Ken Mandelbaum
Encyclopedia
Ken Mandelbaum is an American
columnist
, critic
, and author
whose primary field of expertise is musical theatre.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Mandelbaum was introduced to Broadway
musical theatre
by his parents and grandparents at an early age. He initially pursued an acting career, studying with Stella Adler
and performing at Circle in the Square and the Provincetown Playhouse
.
In 1986, he began writing for both Show Music Magazine and the New York Native, and the following year he joined the staff of TheaterWeek
. He is a frequent contributor to Playbill
and wrote a regular column for Broadway.com until 2006. Prior to his career as a theatre writer, he was a teacher in New York public schools.
He is the author of A Chorus Line and the Musicals of Michael Bennett (1989) and Not Since Carrie: Forty Years of Broadway Musical Flops
(1991), both of which are regarded to be the definitive discussion of their respective topics by both theatre historians and musical theatre buffs.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
columnist
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
, critic
Critic
A critic is anyone who expresses a value judgement. Informally, criticism is a common aspect of all human expression and need not necessarily imply skilled or accurate expressions of judgement. Critical judgements, good or bad, may be positive , negative , or balanced...
, and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
whose primary field of expertise is musical theatre.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Mandelbaum was introduced to Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
musical theatre
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
by his parents and grandparents at an early age. He initially pursued an acting career, studying with Stella Adler
Stella Adler
Stella Adler was an American actress and an acclaimed acting teacher, who founded the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York City and the The Stella Adler Academy of Acting in Los Angeles with long-time protege Joanne Linville, who continues to teach and furthers Adler's legacy...
and performing at Circle in the Square and the Provincetown Playhouse
Provincetown Playhouse
The Provincetown Playhouse is a theater in Manhattan's Greenwich Village. It is named for the Provincetown Players, who converted the former bottling plant into a theater in 1918. Much of the original building was torn down in 2009 as New York University School of Law planned a new building on the...
.
In 1986, he began writing for both Show Music Magazine and the New York Native, and the following year he joined the staff of TheaterWeek
TheaterWeek
TheaterWeek was a favorite magazine among theater artists and theater lovers. It covered Broadway, off-Broadway, regional, and educational theater with articles theat included profiles of actors, directors, designers and behind the scenes looks at particular shows...
. He is a frequent contributor to Playbill
Playbill
Playbill is a monthly U.S. magazine for theatregoers. Although there is a subscription issue available for home delivery, most Playbills are printed for particular shows to be distributed at the door...
and wrote a regular column for Broadway.com until 2006. Prior to his career as a theatre writer, he was a teacher in New York public schools.
He is the author of A Chorus Line and the Musicals of Michael Bennett (1989) and Not Since Carrie: Forty Years of Broadway Musical Flops
Not Since Carrie: Forty Years of Broadway Musical Flops
Not Since Carrie: Forty Years of Broadway Musical Flops is a book by Ken Mandelbaum that describes and analyzes various flops throughout Broadway history, including the infamous Carrie: The Musical. Jesuit High School created FLOPS:The Musical, a musical re-view based on the book.- External links...
(1991), both of which are regarded to be the definitive discussion of their respective topics by both theatre historians and musical theatre buffs.