{"title":"Great Gifts","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"the-best-of-broadway-and-beyond-a-2026-review-of-last-years-standout-shows-hardcover-with-dust-jacket","title":"The Best of Broadway (and Beyond): A 2026 Review of Last Year's Standout Shows (Hardcover with Dust Jacket)","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhat makes a show unforgettable? Is it a Tony Award-winning performance? An intimate venue where the actors are close enough to touch? A new actor making a stage debut?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eThe Best of Broadway (and Beyond)\u003c\/i\u003e, theatre enthusiast and Off-Broadway co-producer Brian Guy takes readers through his favorite shows out of over 80 shows experienced in 2025. From Broadway's biggest hits to hidden Off-Broadway gems to Seattle regional productions, this book celebrates live theatre in all its forms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHighlights include:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eHadestown\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eRagtime\u003c\/i\u003e, two of the year's most powerful musicals\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAudra McDonald's legendary performance in \u003ci\u003eGypsy\u003c\/i\u003e on Tony Awards Eve\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJonathan Groff's immersive nightclub experience in \u003ci\u003eJust In Time\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHugh Jackman in an intimate Off-Broadway play\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDiscoveries like \u003ci\u003eCaroline\u003c\/i\u003e at MCC and \u003ci\u003eBat Boy\u003c\/i\u003e at New York City Center\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSeattle productions including \u003ci\u003eCome From Away\u003c\/i\u003e's 10th anniversary production and \u003ci\u003eAfter Midnight\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA community theatre tribute and even a high school musical that made the cut\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is not a critic's takedown. It's a book of love—personal reflections on the shows that moved, surprised, and entertained. Guy shares insights on cast performances, production quality, seating choices, and what makes certain theatrical experiences stay with you long after the curtain falls.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you're planning a trip to New York, curious about Off-Broadway shows, or simply love reading about live performance, this book celebrates what makes live theatre magical.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBrian Guy is the author of \u003ci\u003eBroadway for Beginners: A Tourist’s Guide to Broadway and Off-Broadway in New York City\u003c\/i\u003e, editor of Preview Night, and co-founder of Neurodiversity Allies, a nonprofit that advocates for sensory accessibility in live theatre. He is a musical theatre co-producer and resides on Bainbridge Island in Washington State.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Stage Door Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42213328322663,"sku":"BOBB-HCJ","price":29.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0652\/2968\/4839\/files\/BestofBroadwayE-BookCover_4b8168a5-adee-47da-871f-4fcc371ef44e.jpg?v=1773600298"},{"product_id":"broadway-for-beginners-a-tourists-guide-to-broadway-and-off-broadway-in-new-york-city-hardcover-with-dust-jacket","title":"Broadway for Beginners: A Tourist's Guide to Broadway and Off-Broadway in New York City (Hardcover with Dust Jacket)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eBroadway for Beginners\u003c\/i\u003e is the practical guide for anyone seeing live theatre in New York City for the first time (or the first time in a while) and wanting it to feel easy, not stressful.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis book walks you through the decisions that matter most: what to see, how to buy tickets without getting scammed, where to sit, and how to avoid common tourist mistakes that can cost you time and money.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInside you’ll learn:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow to buy from the official box office (and avoid excessive fees)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow to find legitimate discounts and promotions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSeat-picking strategies to get the best value for your budget\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhen to arrive, what “door hold” means if you’re late, and how some shows actually start before the stated curtain time\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe intermission restroom strategy (because 15 minutes goes fast)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSimple etiquette rules that keep you (and everyone around you) from having a bad experience\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStage door basics: what to expect, how to be respectful, and how autographs usually work\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWritten by Broadway insider and musical theatre co-producer Brian Guy.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Stage Door Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42213343068263,"sku":"BFB-HCJ","price":29.