The Broadway show thread where we discuss all things Broadway

[wilkeliza]

What are all your thoughts on the newly announced Broadway HD? I must say I'm strongly against it, not in it's current form, I'm just worried for what it could become and how it could affect the community down the road.

 

[rebeccam31]

What are all your thoughts on the newly announced Broadway HD? I must say I'm strongly against it, not in it's current form, I'm just worried for what it could become and how it could affect the community down the road.

I need to read more specifics, but my initial reaction is definitely unease. My understanding is that in the current form the titles are painfully limited, but I have concerns about opening the door...

 

[rebeccam31]

Finally watching " Billy Elliot" on my PVR from the other day. What an amazing production. Love it.

My daughter and I will be watching the DVD tonight. When it toured, I thought she'd love the story but I felt she was too young for it due to the language. At this point she attends junior high so I know she hears worse on a daily basis.

 

[wilkeliza]

I need to read more specifics, but my initial reaction is definitely unease. My understanding is that in the current form the titles are painfully limited, but I have concerns about opening the door...

That's where I am at. Right now it is mostly BBC records and a few American productions that were filmed for television. They claim they don't want to show anything that is currently on Broadway but my fear is what the claim is now is not what will happen later. My fiance was asking me how it was any different than what NBC or Fox is doing with their one night events and I just said those are different because they are at least broadcast live. A stream of an old recording just feels wrong for theater.

 

[rebeccam31]

I must say, though, that I am beyond delighted at the program the Hamilton producers have put in place to allow a large number of students to attend for $10. The show inspired my own daughter to look up all kinds of things about the founding fathers and the Revolutionary War (and serendipitously that is exactly what she is studying in American Cultures right now). And her biography she's writing in English class is on Eliza Hamilton. Anything that teaches kids that learning is fun and history is not dead (and that theater is not for stuffy old people!) is a fabulous thing.

 

[wilkeliza]

I must say, though, that I am beyond delighted at the program the Hamilton producers have put in place to allow a large number of students to attend for $10. The show inspired my own daughter to look up all kinds of things about the founding fathers and the Revolutionary War (and serendipitously that is exactly what she is studying in American Cultures right now). And her biography she's writing in English class is on Eliza Hamilton. Anything that teaches kids that learning is fun and history is not dead (and that theater is not for stuffy old people!) is a fabulous thing.

I'm hoping they respond but I asked if there will be a way to donate the $10. I know some of the low income kids in NYC aren't even going to be able to come up with $10 so I would happily give $100 and allow 10 kids to not even have to think about that part. The program is amazing and I'm glad they are doing it.

 

[rebeccam31]

I sent a twitter post out asking the same question. No response as of yet, but if I hear anything Ill let you know.

I'm hoping they respond but I asked if there will be a way to donate the $10. I know some of the low income kids in NYC aren't even going to be able to come up with $10 so I would happily give $100 and allow 10 kids to not even have to think about that part. The program is amazing and I'm glad they are doing it.

I sent a tweet out asking the same thing. No response as of yet but if I hear anything, I'll let you know. Would you be so kind as to do the same?

 

[wilkeliza]

I sent a twitter post out asking the same question. No response as of yet, but if I hear anything Ill let you know.


I sent a tweet out asking the same thing. No response as of yet but if I hear anything, I'll let you know. Would you be so kind as to do the same?

Will do.

 

[KateP85]

My husband and I just booked a trip to NYC for next year; we normally go about 5 times a year and try to see a new show each time, but I'm pregnant so we haven't been back this year. Our trip next year will occur when my son is 3, and I have a 12 week old baby, so there will be no new shows for us then either. I was really frustrated with this, so DH offered to buy tickets of one of the touring company productions coming to Orlando next year. He is not a fan of the Broadway Across America shows, he's a bit of a Broadway snob, but I think it's a great way to see shows if you can't get to NYC or The West End.

I'm torn between Kinky Boots and Beautiful; The Carol King Musical. Has anyone seen either, and could give a review? I'm leaning towards Kinky Boots, just because it looks more fun, but I'm open to either, I just know very little about either show. Thanks for any help!

