: Glen Berger
  • Narrated by: Glen Berger
  • Length: 10 hrs and 55 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (29 ratings)

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Song of Spider-Man

By: Glen Berger
Narrated by: Glen Berger
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Summary

“One of the best literary works of this year” (Miami Herald-Tribune): The true story of a theatrical dream—or nightmare—come true…the making of the Spider-Man musical.

As you might imagine, writing a Broadway musical has its challenges. But it turns out there are challenges one can’t begin to imagine when collaborating with two rock legends and a superstar director to stage the biggest, most expensive production in theater history. Renowned director Julie Taymor picked playwright Glen Berger to cowrite the book for a $25 million Spider-Man musical. Together—along with U2’s Bono and Edge—they would shape a work that was technically daring and emotionally profound, with a story fueled by the hero’s quest for love…and the villains’ quest for revenge. Or at least, that’s what they’d hoped for.

But when charismatic producer Tony Adams died suddenly, the show began to lose its footing. Soon the budget was ballooning, financing was evaporating, and producers were jumping ship or getting demoted. And then came the injuries. And then came word-of-mouth about the show itself. What followed was a pageant of foul-ups, falling-outs, ever-more harrowing mishaps, and a whole lot of malfunctioning spider legs. This “circus-rock-and-roll-drama,” with its $65 million price tag, had become more of a spectacle than its creators ever wished for. During the show’s unprecedented seven months of previews, the company’s struggles to reach opening night inspired breathless tabloid coverage and garnered international notoriety.

Through it all, Berger observed the chaos with his signature mix of big ambition and self-deprecating humor.

©2013 Glen Berger. All rights reserved (P)2013 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved
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What listeners say about Song of Spider-Man

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A song you’ll want to hear over and over!

This painfully honest and wonderfully witty account of one of the most ambitious shows ever staged was an absolute pleasure. I would probably rank it as one of the most enjoyable books I have ever read / listened to. It’s both heartbreaking and uplifting in equal measure and with Glen Berger reading it himself, you really feel every swing and twist in the tale. Thoroughly recommend!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

a masterclass in live and truth

what an amazing listen. it is a love story to theatre and to his lead collaborator. anyone contemplating a career in theatre would benefit from listening to this in order to wonder how to not fall into some pf these bear pits

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Blockbuster!

I’m not usually a fan of authors reading their own work as they’re often not great narrators but in this case it’s perfect. And the content is remarkable in terms of what unfolds in the production of a mega-musical. Excellent in every way - unlike the mess it describes.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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just phenomenal

This is like the Disaster Artist but for the stage. Only instead, everyone is so talented and things just go wrong. Honestly I could t put this book down. Glen is such a great writer for this. This is a human story, and he communicates this.

In the first chapter I thought Glen could be a bit OTT, but I really got into his vibe and his writing style.

Highly recommended.

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Loved this!

Strangely addictive- couldn’t stop listening. What a story! Has made me never want to write a musical…

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