Film Broadway Bootlegs- Page 6

[BellatrixxLestrangee]

Posted: 7/9/10 at 12:29am

I don't own any bootlegs but I watch them on youtube a lot. I'm not too far away from NYC but I can't get there very often and it's nice to be able to watch some shows. I also just got interested in Broadway so I have been missing out on a lot of great shows!

[AudreyTwoTwo]

Posted: 7/9/10 at 6:30pm

I appreciate bootlegs as well. I have so many friends that wanted to see Spring Awakening and it closed before they were either old enough or able to, whatever the case may be. Low and behold, its on Youtube, available for people to watch. I think it's great, because there is some sort of documentation of the show in it's entirety. And for me, I love shows so much and I'd love to be able to watch them whenever I can, especially if they're no longer on Broadway.

[jamiekennywicked]

Posted: 7/9/10 at 6:36pm

I agree with most of the posts. If it warent for bootlegs I wouldn't be able to see a preview of shows such as Wicked, Chicago etc which in the end I ended up seeing.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 7/9/10 at 8:48pm

Perhaps they should do what they did in the 50s: film an abridged version of the show and air it on television. Recent history proves that the film will act as a commercial for the show. Case in point: The Phantom of the Opera was pretty close to closing (it didn't quite rebound after 9-11). After the movie came out, it found new life. Chicago was in such demand again that they launched another tour. RENT also saw a rejuvenation of ticket sales. Mamma Mia! also saw an increase in sales. And those were movie versions. Legally Blonde created interest when it aired on MTV. The problem is the show just wasn't good enough. The point really is that the argument that people won't see something live at the theater when they can see it at home for free (or for the cost of a movie ticket) is negated. It's time for the producers and unions to re-structure the clauses with regards to filming.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 7/10/10 at 2:05am

My Oh My, that "Show Boat" footage is only one can from a huge collection of film taken in the 1930s,40s and 50s by one bootlegger who began filming with a small hand-held camera as a child and became so famous that stars often wave to him during the curtain calls. I have seen some of the footage - all of which is controlled by one collector - and it would knock your socks off.

In addition, recently, the only known footage of Fred Astaire performing live on stage during the New York run of "Gay Divorce" was discovered by a woman who has, apparently, donated it to Lincoln Center on the promise they don't show it to the public until she deems it necessary.

In both cases, it's a shame when such important footage is controlled by the "But if I show it to you, the magic is gone for me" crowd.

Updated On: 7/10/10 at 02:05 AM

[Amalia Balash]

Posted: 7/10/10 at 7:40am

I would kill to see that Fred Astaire footage. I don't get how sharing would diminish any magic at all. Seeing a show live at the theatre with an audience doesn't diminish the magic, so how could sharing a bootleg with appreciative people?

Even though I'll never get the chance to see it or the other footage that collectors hoard, I'm glad to know the footage exists so that there's a possibility someday, someone can see it.

[My Oh My]

Posted: 7/10/10 at 12:06pm

My Oh My, that "Show Boat" footage is only one can from a huge collection of film taken in the 1930s,40s and 50s by one bootlegger who began filming with a small hand-held camera as a child and became so famous that stars often wave to him during the curtain calls. I have seen some of the footage - all of which is controlled by one collector - and it would knock your socks off.

In addition, recently, the only known footage of Fred Astaire performing live on stage during the New York run of "Gay Divorce" was discovered by a woman who has, apparently, donated it to Lincoln Center on the promise they don't show it to the public until she deems it necessary.

In both cases, it's a shame when such important footage is controlled by the "But if I show it to you, the magic is gone for me" crowd.

Wow! When, if ever, does this individual plan to share??? Is he still around?

Isn't sharing the point of bootlegs? Who'd want to go through all that trouble to hold onto a taped show they got to see live?? NOTHING beats that!!

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 7/10/10 at 12:25pm

"Isn't sharing the point of bootlegs?"