 

[rebeccam31]

My husband and I just booked a trip to NYC for next year; we normally go about 5 times a year and try to see a new show each time, but I'm pregnant so we haven't been back this year. Our trip next year will occur when my son is 3, and I have a 12 week old baby, so there will be no new shows for us then either. I was really frustrated with this, so DH offered to buy tickets of one of the touring company productions coming to Orlando next year. He is not a fan of the Broadway Across America shows, he's a bit of a Broadway snob, but I think it's a great way to see shows if you can't get to NYC or The West End.

I'm torn between Kinky Boots and Beautiful; The Carol King Musical. Has anyone seen either, and could give a review? I'm leaning towards Kinky Boots, just because it looks more fun, but I'm open to either, I just know very little about either show. Thanks for any help!

I saw the Kinky Boots tour in August. There were five in our group, and we all really enjoyed it. It's got a great energy, a good message for the teens in our group, and the performances were good. I will add the disclaimer that we got to see Billy Porter in our show (he's from Pittsburgh), so I didn't see the tour Lola. Still, I would recommend it.

I haven't seen Beautiful, but I'm seeing it on Saturday. I can report back if you haven't made up your mind by then.

 

[Imzadi]

What are all your thoughts on the newly announced Broadway HD? I must say I'm strongly against it, not in it's current form, I'm just worried for what it could become and how it could affect the community down the road.

I'm for it, but with concerns at to how it will roll out. For the past 30-ish years, ALL Broadway productions have been filmed for posterity & archiving at the NY Public Library Performing Arts Library at Lincoln Center. Some of the filming was god-awful as the cameras were so far away or wide focused, as they didn't do practice runs ahead of time. They just set up the cameras to record. No close-ups.

However, we would have lost so many live productions and once in a lifetime performances of exceptional stars had it not been for this rule and the technology available at the time. ALL of those performances can be seen for free with a NY Public Library card and the willingness to sit there with headphones for a few hours and view the tapes on their bad monitors.

Only a FEW of the performances, over the decades have been televised on PBS-TV. One of them in particular, was Sweeney Todd. I saw the original production with Angela Lansbury & Len Cariou as Sweeney. (Len won the Tony for Best Actor in a Musical.) When they finally got around to filming the production, Len had left the show and George Hearn took over the role of Sweeney.

So GEORGE'S performance is the one saved for posterity and was the one shown over & over on PBS. And it was HIS performance that most Broadway audiences remember as Sweeney as so many more watched him on PBS than saw the original Broadway production. And when George went on to star in La Cage Aux Folles, many of us were eager to see him because of seeing him as Sweeney on PBS. He accidentally go so much more advertizing by the mere fact of being in the right production at the right time of being filmed, then shown on public TV.

Done right, Broadway HD could bring quality Broadway performances to so many more people than who have access or dollars to see many productions. The majority of America have no idea what a Broadway calibre role is. Right now, many people think Gerard Butler is a GOOD Phantom of the Opera. They need to hear Michael Crawford blow the roof off of the Phantom role.

And they think that singing/talking thing that Hugh Jackman did was singing Jean Valjean. (Wait for it, there's one poster here that goes BONKERS when anyone says ANY negative word against Les Miz. ) They should be exposed to Colm Wilkinson's performance or even Alfie Boe - who's currently playing Valjean on Broadway, and whom I've had the great pleasure and privilege to see on his second night - and not just the 25th Anniversary concert version on PBS.

And as much as I watch the Meryl Streep movie version of Mama Mia, when it comes on TV, NONE of the male singers can really sing, except the fiance. People should see it with Broadway calibre singers. A friend of mine sung one of the fathers roles in the touring company. HE has a magical voice. But, he's not a movie star, so people don't hear his voice.

Probably more people now come to see Kristin Chenoweth sing something because she's done a lot of TV. People want to see familar faces & talent they already know. They should see her originate he role on Broadway in Wicked, when that becomes available on Broadway HD.

People would be more willing to spend the $130 per single ticket for a Broadway show if they were exposed to the calibre of Broadway performances at home, before seeing a real production. "Oh, let's see Kristin Chenoweth. We saw her singing on TV in. . . I LOVE her singing!" That is a win in advertizing for Broadway theatres.

