Showtime: Meet the People Behind the Scenes

Gr 6–8—Eleven individuals involved in the behind-the-scenes aspects of putting on a live show are introduced; a vocal coach, a promoter, even a long-haul trucker—all play important roles. Machiko Weston is a set designer, Hiro Miura makes instruments, and Al Domanski is a pyrotechnics expert. Each section describes the occupation, gives background information about professional, and ends by revealing the skills and education needed for the particular job. Having real people explain their work creates a personal, welcome feel. The book is colorful, with clear action shots and large type. A final chapter, "Welcome to the Show," briefly discusses other positions, such as security guard and director of live entertainment. These jobs are more in tune with the actual performance night. There is no index; a table of contents lists the positions included. This is an accessible read for teens interested in all aspects of the large-scale live-entertainment industry.—Anne Chapman Callaghan, Racine Public Library, WI