The Journey of a new "Broadway Baby"...

As the United States  grapples with the  effects  of the  Covid-19 pandemic there have been a number of  cultural causalities.  One of the biggest being the  2020 Broadway Theater Season. 

Theater,  especially the Broadway Theater is the stuff of dreams.  Ask most any performer on  the Great White Way  and they will tell you stories of a kid  somewhere in America who watched the Tony Awards on TV  or  Great Performances  on PBS  or in more recent years clips from shows  on YouTube; and dreamed of being up there  one day themselves.

It is almost a cliche'  a kid being inspired  by live theater  and dreaming of  being part of that world.  So much so,  the Tony Awards  made it the centerpiece of  the opening number for their 70th annual ceremony in  2016.

As universal  as this idea as become  in the Theater world,  there are very few actual  stories that show us that journey,  Of a young child being introduced to the magic of  Broadway in a way that would forever change their life. 

Thankfully, New York writer/composer  Daniel Tobias  has stepped up to fill this need.

His latest book entitled Backstage Benny & The Majestic Park Theatre  has debuted as an Audio book .  It takes you along on the  action-packed, life-affirming backstage misadventures of 9-year-old Benny Beaumont,  as his Uncle takes him backstage at Broadway's  Majestic Park Theatre, where he is acting in a show.   

The story is told largely  from  the perspective of  9 year old  Benny,  which gives the narrative a wonderful child's eye view.    If you are looking for a  break from the daily onslaught of  bad news  in this time of  lock down and quarantine,  take a tour backstage at the Majestic Park Theatre with its cast of  delightful characters  (some quite recognizable)   and join young Benny on the start of his Broadway journey

Daniel Tobias was educated at The University of California, Berkeley, The Julliard School of Music, and The Bay Area Acting Studio. He trains with Country World Champion Richard McMurrich. Daniel lives just two blocks west of Times Square, the heart of New York City. He was a Lammy Finalist for his debut novel “The Next” under pen name Rafe Haze, and is the composer in residence for Eryc Taylor Dance.

I hope this will be the first of many  "Backstage Benny: stories from  Daniel Tobias.    While the actual Great White Way stays dark,  it is nice to be able to  virtually visit it through a child's  eyes.