Right now it is mostly BBC records and a few American productions that were filmed for television. They claim they don't want to show anything that is currently on Broadway but my fear is what the claim is now is not what will happen later.

As for worrying that something on Broadway HD will show something currently on Broadway, sooo NOT happening. The rule for rights to even perform a community theatre/high school production is and always has been, if the production is on Broadway to will soon be coming to Broadway, the rights to mount a production get denied. People have to legally obtain the rights & pay royalties, if they aren't doing a bootleg production. Fiddler On The Roof is back on Broadway, so there will be no community theatre/high school productions while it's back. Same for all the other revivals & current Broadway shows.

I'm sure the legalities will be exactly the same for Broadway HD. Shows will be pulled out of their rotation as it comes back to Broadway. Disney is very specific about only allowing certain old movies to be seen or sold for short, specific periods of time, then poof! it's gone till they say it's coming back. (Unless you own the videotape or DVD.) It will be the same for Broadway HD.

 

[wilkeliza]

I know the legalities as they currently stand but just so you know there can still be community and school productions of things that are on Broadway. The only community or school productions that can not happen while someone this on Broadways is for things in the North East that can be seen as a direct competition. I know this is the case because my friend is currently directing She Loves Me at her high school in Texas and it will run around the same time as the Broadway production. There are also still schools doing Les Mis even though it is back. Now I know my college had to replace our musical with very short notice because we were suppose to do one thing and then all the sudden a revival was set ot come to Broadway. We had to scramble to recast and figure out designers etc. It only mattered because we were in NYC.

I'm just worried that they will get some high dollar producers on their side and work to change production rights rules.

 

[BrdwayBoy]

As for the Broadway HD...

I agree that NOTHING will compare to seeing a show on Broadway live - EVER - no matter how well it's filmed, but I think this could have the potential to be an *amazing* resource - but it costs money to film broadway shows - lots of it - which I'm sure is a big reason why we don't see many filmed for release. Who's going to be paying for the shows to be recorded? The producers of the shows? Broadway HD? It wouldn't make sense for them financially - which brings me to my next question: what the heck are they planning to stream? Just old shows that have already been recorded & released commercially? Every new show each season (to be available after the show's run has ended)? As the service stands now; I just don't see it being worth it.

 

[BrdwayBoy]

As for worrying that something on Broadway HD will show something currently on Broadway, sooo NOT happening.

A few years back MTV broadcast a live performance of Legally Blonde while it was still running. And Memphis filmed a performance and sold the DVD/Blu-Ray while it was still running on Broadway.

Fiddler On The Roof is back on Broadway, so there will be no community theatre/high school productions while it's back. Same for all the other revivals & current Broadway shows.

The rights for a show being restricted while it's currently running on Broadway only apply to companies applying within a certain proximity to NYC and in some cases certain cities if a major touring production is involved.

 

[elgerber]

I am no Broadway expert, but I am curious to see how Broadway HD pans out. We are season ticket holders in our city, so we see most shows that come through here. Watching them on a small screen would in no way take the place of my season tickets. And we can't get to NYC to see shows there. I am the type that likes to watch a show over and over, so the ability to do that, to me would be wonderful. Assuming of course, the content is decent. And I agree, people should see what Mamma Mia is supposed to look like, and we won't even mention the dreck that was Rock of Ages, the movie (which I refused to even see).

 

[NJlauren]

I sent a twitter post out asking the same question. No response as of yet, but if I hear anything Ill let you know.


I sent a tweet out asking the same thing. No response as of yet but if I hear anything, I'll let you know. Would you be so kind as to do the same?

Please let me know if you hear back would love to contribute.

I think this show has opened up some many conversations about history it is wonderful.

My husband and I just booked a trip to NYC for next year; we normally go about 5 times a year and try to see a new show each time, but I'm pregnant so we haven't been back this year. Our trip next year will occur when my son is 3, and I have a 12 week old baby, so there will be no new shows for us then either. I was really frustrated with this, so DH offered to buy tickets of one of the touring company productions coming to Orlando next year. He is not a fan of the Broadway Across America shows, he's a bit of a Broadway snob, but I think it's a great way to see shows if you can't get to NYC or The West End.

