Pacino's Salome and Wainwright Concert Headed to DVD

By: Aug. 21, 2006
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Several new DVDs will join an increasingly crowded niche market of DVDs capturing theatrical events, according to Variety.  Upcoming DVDs include "a semi-improv look" at Al Pacino starring in Oscar Wilde's Salome and Oscar-winner Sam Mendes' upcoming documentary of Rufus Wainwright's recent Judy Garland concert.

"The trick is not to cannibalize the audience for the production itself by simply filming the show, but instead to present a look at a stage production from another angle -- often a backstage one. Such behind-the-scenes glimpses can function, in effect, as the commentary tracks and making-of featurettes common to DVD releases of theatrical films," states the article, which cites the success of Rick McKay's popular "Broadway: the Golden Age" (to which two sequels will be released in the future).

Salomaybe? will be "a fictionalized, semi-improvised version of the events around this spring's run of Salome at the Wadsworth Theater."  Pacino starred as King Herod--as he did in a 2003 Broadway production--of Wilde's Salome at the Los Angeles Theatre from April 14th through May 14th.  Also starring Kevin Anderson and Jessica Chastain, the production was directed by Estelle Parsons.  Salomaybe?, produced by Barry Navidi, will also offer a look at some of the real life goings-on backstage.

Mendes, who received a Tony nomination for helming Cabaret and who won an Oscar for American Beauty, will direct a new documentary that will give viewers a glimpse at Rufus Wainwright's backstage preparations for his highly publicized recent concert at Carnegie Hall.  This June, he performed the iconic 1961 concert that Judy Garland gave at the same venue. 

A previously-announced DVD/CD set of Chicago songs, video footage and more, celebrating the revival's 10th Broadway anniversary, was also announced for an upcoming release.

"There is this whole young audience interested in film, TV and DVDs about theater, because they're no longer welcome at the theater, which is so expensive now," said McKay, who believes the recent fashion of theatre on DVD will be a lasting one.


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