The Book of Joel

The Book of Joel is the visual life story of one of the world’s most beloved entertainers, Joel Grey: actor, singer, dancer, director, and photographer. This sprawling yet intimate scrapbook-style volume uncovers a kaleidoscope of both famous and previously unseen photographs, family snapshots, playbills, posters, and ephemera from Grey’s personal archive, revealing an encyclopedic and all-absorbing visual romp through one of the last living greats of American entertainment. 

The Book of Joel is a captivating collection of photographs, ephemera, and posters that capture the multifaceted life and career of the 2023 Lifetime Achievement in Theatre Award, Academy Award, BAFTA Award, and Golden Globe Award winner Joel Grey.

The components of The Book of Joel are excavated from Grey's personal archives and the treasure trove of his New York Public Library collection and promise to absorb readers in this entertainer’s world. Become immersed in captivating familial snapshots from Grey's childhood, images from early El Rancho days, and photographs from the productions of Goodtime Charley, Fiddler on the Roof, and Grey’s original Cabaret. Investigate posters from George M, playbills from Come Blow Your Horn, and correspondences from the Cleveland Playhouse. Spot celebrities including Martha Stewart, Bernadette Peters, Julie Halston, Burt Bacharach, Beverly Sills, and Duane Michals. Each element included has been meticulously unearthed, scanned, and curated to weave together a rich tapestry chronicling Grey’s remarkable journey.

Adding depth to this visual narrative are intimate essays contributed by Academy Award-winning English actor Eddie Redmayne and acclaimed author, playwright, and screenwriter Tony Kushner, renowned for his Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning work, Angels in America.

Throughout the book, QR codes offer a unique portal to a visual memoir: a filmed conversation between Joel Grey and Andy Snyder providing listeners with a firsthand, meandering journey through Grey's life and career. A personal odyssey shared between friends. Videos and songs from Grey’s career are also included throughout. This artfully curated book serves as a comprehensive survey of Grey's singular and glamorous life.