Upcoming Events:
April 16, 2022– Chardon Author Fair 1:00-3pm 110 East Park Street
Chardon, Ohio 44024
April 27, 2022 -Kirtland Library 7:00pm 9267 Chillicothe Road
Kirtland, Ohio 44094
May 14, 2022 -The Learned Owl Book Shop 1:00-3pm 204 N. Main St.
Hudson OH 44236
Press:
Link to Cleveland Magazine Article
Link to Broadway World Article
Reviews:
“Thank you for taking me on your journey. I read this book in two seatings. There were many parts that brought tears to my eyes. I am a big school theatre teacher who first saw this show in a hotel performed on a make shift stage by high school students. Later I directed it in the round with my students. I have recommended this book to all of my theatre friends. This show touches everyone who sees it and I believe this book will as well.” —Cathy Archer
“This book is about love, life and what it means to be human. Its about overcoming barriers to pursue your own happiness. Its about taking risks and having faith. Finally, its about the value of artistic expression and its importance in bringing people from all walks of life together to share a common experience. This book was incredibly powerful and made me laugh and cry, which after all, is why I go to the theater.” — Denise
“Words can not describe what I felt during reading this book. I feel as if nothing I write can come close to accurately portraying the emotions that this journey, which is neatly bound together by its mere 263 pages and a stunningly vibrant cover, took me on. I will not be giving a summary of the book but more of how this book made me feel and why I feel so inclined to recommend it to others. As difficult as it may be to translate my emotion into writing, I will try to put in words what I think comes at least as close as possible to summing up my own journey with this book.
The heart-wrenching, raw emotion that this book delivers to the reader and the overall exquisite writing makes you feel as if you are living every moment of this story, that you are present during the ups and downs of the story, and that you are somehow an integral part of the story even if that story is not your own. Of all the positive and supportive adjectives I could use to describe Kathryn McKendry’s storytelling, one word comes to mind, relatable. Her writing impacts you in a way where you feel as if you can relate to her story no matter how different your own life story may be. We can all relate to feelings of heartbreak and suffering, to feelings of ecstasy and pure bliss, or to even the calming presence that contentment seems to bring and the notion of being at peace with whatever circumstances life throws at you, which this book explores at length.
“One Year On Broadway” follows Kathryn and Jesse McKendry’s lives on a journey that leads them to becoming co-producers of the revival of “Once On This Island”, the musical, on Broadway. Reading their journey made me laugh out loud when the reliving of hysterical, family moments was told from a sarcastic and highly amusing point of view; yet somehow in the same breath, it had the power to make me cry uncontrollably when the story delves into the inevitable of letting something you love go when you know it’s time, while simultaneously learning to be okay with its eventual release as we continue to live and grow throughout the course of our lives.
Even though the actual story itself might not be relatable to everyone, (being co-producers on Broadway may not be a typical life trajectory for most people if I’m not wrong…) the feelings and deep-rooted emotion that this book exudes is more than likely to resonate with all readers.
All in all, “One Year On Broadway” is a fantastic book that exceeded all my expectations. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Broadway and the enchanting magic only theater has to offer, and to every individual who is keenly aware of how powerful, unfiltered human emotion can be and the beauty and radiant light which can shine from it, if only a glimmer, into a world that desperately needs it.”–Shakib Khan
“This book was a work of art, a masterpiece. It’s a beautiful memoir. Once I started reading it, I couldn’t put it down. The author drew me in and the imagery was outstanding. I was sad when it ended but all good things must come to an end.” –Isabella
Reviews on Social Media:
“It was fabulous! I don’t even know what to say about the book; I laughed, I cried, and I truly wish I had seen the show.” –Kim
“My new favorite subway read! If you loved Once on This Island you will love this even more!”–Rod
“A life affirming read!” –Gareth