For some people, yes. There are others out there who are looking to profit from it. And then there are those who are out to have the one rare item that nobody else has, and do everything they can to keep it that way.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/10/10 at 1:40pm

Yeah that Astaire bitch really pisses me off. Almost ad much as Freddy, I mean Miles Kreuger.

[PRFRMR20]

Posted: 7/10/10 at 4:08pm

I wanted to clarify one thing that was discussed earlier.

Obviously I can't speak for all productions, but I was just a replacement for a supporting role on an Equity National Tour and during my rehearsals in order to learn blocking (because of slight changes with the different stars) - Stage Management showed me video recordings from the house camera. I know that they kept several DVDs of performances for archival purposes. They were very strict with the safety of these DVDs (for obvious reasons). Just wanted to say that for our Tour, replacements, dance captains, swings, etc. didn't use bootlegs but archived house camera footage to learn and preserve the show.

I will however say that as an actor it has been extremely valuable to view bootlegs of past performances that I never had the opportunity to see (i.e. Mandy Patinkin in Evita). Also, right after I opened, a friend sent me a audio bootleg of my "Opening Night Performance" - I will say that I was very happy to get a keepsake of that great night.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 7/10/10 at 8:08pm

I cannot possibly comment on how incredibly accurate your guess is, Jordan (a-it is-chew!!!!!).

As for the Astaire footage - the ONLY piece of footage in the world, period - the can of film was discovered by a woman who was being employed under a Government grant to archive the estate of Fred Stone, the Nathan Lane of his time, who played The Scarecrow in the original stage production of The Wizard of Oz with Dave Montgomery, his lifelong partner.

Stone's daughter, Dorothy, a world-class performer in her own right, replaces Clair Luce in "Gay Divorce" and Stone, who was a camera nut, went down to the Shubert Theater and filmed TWENTY MINUTES of the show, including "Night and Day." Wow.

The person who turned up the film, an expert on "eccentric dance" is apparently making a documentary and has embargoed the footage until her film comes out. That was several years ago. She showed the film at a Fred Astaire convention in Britain and that is, as far as I know, the only screening it has had.

Here is the opening frame, which is all that is available:

http://www.greatestdancer.org/gallery/pages/Baytos%20Gay%20Divorce%20marquee%20%28P.E.%20Tobias%29.htm

The one question that haunts me is: "Why the hell didn't somebody in that room BOOTLEG THE CONVENTION SCREENING?"

Updated On: 7/11/10 at 08:08 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/10/10 at 10:57pm

Probably because nobody knew it was going to be screened is my guess. If I would have known about it, you can bet your ass I would have booted that myself.

And just looking at that one frame saddens me, knowing there's more.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 7/11/10 at 1:05am

Her appearance WAS the main reason the conclave was held. The fact that they were going to screen the footage was announced in Great Britain. I heard about it the day it was held. You can be damn certain I would have flown from here in LA to London immediately, if I had been given 24 hours notice. Dang.

And now that I think about it, someone clearly bootlegged the footage because that frame is clearly a shot of the screen at the lecture. Now THAT person is keeping the footage for him/herself.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/11/10 at 1:11am

Hmmm. That's a good point. I might have to do some digging around.

[tropicalaqua]

Posted: 7/12/10 at 9:38pm

Does anyone have a bootleg of the "Wicked" showing in San Francisco [I went to the 7/2 show].

Marcie Dodd (Elphaba), Cliffton Hall (Fiyero), Alli Mauzey (Galinda).

Or if anyone has a recording with this cast I would really appreciate it.

I went to see this show, but I wasn't very close to the stage, thus not being able to see their expressions very clearly, but I loved their voices.

If anyone has a recording, it would be greatly appreciated! I have been looking everywhere for it, and I'm guessing some of you all will know where I could possibly download it, or if you have the download links?

Thanks!
Updated On: 7/12/10 at 09:38 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/12/10 at 9:41pm

I have it!!! I'm only trading it for a full HD quality video of the original cast of West Side Story. But only if it's got Chita's understudy since Chita gets on my nerves.