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0652\/2968\/4839\/files\/BroadwayforBeginnersE-bookCover.jpg?v=1771976590"},{"product_id":"paperback-bundle","title":"Signed Paperback Bundle with eBooks · Free Shipping","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis bundle includes the following books in both eBook and paperback with free shipping:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"broadway-for-beginners-a-tourists-guide-to-broadway-and-off-broadway-in-new-york-city\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eBroadway for Beginners\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e — paperback ($16.99 value) - signed by the author\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"the-best-of-broadway-and-beyond-a-2026-review-of-last-years-standout-shows-paperback\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Best of Broadway (and Beyond)\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e — paperback ($16.99 value) - signed by the author\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/stagedoorbooks.com\/products\/broadway-for-beginners-a-tourists-guide-to-broadway-and-off-broadway-in-new-york-city-ebook\"\u003eBroadway for Beginners\u003c\/a\u003e \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e— eBook ($9.99 value)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"the-best-of-broadway-and-beyond-a-2026-review-of-last-years-standout-shows-ebook\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Best of Broadway (and Beyond)\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e — eBook ($9.99 value)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTotal value: $53.96\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStart reading the eBooks immediately while waiting on the paperbacks to arrive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlease read this \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/stagedoorbooks.com\/pages\/ebook-info\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eeBook info\u003c\/a\u003e before purchasing.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Stage Door Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42225424990311,"sku":"BFBPB-BBOBPB-BBOBEB-BND","price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0652\/2968\/4839\/files\/IMG_7860.jpg?v=1776785743"},{"product_id":"hamilton-the-revolution","title":"Hamilton: The Revolution (Hardcover)","description":"\u003cp\u003eA backstage pass to the groundbreaking, hit musical Hamilton, winner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Eleven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, including the award-winning libretto, behind-the-scenes photos and interviews, and exclusive footnotes from composer-lyricist-star Lin-Manuel Miranda, now streaming on Disney+ with the original cast.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLin-Manuel Miranda's groundbreaking musical Hamilton is as revolutionary as its subject, the poor kid from the Caribbean who fought the British, defended the Constitution, and helped to found the United States. Fusing hip-hop, pop, R\u0026amp;B, and the best traditions of theater, this once-in-a-generation show broadens the sound of Broadway, reveals the storytelling power of rap, and claims our country's origins for a diverse new generation.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHamilton: The Revolution gives readers an unprecedented view of both revolutions, from the only two writers able to provide it. Miranda, along with Jeremy McCarter, a cultural critic and theater artist who was involved in the project from its earliest stages -- \"since before this was even a show,\" according to Miranda -- traces its development from an improbable performance at the White House to its landmark opening night on Broadway six years later. In addition, Miranda has written more than 200 funny, revealing footnotes for his award-winning libretto, the full text of which is published here.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTheir account features photos by the renowned Frank Ockenfels and veteran Broadway photographer, Joan Marcus; exclusive looks at notebooks and emails; interviews with Questlove, Stephen Sondheim, leading political commentators, and more than 50 people involved with the production; and multiple appearances by President Obama himself. The book does more than tell the surprising story of how a Broadway musical became a national phenomenon: It demonstrates that America has always been renewed by the brash upstarts and brilliant outsiders, the men and women who don't throw away their shot.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Stage Door Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42226810388583,"sku":"9781455539741","price":50.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0652\/2968\/4839\/files\/9781455539741.jpg?v=1772495479"},{"product_id":"finishing-the-hat-collected-lyrics-1954-1981-with-attendant-comments-principles-heresies-grudges-whines-and-anecdotes","title":"Finishing the Hat: Collected Lyrics (1954-1981) with Attendant Comments, Principles, Heresies, Grudges, Whines and Anecdotes (Hardcover)","description":"\u003cp\u003eONE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES 10 BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR • Titled after perhaps Stephen Sondheim's most autobiographical song, from Sunday in the Park with George—Finishing the Hat not only collects his lyrics for the first time, it offers readers a rare personal look into his life as well as his remarkable productions. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eStephen Sondheim’s career spanned more than half a century; his lyrics are synonymous with musical theater and popular culture. Sondheim—the winner of seven Tonys, an Academy Award, seven Grammys, a Pulitzer Prize and more—treats us to never-before-published songs from each show, songs that were cut or discarded before seeing the light of day, along with the lyrics for all of his musicals from 1954 to 1981, including West Side Story, Company, Follies, A Little Night Music and Sweeney Todd.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe discusses his relationship with his mentor, Oscar Hammerstein II, and his collaborations with extraordinary talents such as Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Laurents, Ethel Merman, Richard Rodgers, Angela Lansbury, Harold Prince and a panoply of others. The anecdotes—filled with history, pointed observations and intimate details—transport us back to a time when theater was a major pillar of American culture. Best of all, Sondheim appraises his work and dissects his lyrics, as well as those of others, offering unparalleled insights into songwriting that will be studied by fans and aspiring songwriters for years to come.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAccompanying Sondheim’s sparkling writing are behind-the-scenes photographs from each production, along with handwritten music and lyrics from the songwriter’s personal collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePenetrating and surprising, poignant, funny and sometimes provocative, Finishing the Hat is not only an informative look at the art and craft of lyric writing, it is a history of the theater that belongs on the same literary shelf as Moss Hart’s Act One and Arthur Miller’s Timebends. It is also a book that will leave you humming the final bars of Merrily We Roll Along, while eagerly anticipating the next volume.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Stage Door Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42226810880103,"sku":"9780679439073","price":60.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0652\/2968\/4839\/files\/9780679439073.jpg?v=1772495481"},{"product_id":"hat-box-the-collected-lyrics-of-stephen-sondheim-a-box-set","title":"Hat Box: The Collected Lyrics of Stephen Sondheim: A Box Set (Hardcover)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNOTE: This is TWO books inside a box (the photo is sometimes mistaken as showing three books).\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe complete collected lyrics from the acclaimed Finishing the Hat and Look, I Made a Hat; this box set is essential reading for theater fans or devotees of this living legend’s work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHat Box is a handsomely designed package that includes lyrics from Stephen Sondheim’s most popular shows like West Side Story, Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George, and Into the Woods, richly annotated with anecdotes, pointed observations, and invaluable advice from one of the greatest songwriters of our time.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Stage Door Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42226811142247,"sku":"9780307957726","price":120.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0652\/2968\/4839\/files\/9780307957726.jpg?v=1772495481"},{"product_id":"stephen-sondheim-art-isn-t-easy-jewish-lives","title":"Stephen Sondheim: Art Isn’t Easy (Jewish Lives) (Hardcover)","description":"\u003cp\u003eA revelatory look at the complex inner world of one of the twentieth century’s most beloved theatrical composers\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eStephen Sondheim (1930–2021) was a towering figure in American musical theater. Celebrated for such iconic Broadway shows as Company, Sweeney Todd, and Into the Woods, his accolades include eight Tony Awards, multiple Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and a Pulitzer Prize. In this intimate biography, Daniel Okrent follows Sondheim through the tumult of his upbringing and his parents’ divorce, his life-changing relationship with Oscar Hammerstein II and subsequent immersion in musical theater, and his rise to fame as both a lyricist and composer.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOkrent shines new light on Sondheim’s complicated emotional life, wavering self-confidence, and alcoholism, drawing on the artist’s intimate correspondence with such notable figures as Hal Prince, Leonard Bernstein, and Arthur Laurents; exclusive interviews with his close friends and collaborators, including James Lapine and John Weidman; and Sondheim’s own oral history, which remained closed until his death. He also reveals a previously unknown (and crucial) aspect of the infamous letter from Sondheim’s mother that made him believe she regretted his birth. As Okrent explores the ways Sondheim’s music and lyrics express the inner man, he shows us a life that was defined by two parallel arcs: the movement from alienation to connection, and from ambivalence to resolution.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Stage Door Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42226811306087,"sku":"9780300270211","price":35.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0652\/2968\/4839\/files\/9780300270211.jpg?v=1772495482"},{"product_id":"rent-30th-anniversary-bundle-making-rent-hardcover-and-book-and-lyrics-paperback","title":"Rent 30th Anniversary Bundle","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNOTE: If the bundle is sold out, one of the individual titles may still be available.