Agnes De Mille (Women of Achievement)

Beginning with the tension-ridden opening night of her first musical theatre choreography, Rodeo , Speaker-Yuan chronicles the life-long struggles of Agnes de Mille. Accentuating her young adult and adult years more than her childhood, the book will appeal to those readers interested in musical theatre and ballet. Most of her life de Mille kept diaries, and they are quoted throughout, providing authentic details. Her disastrous audition for her uncle, movie mogul Cecil B. de Mille, offers a fascinating contrast between her vision of a dance for his movie "Cleopatra" and his vision of what made movies sell. de Mille's struggle not only to succeed in her chosen field but also to survive the effects of a severe stroke at age 69 epitomizes the life of a creative and determined individual. --Frances E. Millhouser, Reston Regional Library, VA
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