BWW TV: The Best of Bradshaw Smith - 25 Years of Performances; Chita, WICKED, Broadway Bares, Liza, Julie, Bernadette, FOLLIES & Much More!

For over twenty-five years, the late Bradshaw Smith (Founder & Executive Producer of "Broadway Beat" and Applause Video) was the theater world's preeminent videographer, capturing over 1,000 performances on Broadway, off-Broadway, in cabaret halls and beyond that now, because of him, live on today.  Bradshaw Smith died on January 16, 2012, at age 57, following a sudden and severe stroke.

To celebrate his life and all that he gave to the performing arts community, yesterday, July 9, friends and family gathered at the New Signature Theatre space to honor the former cabaret star and beloved videographer's memory. Acclaimed performers and speakers who came out to show their respects included Jared Bortz, Mario Cantone, Dan Daly, Jamie deRoy, Julie Halston, Jeff Harnar, Linda Harris, Karen Mason, Susie Mosher, Sidney Myer, Lee Roy Reams, Richard Ridge, Steven Skeels and Todd Stockman. 

To conclude the intimate memorial, Bradshaw's longtime friend and editor, Jonathan Frank, compiled the best of Bradshaw's work as a video artist. Featured are exclusive interview and performance clips of Chita Rivera, Gwen Verdon and Hildegard, Alexis Smith performing Follies at the 1988 Remy Martin Broadway Showstoppers, Lea Salonga, Angela Lansbury, Martha Plimpton, Cyndi Lauper, Nancy Lamott performing at the 1995 Easter Bonnet Competition, The declaration of 'Carol Channing Day' in celebration of her 4,500 performance in Hello Dolly! in 1996, Julie Andrews declining her 1995 Victor/Victoria Tony nominaton, Rosemary Clooney at Rainbow and Stars, Bernadette Peters in concert, Eartha Kitt at the Ballroom, and b-roll of Liza Minnelli in Liza's At The Palace..., Will Ferrell in You're Welcome America, Alec Baldwin in Macbeth, Idina Menzel in Wicked, Chicago featuring Bebe Neuwirth, Christine Ebersole in Grey Gardens, Fiddler On The Roof featuring Harvey Fierstein, Frank Langella in Man And Boy, Al Pacino in Macbeth, Robin Williams in Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, Michael Feinstein and Dame Edna in All About Me, Jeremy Piven and Raul Esparza in Speed-The-Plow, Antonio Banderas in Nine, Katie Holmes and Patrick Stewart in All My Sons, Harry Connick Jr. in On A Clear Day You Can See Forever, Will Swenson in Rock Of Ages, The Phantom Of The Opera, Spamalot, Xanadu, Hairspray, Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles, Bye Bye Birdie, Broadway Bares and much more. For a look back at your favorite performances nearly three decades long, all captured through Bradshaw's lens, click below! 

A native of Ansonia, CT, Brad moved to New York City in the mid 70's. As a cabaret performer he won the first Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs (MAC) Award for Best Male Vocalist and later also won a Back Stage Bistro Award. In 1990, he received the MAC Board of Directors Award for his cable television show Cabaret Beat.

Applause Video was one of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) first and longtime major donors. The company's table at the annual Broadway Flea Market was always a top earner. Bradshaw's brother, RoBert Smith, stated that donations in Bradshaw Smith's name may be sent to Broadway Cares in his brother's honor. The address for BC/EFA is 165 West 46th Street, Suite 1600, New York, NY 10036.

Video edited by Jonathan Frank.  For more, visit www.reeltimevideoproduction.com

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