Magic To Do

Magic to Do documents the creation and enduring legacy of Pippin, the musical that brought very different talents and personalities together—seldom harmoniously, but with thrilling results. Arriving at a time of tension and change in theater, culture, and politics, Pippin remains widely loved by theater fans, and Elyse Gardner examines its evolution and enduring influence, as well as the many vivid characters and storied conflicts that shaped the original production.

Elysa Gardner has written about theater and music for The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The New Yorker, The Village Voice, Town & Country, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, Time Out New York and USA Today, among other publications, and has been a contributor to VH1 and NPR. She is a theater critic for The New York Sun and New York Stage Review and hosts the podcast “Stage Door Sessions” for Broadway Direct. Book contributions include the introduction to U2: The Rolling Stone Files and a chapter on Taylor Swift for Woman Walk the Line: How the Women in Country Music Changed Our Lives. Elysa is a board member of the Drama Desk and has served on the drama jury for the Pulitzer Prize twice, most recently as chair. She lives in New York City with her husband, daughter, and dog.