Double Life: A Love Story from Broadway to Hollywood

Cover of Double Life

Shayne, Alan and Norman Sunshine.  Double Life: A Love Story from Broadway to Hollywood. Magnus Books, 2011. Hardcover. 348p. $24.95. 978-1-936833-02-3.

This co-authored memoir of two men in the artistic world tells not only their stories over a half century but also the stories of others who fought for equality, recognition, and places in communities where LGBT acceptance was almost nonexistent.

Shayne tells of his on both the East and West Coasts, casting and producing plays, television, and film; Sunshine relates his life as an artist.

In alternating chapters, seamlessly woven together, the two men describe their experiences from their separate points of view as they grow in their relationships, their careers, their friendships, and personal life.  Following a chance meeting backstage at a play, the two become monogamous lifelong partners, at a time when there were few role models, and then legally marrying after the laws permitted this.

Behind-the-scenes views of famous actors and artists, big-name corporations, and one-person galleries draw the reader into the despair, happiness, yearning, loss, and successes of these two men.

More than a history of a successful romance and partnership, Shayne’s and Sunshine’s narratives will motivate struggling artists and other people attempting to find their place in a tough market, showing that hard work, networking, and support can result in success. The book is a testimony to the contributions of these two men.

This heart-warming story of a relationship that survived distance, time, and temptation belongs in any collection of memoirs for those who enjoy seeing behind the scenes of lives of the famous and lives of those who are striving to survive in today’s world.

Reviewer: s.n.

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