[sunshels]

Posted: 7/12/10 at 10:24pm

I have mixed feelings I guess, and I am sort of backwards too. I don't live near NYC (10 hour drive...) we do get shows in Detroit, and I see them when I can. I do look for bootlegs on Youtube, but I don't know that I would ever "buy" one. I buy the soundtracks of shows I want to see, I will see the tour, if I am lucky and can afford it, I will try to get to NYC and see the show. Mostly though, the bootlegs I look for, are for shows I have already seen. Like I can't get enough so looking for more kind of thing. I do feel guilty even watching sometimes though...I however would love it if they would film shows, I would absolutely pay if the shows would release a DVD of the performance, and again I would probably mostly do it for shows I have already seen and loved!

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 7/12/10 at 11:03pm

A potential idea to at least have a fighting chance of stopping bootleggers.

Sell DVD's of the performance you just saw in the lobby after the show, and get in the mail a week later. If they can manage to pull this off at the HIGH SCHOOL in my town, i'm sure they can do so on broadway.

That way you can see a last minute understudy who only got to go on once (Annaleigh Ashford as Elle Woods anybody?) etc.

[tropicalaqua]

Posted: 7/13/10 at 2:11am

Unfortunately, I don't have bootlegs of any musicals at all, and I'm not sure who or what was the original cast of West Side Story, I am a noob to the musical world.

My friends brought me to the Wicked show in SF as a gift, since they live in Nor Cal & I don't live there, but upon my travel to a relatives wedding they wanted to surprise me, & they took me to see Wicked.

Although I am new to the musical world, I have seen Phantom of the Opera once (for school) but I was also far away from the stage & thus could not see expressions, but I just loved Wicked (it was also their first time watching it) that I had to look for a bootleg & watch it again for their amazing performances.

I found this forum/thread accidently when I was searching for the musical.

I actually find it quite hard to look for them, or maybe I am looking for them in the wrong place?

Would it be possible for you to share it with me through PM? This would be for my own viewing purposes. It would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.



Updated On: 7/13/10 at 02:11 AM

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 7/13/10 at 2:23am

Sell DVD's of the performance you just saw in the lobby after the show, and get in the mail a week later. If they can manage to pull this off at the HIGH SCHOOL in my town, i'm sure they can do so on broadway.

That way you can see a last minute understudy who only got to go on once (Annaleigh Ashford as Elle Woods anybody?) etc.

Yeah no. That will not EVER work.

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 7/13/10 at 9:52am

"Sell DVD's of the performance you just saw in the lobby after the show, and get in the mail a week later. If they can manage to pull this off at the HIGH SCHOOL in my town, i'm sure they can do so on broadway."

Except that, unlike the high school in your town, the Broadway production wouldn't be stupid enough to blatantly break the law.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/13/10 at 10:06am

Sorry, but that Wicked video is really special to me and I'm only trading it for an HD vid of the OBC of WSS. Or if you had a full HD video of the original casts of SHOW BOAT or OKLAHOMA I'd go for that too. And I'd take a few others even if they weren't in HD (unlike the others which must be) like the OBC's of KISMET, KISS ME KATE (full show without Alfred Drake, please. His voice totes makes me puke), CAROUSEL (the one show with John Raitt where he didn't hit "the note") or a Cook-less CANDIDE because LOLZ she cain't sing.

[chellie]

Posted: 7/13/10 at 10:13am

tropicalaqua, please don't take this the wrong way (and by the wrong way I mean nicely), but shut up.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 7/13/10 at 10:38am

Jordan, I don't have any of those, but would you be interested in the original cast of "Our American Cousin"? It's a great recording, marred only by some idiot who shoots a gun off and then jumps on stage. It kinda ruins what would have been a great performance.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/13/10 at 10:46am

For historical value I only like full recordings, so that one probably wouldn't do anything for me. Thanks, though.