Act One cover art

Act One

An Autobiography

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Act One

By: Moss Hart
Narrated by: Jim Meskimen
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About this listen

Moss Hart's Act One, which Lincoln Center Theater presented in 2014 as a play written and directed by James Lapine, is one of the greatest American memoirs - a glorious memorial to a bygone age filled with all the wonder, drama, and heartbreak that surrounded Broadway in the early 20th century. Hart's story inspired a generation of theatergoers, dramatists, and readers everywhere as he eloquently chronicled his impoverished childhood and his long, determined struggle to reach the opening night of his first Broadway hit. Act One is the quintessential American success story.

©1959 Catharine Carlisle Hart and Joseph M. Hyman, trustees (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Art & Literature Authors Entertainment & Performing Arts Heartfelt

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if you are fascinated in life in the theatre, playwriting in 1920s New York, this audio gives a very good insight into how life was. Written as an autobiography we learn that Moss Hart's love of theatre was inspired by his whimsical and drama loving aunt. Born into poverty and a life of lavour, Aunt. Her influence made him dream of the glamour of the footlights.

Moss Hart's path to success involved working as social manager on New York State holiday camps, being an office boy and general goffer. His break came when one of his plays caught the attention of George Kauffman who helped him write his smash hit Days of Our Life. Although the language and prose is of its time and therefore beyond political correctness, this is a well written and entertaining expose of life on Broadway, from the perspective of as a wannabe playwright.

Class Act

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This is so well written, so inspiring, and so well read. Congratulations for including it in the audible store.

a riveting story

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Hugely enjoyable. Perfect narrator matched to Moss Hart's funny, articulate account of his rise to success.

Perfect narrator for a great memoir

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