Peter Filichia

An irreverent but insightful look at how Broadway's biggest mistakes could have been avoided From Big to Carrie, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark to Merrily We Roll Along, musical history is littered with extravagant, expensive flops. Most of these were doomed to be terminal cases. But what if we had a time machine and could go back to fix their most glaring flaws before they were unleashed upon the world? Thus mended and fortified, might they have better survived in the wilds of Broadway's marketplace? Critic Peter Filichia undertakes just such an experiment in Play Doctor, charting these shows' deficits with forensic precision and prescribing courses of treatment that could have brought them back from the brink. In addition to such misbegotten musicals as 13 and Rodgers & Hammerstein's little-loved Allegro, Filichia is not afraid to diagnose issues with the classics, either, whether The Music Man's lack of an opening number or the confusing plotting of Miss Saigon. The result is a witty compendium of all manner of dramatic ailments--and a wealth of ideas and prompts for writers and directors looking to avoid similar misfires in the future.

Beloved theatre critic Peter Filichia has created a treasure for the ages with A Show Tune for Today, a whimsical day-by-day calendar—one that can be used again and again, in any year—for musical theatre buffs. Across 366 bite-size entries, Filichia dispenses anecdotes, observations, fun facts, and other confections tied to a single song, perfect for starting each day. Whether tied to a show’s opening date (August 6: “You'll Be Back” / Hamilton), holidays (December 25: “A Christmas Song” / Elf), historic dates (August 21: the actual date of “The Night That Goldman Spoke in Union Square” in 1893 from Ragtime), lyrics (March 2: when Camelot insists winter exits on the dot), or connections more surprising, each entry provides a light delight to put a spring in your step, every day of the year.

Filichia presents brainteasers that require more than an ordinary knowledge of Broadway facts that will send even the most seasoned theater lovers looking for answers. With shows from each decade, Broadway lovers who are around the age of Old Deuteronomy in Cats or as young as dear Evan Hansen will find questions that require more than an ordinary knowledge of beloved musicals. Are you a Broadway genius?

The Book of Broadway Musical Debates, Disputes and Disagreements is purposely meant to start arguments and to settle them. Broadway musical fans won’t always agree with the conclusions musical theater judge Peter Filichia reaches, but the best part of any drama is the conflict. Among lovers of musical theater, opinions are never in short supply, and Filichia addresses the most dividing questions and opinions in one book. What will you say when he asks, “What is the greatest opening number of a Broadway musical?” Will your answer be “The Circle of Life” from The Lion King, “Heaven on Their Minds” from Jesus Christ Superstar, or “Beautiful Girls” from Follies? Will you agree with his answer to “Whose Broadway performance in a musical was later best captured on film?” Did you immediately think of Robert Preston in The Music Man or Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl? More questions that will add to the fire include “What song from a musical is the most beloved?” and “What’s the worst song that a Broadway musical ever inflicted on us?” They’re all in The Book of Broadway Musical Debates, Disputes and Disagreements. Let the arguments begin!