You Fascinate Me So

April 15, 2015

At age four, prodigy Cy Coleman (born Seymour Kaufman) could hear a song and play it on the piano. After making a name for himself performing in nightclubs and on TV, he composed songs for the likes of Frank Sinatra. In 1960 he added musicals to his repertoire with Wildcat (Lucille Ball's Broadway debut), ultimately writing the scores for 11 Broadway musicals including Sweet Charity (1966) and Barnum (1980). He also worked on movie scores and collaborated with Neil Simon, Tommy Tune, Bob Fosse, Shirley MacLaine, and Sid Caesar (to name a few). Through interviews, papers, and quotes, journalist and critic Propst crafts an engrossing first biography of Coleman (1929-2004) that reveals the development of a dedicated, well-respected composer and performer who won multiple Tonys, Emmys, and two Grammys as well. This is a fascinating look at an influential man whose showbiz career spanned more than 50 years. It is particularly interesting to follow his many musicals from development to (he hoped) Broadway and how that process shifted over time. VERDICT The number of productions Coleman worked on concurrently is a marvel. Highly recommended for theater buffs, fans of music history or those looking for an intriguing study of a memorable man. Coleman's legacy endures--the first Broadway revival of On the Twentieth Century opened to great acclaim in March 2015.--Katie Lawrence, Chicago

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.