In New York the tradition of pre-curtain drinks is almost as established as that of dinner and celebrations after show. In restaurants such as Sardi's, the Algonquin, the Café des Artistes and the Tavern on the Green, actors gather to await first night reviews. Elizabeth Sharland has delved into the glittering world of the Broadway theater to regale us with a collection of delightful anecdotes about legendary theater people and their favorite places to eat.

Noël Coward, during the heat of a New York summer, prepared his food stark naked, unaware that his anatomy could be easily viewed by passers-by. José Ferrer, who won an Oscar for his stage version of Cyrano, attributed his success to Vincent Sardi-"By feeding me while I was financing Cyrano on the stage, he made it possible for me to get a movie offer and eventually to play the part on film." It was while Laurence Olivier was dining with Noël Coward after a show that he first admitted that his marriage to Vivien Leigh was over. From Dorothy Parker to Lillian Gish, Ellen Terry to John Gielgud, Cole Porter to Marlon Brando, and Judi Dench to Jennifer Ehle, the great, the good, and the infamous of British and American actors are included in this fascinating book.

A vibrant mix of anecdote and entertainment, A Theatrical Feast in New York will appeal to thespians, those interested in theater and food history, and visitors to New York.