“‘B’ is For Broadway” (Illustration by Peter Emmerich)
Your children’s bookcase is about to get a lot more fabulous: Random House Children’s Books and The Actors Fund announced that they have partnered to release B is for Broadway: Onstage and Backstage from A to Z. For those who recall the smash success of A Is for Audra, this new book will reunite the same creative team and act as a follow-up that offers a theatrical way to learn the alphabet. B is for Broadway is written by John Robert Allman with illustrations by Peter Emmerich, and a portion of the book’s proceeds will be donated to The Actors Fund.
B is for Broadway: Onstage and Backstage from A to Z will be released on Tuesday, February 1. The book may be pre-ordered wherever books are sold.
“We are honored that a portion of the proceeds of author John Robert Allman and illustrator Peter Emmerich’s B is For Broadway will go to support our programs,” Joseph P. Benincasa, President & CEO of The Actors Funds, said in a statement. “The Actors Fund is proud to be at the forefront of helping everyone in the entertainment community with emergency financial assistance and supportive services, and we’re grateful that this wonderful new work will help those in need in our performing arts community.”
The stories behind the initial three letters of the alphabet give a preview to the wonders inside this colorful children’s book: start with A for audition (with the iconic lineup from A Chorus Line), then peek behind B to see the backstage buzz, and dance along with C for choreographers.
The new book offers an engaging, educational way to teach young ones about Broadway legends, past and present. Some of the many stars mentioned and illustrated in the book include Lin-Manuel Miranda, Patti LuPone, Irving Berlin, Jennifer Holliday, and Billy Porter. Readers will also see famous New York theaters, beloved shows such as Rent and Les Misérables, and the crew, stylists, and technicians who are vital to each performance.
