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Third Girl from the Left  By  cover art

Third Girl from the Left

By: Christine Barker
Narrated by: Betsy Struxness
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Publisher's summary

“A beautifully written memoir of life on the Broadway stage at the onset of the 1980s AIDS epidemic.... Compelling, and remarkably hopeful.” (Mara Liasson, national political correspondent, NPR)

A moving, real-life account of making it as a dancer in New York City, embracing the changing faces of love and family, and being at ground-zero for one of the most fatal epidemics of modern times....

Wanting to be a dancer while growing up in a large military family made Christine Barker somewhat of a black sheep, but she followed her dreams to New York City, where—in a moment of almost unbelievable good fortune—she was chosen for the London cast of A Chorus Line.

London, and then New York, in the '70s and '80s opened up Christine’s world. The creativity, culture, and nightlife were intoxicating, enough so to compel her older brother Laughlin to join her. Once there, the divorced father, veteran, and corporate lawyer met rising fashion star Perry Ellis. Romance and success soon followed—as well as rumors of a devastating new disease....

Broadway’s theater community is ravaged by loss as the AIDS epidemic takes hold, and Christine is shocked by the toll it’s taken on her inner circle. Holding on tight to friends and loved ones left behind, the crisis becomes a crucible moment for her family and for all of society. And Christine is once again forced to go her own way to make sense of the tragedy.

©2023 Christine Barker (P)2023 Audible, Inc.

Publisher's summary

“A beautifully written memoir of life on the Broadway stage at the onset of the 1980s AIDS epidemic.... Compelling, and remarkably hopeful.” (Mara Liasson, national political correspondent, NPR)

A moving, real-life account of making it as a dancer in New York City, embracing the changing faces of love and family, and being at ground-zero for one of the most fatal epidemics of modern times....

Wanting to be a dancer while growing up in a large military family made Christine Barker somewhat of a black sheep, but she followed her dreams to New York City, where—in a moment of almost unbelievable good fortune—she was chosen for the London cast of A Chorus Line.

London, and then New York, in the '70s and '80s opened up Christine’s world. The creativity, culture, and nightlife were intoxicating, enough so to compel her older brother Laughlin to join her. Once there, the divorced father, veteran, and corporate lawyer met rising fashion star Perry Ellis. Romance and success soon followed—as well as rumors of a devastating new disease....

Broadway’s theater community is ravaged by loss as the AIDS epidemic takes hold, and Christine is shocked by the toll it’s taken on her inner circle. Holding on tight to friends and loved ones left behind, the crisis becomes a crucible moment for her family and for all of society. And Christine is once again forced to go her own way to make sense of the tragedy.

©2023 Christine Barker (P)2023 Audible, Inc.
Betsy Struxness

About the Performer

Betsy Struxness is a Broadway vet most known for her work with Hamilton (original cast), amongst other hits (and flops). Betsy now bounces across mediums, appearing on screens small and large, and speakers loud and soft. A dancer, an actress, a singer, a writer, she’s happy to use whichever voice she’s given to serve the story and move you.

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What listeners say about Third Girl from the Left

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All my grief came flooding back

I lived through all of it and had a somewhat similar life where all my best friends were gay men and tragically lost one after another. This is a very important story to either remind people or educate young people about what happened back then.
Sometimes I fell like this was a novel because it was so well written .
I wished that the author narrated it. The narrator was good but I felt like she was rushing through the story like she had some sort of deadline. It was sometimes distracting..

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  • Overall
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Powerful and Poignant

Christine and Betsy are a powerful team. Both know what it is to perform on Broadway, and both love humanity.
This comes out as Betsy performs Christine's story - Third Girl from the Left.
So rich in writing and performing, can’t say enough about this book on audible.
A must listen!

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5 people found this helpful

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An interesting and powerful story

Really enjoyed this dual story centered around the iconic Broadway show, A Chorus Line and the Perry Ellis fashion house. So much love, pain and fortitude to move on.

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3 people found this helpful

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A Dancer’s Dream Told with Heart

I lost a husband to HIV in 1997. With love, poignance, and beautiful prose, Ms. Barker portrays the confusion, heartbreak, and immense sense of loss during the early days of the AIDS pandemic. She also conveys the challenges women faced in industries dominated by men.

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12 people found this helpful

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A must listen

This book was an excellent story of Broadway in the 70’s and 80’s and an intimate look into the AIDS crisis. It has so much insight on one of the best shows A Chorus Line. Having staged and danced that show, I loved listening to the beginnings of the success of that show. Also…I lost friends during the time of this book to AIDS and it did bring that horrifying time into focus. Betsy Struxness was amazing. She draws you into the story and keeps you engaged and brings so much emotion. I hope she narrates more.

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7 people found this helpful

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Beautifully written & performed

Powerful true story that gives such wonderful insight into Christine's life as a Broadway dancer and performer, as well her navigating the lack of humanity occuring during the AIDS crisis involving the loss of her brother and many loved ones.

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Beautiful, Compelling, and Heartbreaking

A beautifully-written dive into the culture of NYC's theater district in the 1970s and 1980s, and then the heartbreaking stories of men and women living and dying through the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s. This book is written by a Broadway actress and dancer, who expertly immerses the reader into her life and the people she loves.

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This Was A Long Time Coming!

I cannot recommend this book enough. Well written, well narrated and a sad and accurate view of AIDS. Please read this!

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Excellent

Eye awakening account of events . AIDS a topic no one wants to discuss. Treated as a moral issue rather then a nasty disease. I love the way Christine approaches the subject.

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Heartbreaking yet hopeful

The story of a time that thankfully past
This story brings life to a terrible time when pay men died in their prime of life when society did not recognize their rights to share their relationships openly and when science was not sufficiently advanced to save them from terrible deaths
Yet this story is also hopeful in how both society and science have changed for the better

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2 people found this helpful