{"product_id":"drama-high-the-incredible-true-story-of-a-brilliant-teacher-a-struggling-town-and-the-magic-of-theater-9781594632808","title":"Drama High: The Incredible True Story of a Brilliant Teacher, a Struggling Town, and the Magic of Theater","description":"\u003cb\u003eThe inspiration for the NBC TV series \"\u003ci\u003eRise\u003c\/i\u003e,\" starring Josh Radnor, Auli'i Cravalho, and Rosie Perez -- the incredible and true story of an extraordinary drama teacher who has changed the lives of thousands of students and inspired a town. By the author of \u003ci\u003eThe Last Temptation of Rick Pitino. \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Why would the multimillionaire producer of \u003ci\u003eCats\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Phantom of the Opera\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eMiss Saigon \u003c\/i\u003etake his limo from Manhattan to the struggling former steel town of Levittown, Pennsylvania, to see a high school production of \u003ci\u003eLes Misérables\u003c\/i\u003e? \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e To see the show performed by the astoundingly successful theater company at Harry S Truman High School, run by its legendary director, Lou Volpe. Broadway turns to Truman High when trying out controversial shows such as \u003ci\u003eRent \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eSpring\u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003eAwakening \u003c\/i\u003ebefore they move on to high school theater programs across the nation. Volpe's students from this blue-collar town go on to become Emmy-winning producers, entertainment executives, newscasters, and community-theater founders. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Michael Sokolove, a Levittown native and former student of Volpe's, chronicles the drama director's last school years and follows a group of student actors as they work through riveting dramas both on and off the stage. This is a story of an economically depressed but proud town finding hope in a gifted teacher and the magic of theater.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMichael Sokolove\u003c\/b\u003e is a contributing writer for \u003ci\u003eThe New York Times Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e and the author of three previous books: \u003ci\u003eThe Ticket Out\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eHustle\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eWarrior Girls\u003c\/i\u003e. He lives in Bethesda, Maryland.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Penguin Publishing Group","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50902255993106,"sku":"9781594632808","price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_e08de592-ce6c-4220-9496-ac1e430e737a.jpg?v=1738451084","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/drama-high-the-incredible-true-story-of-a-brilliant-teacher-a-struggling-town-and-the-magic-of-theater-9781594632808","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}