I'm torn between Kinky Boots and Beautiful; The Carol King Musical. Has anyone seen either, and could give a review? I'm leaning towards Kinky Boots, just because it looks more fun, but I'm open to either, I just know very little about either show. Thanks for any help!

I saw both and enjoyed both very much! I don't think either will be a bad pick, Kinky boots is a lot of fun and lively and Billy Porter was amazing, but beautiful was well beautiful. What type of show do you prefer? If you love Carol King go beautiful if you live just good old fun go Kinky, maybe not a lot of help.

 

[NJlauren]

I have nothing against Broadway HD, I think it might be good for theater if they can figure out how to draw in more people. I know we all see shows selling out which is great, but there are tons of shows that don't and could use a broader audiences. I think the audience is there I am just not sure they are being tapped into.

I think a lot of people don't see theater as a priority in there budget. However when a huge show gets a ton of press even non theater people want to see it (Hamilton, Wicked, Mormon). If the producers could figure out a way to tap into those people for other shows we could fill in more seats and have more successful shows. Maybe Broadway HD if marketed correctly and with the right content could help with this.

i would love to see some of he NY1 broad yes content on Broadway HD or some backstage stuff.

I'm probably just a dreamer but used right maybe it can help the theater community.

 

[rebeccam31]

I have nothing against Broadway HD, I think it might be good for theater if they can figure out how to draw in more people. I know we all see shows selling out which is great, but there are tons of shows that don't and could use a broader audiences. I think the audience is there I am just not sure they are being tapped into.

I think a lot of people don't see theater as a priority in there budget. However when a huge show gets a ton of press even non theater people want to see it (Hamilton, Wicked, Mormon). If the producers could figure out a way to tap into those people for other shows we could fill in more seats and have more successful shows. Maybe Broadway HD if marketed correctly and with the right content could help with this.

i would love to see some of he NY1 broad yes content on Broadway HD or some backstage stuff.

I'm probably just a dreamer but used right maybe it can help the theater community.

Unrelated to the above discussion, but we are going to WDW in 32 days as well..

 

[wilkeliza]

I have nothing against Broadway HD, I think it might be good for theater if they can figure out how to draw in more people. I know we all see shows selling out which is great, but there are tons of shows that don't and could use a broader audiences. I think the audience is there I am just not sure they are being tapped into.

I think a lot of people don't see theater as a priority in there budget. However when a huge show gets a ton of press even non theater people want to see it (Hamilton, Wicked, Mormon). If the producers could figure out a way to tap into those people for other shows we could fill in more seats and have more successful shows. Maybe Broadway HD if marketed correctly and with the right content could help with this.

i would love to see some of he NY1 broad yes content on Broadway HD or some backstage stuff.

I'm probably just a dreamer but used right maybe it can help the theater community.

The problem is they aren't really looking for people who can afford to come to broadway but choose not to or are uneducated about shows. The major draw is for people who find Broadway inconvenient.

I think my issue with the whole thing is my love for theater was fostered on the community level. I'm just worried that Broadway HD will some how mess with that. Instead of those who are passionate for theater pushing to make their community theater better they will become complacent because they can just stream whatever favorite they want. A PP mentioned they didn't really like Spring Awakening when they first saw it but when they played Georg in a community production they took on a completely different appreciation for the piece. I don't think it will have a big dent on Broadway and the power house it is but I could see community theaters loosing their younger audiences (think under 30s) because now they can stay home and just stream Broadway. I of course don't think this is going to happen any time soon as right now it is all older productions and mostly the UK versions that were filmed for their national broadcast but I am just scared of the down the road stuff.


On the access thing I would much prefer if we recorded a show or two a year and put it on PBS. They do it in the UK why can't we do it here? That would foster a love of Broadway and get people interested with out having it be an on demand whenever you want, instant gratification thing.

 

[NJlauren]

Unrelated to the above discussion, but we are going to WDW in 32 days as well..

So exciting!!! I can't wait See you there!