Joy Ride by John Lahr is a collection of essays and profiles that offers an insightful and often witty look at American theatre, its major playwrights, actors, directors, and cultural personalities. Lahr draws on his long career as a theatre critic and writer to explore the creative lives, personalities, artistic ambitions, and professional struggles of important figures in the performing arts. Combining criticism, biography, cultural commentary, and personal observation, the book provides an engaging portrait of the American theatrical world and the people who shaped it.