About this Event
Quick—what do Hamilton, Wicked, The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, and Cats have in common? Besides Broadway and billions of dollars?
They’re all based on books.
Ever wondered what it’s like to transform a beloved book into a successful musical? Writer Marc Acito is the perfect person to explain the transformation: He’s the award-winning novelist (How I Paid for College) and Broadway librettist (Allegiance) who adapted Henry Fielding’s The History of Tom Jones into the Off-Broadway hit Bastard Jones and Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s "The Yellow Wallpaper" into the award-winning film musical MAD/WOMAN. In this interactive workshop, he’ll break down the adaptation process, analyzing both his own experiences and case studies from his upcoming non-fiction book, Do You Hear the People Sing? Why Musicals Matter. You’ll have a chance to experiment with original adaptations in a supportive, collaborative environment. First-timers and old pros welcome, and everyone in between. Ticket price includes a copy of How I Paid for College and a slice of cake.
Marc Acito has traversed a multi-hyphenate career as a novelist (Ken Kesey Award for the New York Times Editor’s Choice How I Paid for College); journalist (regular commentator to six million listeners on NPR’s All Things Considered) playwright (Helen Hayes Award for his comedy Birds of a Feather); stage director (New York Times Critic’s Pick for his Off-Bway musical Bastard Jones) and filmmaker (multiple award-winning film musical MAD/WOMAN). Acito also wrote the libretto of the Broadway musical Allegiance, which was subsequently produced in Tokyo and London’s West End. In 2016, he became the first Broadway librettist to have a new Mandarin-language musical produced in China (The Secret, featuring the music of the “King of Mando Pop” Jay Chou), followed by Sound of the Silk Road in 2021). Other musicals include A Room with a View (Old Globe, 5th Avenue Theatre) and Chasing Rainbows (Goodspeed Musicals, Papermill Playhouse). His most gratifying work, however, is mentoring young artists through the Theatre Development Fund and teaching History and Musicals at New York University. @AcitoMarc / MarcAcito.NYC.
At Books & Cake we sell--drumroll please--books and cake, because we love them both. (We sell notebooks and puzzles and greeting cards and games, too.) Store owners Julie Sternberg and Eve Yohalem are authors who have written twelve books between them and read way too many to count. They love nothing more than talking books, which is why they hosted the Book Dreams podcast for more than three years. Please stop by to talk about books and enjoy a delicious slice of cake in person! We'll be so happy to see you.
Books & Cake is a member of TheWorkshopExperience.org, a group of friends and neighbors who produce exceptional experiential learning through open gardens and workshops on a wide variety of topics in the Roeliff Jansen region, where the Hudson Valley and Berkshires meet.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
HGS Home Chef, 2635 New York 23, Hillsdale, United States
USD 44.52
