Rise Up!: Broadway and American Society from ‘Angels in America’ to ‘Hamilton’

Broadway is nearly a separate universe, not so much a place as a state of mind that is always moving and changing, discovering the world around it, observing it, and commenting, sometimes lecturing, on the vicissitudes of the human condition. Chris Jones, as the longtime chief theatre critic for The Chicago Tribune and with their support, had a front-row seat to the Broadway universe from the 1990s through the present. He examines many plays, including several of the seminal plays, of that period and shares with readers how these shows were influenced by the culture and society of the day, and how the shows often tried to influence society in return. From Angels in America to Hamilton, so many Broadway shows have made important statements to their audiences, causing them to examine the reality of their lives. Chris Jones has written a wonderful history of that era that is extremely well-researched. His writing is lively and crisp, and his stories are well-told and entertaining. Anyone who loves theatre or cultural history or social commentary will love this book. This book deserves broad readership beyond those groups by anyone interested in our society today.