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I was better last night : a memoir / Harvey Fierstein.

By: Material type: TextTextPublisher: New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2022Copyright date: ©2022Edition: First editionDescription: xii, 383 pages : illustrations ; 25 cmContent type:
  • text
Media type:
  • unmediated
Carrier type:
  • volume
ISBN:
  • 9780593320525
  • 0593320522
Subject(s): Genre/Form:
Contents:
Preface: look back, but don't stare -- Queen for a day -- Brooklyn bound -- "Artistic" is one way to put it -- High in high school -- Playing cards -- You never lose more than you gain -- Funny things happen when you say yes -- Even higher education -- Superstar -- The private life of Jesus who? -- The village's voice -- With creatures make my way -- Leaving home -- In Search of the Cobra Jewels -- Freaky Pussy -- Flatbush Tosca -- The Haunted Host -- Fucking as a solo sport -- The International Stud -- Fugue in a Nursery -- Fugue on -- What the fuck is a glines? -- From the basement to the fifth floor and back again -- Torch Song Trilogy--off and on Broadway -- This is a job for drag queen -- Torch Song Trilogy on Broadway -- La Cage Aux Folles in Boston -- AIDS -- Garbo and Doubtfire -- I'm gonna be movie star -- Yes, I wrote Legs Diamond -- Hanging with Madonna, Holly, and Bruce -- All talk and no... -- Sitcom Hollywood -- Getting sober -- Idle hands are a no-no -- Hairspray -- La Cage's first revival -- Fiddler on the Roof -- And they call him Sondheim -- Shoot me or the dice! -- La Cage in London -- A Catered Affair -- The Tavels -- Juggling Kinky Boots and Newsies and Casa Valentina -- Tevye and I meet again -- Strapping my tits back on -- Zaza and me -- Back to Kinky Boots and Newsies -- Casa Valentina -- Did someone call for a plumber? -- The Wiz Live! and Hairspray Live! -- Gently Down the Stream -- Torch Song revived -- Coming out : a true story -- Bella Bella -- There's a bright golden Hayes....
Summary: "A revealing, poignant, and hilarious memoir from the cultural icon, gay rights activist, and four-time Tony Award winner. Harvey Fierstein's stellar career has taken him from Broadway to Hollywood and back. He's received accolades and awards for acting-Hairspray, Fiddler, Mrs. Doubtfire, Independence Day-and writing: La Cage Aux Folles, Torch Song Trilogy (for which he also won a Tony for acting) and Kinky Boots. But while he is widely known as one of today's most peerless performers, Harvey has never shared his own story until now"-- Provided by publisher.
List(s) this item appears in: LGBTQ+ History Month
Holdings
Item type Home library Collection Call number Materials specified Status Date due Barcode Item holds
Adult Book Adult Book Dr. James Carlson Library Biography FIERSTEI H. F465 Available 33111010627491
Adult Book Adult Book Main Library Biography FIERSTEI H. F465 Available 33111010772701
Total holds: 0

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER .A poignant andhilarious memoir fromthe cultural icon,gay rights activist,and four-time Tony Award-winning actor and playwright, revealing never-before-told stories of his personal struggles and conflict, of sex and romance, and of his fabled career

Harvey Fierstein'slegendarycareer has transportedhim fromcommunity theater in Brooklyn, to the lights ofBroadway, tothe absurd excessesofHollywoodand back. He's received accolades and awards for acting in and/or writing an incredible string of hit plays, films, and TV shows Hairspray,Fiddler on the Roof, Mrs. Doubtfire, Independence Day, Cheers,La Cage Aux Folles,Torch Song Trilogy, Newsies, and Kinky Boots .Whilehe hasnever shied away from the spotlight, Mr. Fierstein says that even those closest to him have never heard most of the tales-of personal struggles and conflict, of sex and romance, of his fabled career-revealed in these wildly entertaining pages.

I Was Better Last Night bares the inner life of this eccentric nonconforming childfrom his rootsin 1952 Brooklyn, to the experimental worlds of Andy Warhol and the Theatre of the Ridiculous, to the gay rights movements of the seventies and the tumultuous AIDS crisis of the eighties, through decadesof addiction, despair, and ultimate triumph.

Mr. Fierstein'scandid recollections providea richwindowinto downtownNew York City life,gay culture, andtheevolution of theater (of which he has been a defining figure),as well asa moving account of his family's journey of acceptance. I Was Better Last Night is filled with wisdom gained,mistakes made, and stories that come together to describe an astonishingly colorful and meaningfullife. Lucky for us all, his unique and recognizable voice is as engaging, outrageouslyfunny, and vulnerable on the page.

"A Borzoi book" -- title page verso.

Includes index.

Preface: look back, but don't stare -- Queen for a day -- Brooklyn bound -- "Artistic" is one way to put it -- High in high school -- Playing cards -- You never lose more than you gain -- Funny things happen when you say yes -- Even higher education -- Superstar -- The private life of Jesus who? -- The village's voice -- With creatures make my way -- Leaving home -- In Search of the Cobra Jewels -- Freaky Pussy -- Flatbush Tosca -- The Haunted Host -- Fucking as a solo sport -- The International Stud -- Fugue in a Nursery -- Fugue on -- What the fuck is a glines? -- From the basement to the fifth floor and back again -- Torch Song Trilogy--off and on Broadway -- This is a job for drag queen -- Torch Song Trilogy on Broadway -- La Cage Aux Folles in Boston -- AIDS -- Garbo and Doubtfire -- I'm gonna be movie star -- Yes, I wrote Legs Diamond -- Hanging with Madonna, Holly, and Bruce -- All talk and no... -- Sitcom Hollywood -- Getting sober -- Idle hands are a no-no -- Hairspray -- La Cage's first revival -- Fiddler on the Roof -- And they call him Sondheim -- Shoot me or the dice! -- La Cage in London -- A Catered Affair -- The Tavels -- Juggling Kinky Boots and Newsies and Casa Valentina -- Tevye and I meet again -- Strapping my tits back on -- Zaza and me -- Back to Kinky Boots and Newsies -- Casa Valentina -- Did someone call for a plumber? -- The Wiz Live! and Hairspray Live! -- Gently Down the Stream -- Torch Song revived -- Coming out : a true story -- Bella Bella -- There's a bright golden Hayes....

"A revealing, poignant, and hilarious memoir from the cultural icon, gay rights activist, and four-time Tony Award winner. Harvey Fierstein's stellar career has taken him from Broadway to Hollywood and back. He's received accolades and awards for acting-Hairspray, Fiddler, Mrs. Doubtfire, Independence Day-and writing: La Cage Aux Folles, Torch Song Trilogy (for which he also won a Tony for acting) and Kinky Boots. But while he is widely known as one of today's most peerless performers, Harvey has never shared his own story until now"-- Provided by publisher.

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