I had the pleasure of interviewing Amanda Vaill at Northshire Bookstore about her new book Jerome Robbins, By Himself. See photos from the event here.
The book is a stunning collection of Robbins’ journal entries, letters, photographs, drawings, and other writings edited and with commentary by the award-winning Vaill. Not only was it lovely to talk with Vaill (an engaging storyteller with a rigorous process) but it was such fun to tag team the interview with Skidmore dance professor Jason Ohlberg, a brilliant dancer and choreographer.
Jerome Robbins brought innovation to ballet and musical theater in choreography and direction in productions as West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof, Afternoon of a Faun and Glass Pieces. The book, published by Knopf provides a wealth of primary sources (59 illustrations!) thoughtfully edited by Vaill (or collaged as she poetically described). I highly recommend the book for college/university libraries, your personal library or as a gift.
Lovers of all things Hamilton, will be excited to learn that her Vaill’s current project is a biography of sisters Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton and Angelica Schuyler Church.
Eunice S. Ferreira 