In this book Arvid F.Sponberg provides a view of what some of the most important people in the commercial theatre think about the state of their business. With one exception, none of those interviewed has had an extended opportunity to discuss, for the record, the nature of their work. The volume treats the reader to a comprehensive view of American commercial theatre and how it operates. It documents the thoughts of 20 people who are currently making their living in the commercial theatre, exploring aspects of their work usually ignored by the media. Those interviewed made comments on four broad topics; their personal background and key experiences in the theatre; their views on the present state of financing, production, writing, casting, directing and designing; their insights into day-to-day theatrical management; and their opinions on proposed changes in theatrical practices. Their works show that it has taken enormous amounts of talent and work to preserve commercial theatre from destruction by internal and external economic forces and political neglect.