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHappy 30th anniversary to \u003cem\u003eRent\u003c\/em\u003e!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis anniversary celebration bundle includes:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe new release, \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"making-rent-the-story-behind-the-music-that-changed-broadway\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eMaking Rent: The Story Behind the Music That Changed Broadway\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e (hardcover)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"rent-the-complete-book-and-lyrics-of-the-broadway-musical\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRent: The Complete Book and Lyrics of the Broadway Musical\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFree shipping\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Stage Door Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42227088719975,"sku":"RENT-BND","price":46.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0652\/2968\/4839\/files\/9781557837370.jpg?v=1772495539"},{"product_id":"come-from-away-welcome-to-the-rock-an-inside-look-at-the-hit-musical","title":"Come From Away: Welcome to the Rock: An Inside Look at the Hit Musical","description":"\u003cp\u003eCome From Away: Welcome to the Rock - a fully illustrated companion volume to the hit Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, featuring the book and lyrics for the first time in print, backstage stories and the real history behind the show's events, character design sketches, and songs that ended up on the cutting room floor.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Come From Away tells the remarkable true story of a small town that welcomed the world. On September 11, 2001, 38 planes and 6,579 passengers were forced to land in the provincial town of Gander, Newfoundland. The local residents opened their arms to the displaced visitors, offering food, shelter, and friendship. In the days that followed, cultures clashed and nerves ran high, but uneasiness turned into trust, music soared into the night, and gratitude grew into enduring friendships.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCome From Away: Welcome to the Rock is the ultimate companion piece to Irene Sankoff and David Hein's smash-hit musical based on that extraordinary experience. Featuring the complete book and lyrics for the first time in print, a foreword by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and exclusive photos of the company and physical production, this essential companion also includes original interviews with passengers, Gander residents, and the actors who portray them. The narrative by theater historian Laurence Maslon details the events of that memorable and challenging week and also traces the musical's development from the ten-year reunion of residents and airline passengers in Gander, where the idea for the musical was born , to the global phenomenon it is today.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCome From Away: Welcome to the Rock gives an unprecedented look behind the curtain and demonstrates why the story has touched so many so deeply: Because we come from everywhere, we all come from away.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Stage Door Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42229949759591,"sku":"9780316422222","price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0652\/2968\/4839\/files\/9780316422222.jpg?v=1772670345"},{"product_id":"signed-hardcover-bundle","title":"Signed Hardcover Bundle with eBooks · Free Shipping","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis bundle includes the following hardcover books signed by the author, as well as the corresponding eBooks. Start reading immediately while waiting for the hardcovers to arrive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/stagedoorbooks.com\/products\/broadway-for-beginners-a-tourists-guide-to-broadway-and-off-broadway-in-new-york-city-hardcover-with-dust-jacket\" title=\"Broadway for Beginners: A Tourist's Guide to Broadway and Off-Broadway in New York City - Hardcover with Dust Jacket\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eBroadway for Beginners: A Tourist's Guide to Broadway and Off-Broadway in New York City\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e - Hardcover with Dust Jacket ($29.99 value) signed by the author.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/stagedoorbooks.com\/products\/the-best-of-broadway-and-beyond-a-2026-review-of-last-years-standout-shows-hardcover-with-dust-jacket\" title=\"The Best of Broadway (and Beyond) - Hardcover with Dust Jacket\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Best of Broadway (and Beyond): A 2026 Review of Last Year's Standout Shows\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e - Hardcover with Dust Jacket ($29.99 value) signed by the author.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIncludes free shipping.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Stage Door Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42253359054951,"sku":"BFBHCJ-BOBBHCJ-BND","price":64.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0652\/2968\/4839\/files\/IMG_7860.jpg?v=1776785743"}],"url":"https:\/\/stagedoorbooks.com\/collections\/great-gifts.oembed","provider":"Stage Door Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}