Looking forward to this. Wish they would open the vaults and produce the recordings they've done of so many Broadway shows. Still don't understand the hesitation with this. Just because I have a DVD of the Broadway production of Into the Woods doesn't keep me from going to see it when it tours or is produced regionally.
What show would you die to have in your collection? For me, I'd die or kill to have the OBC of A Chorus Line on my DVD shelf. I know it's out there. I've seen cuts - not just 8mm cuts - but real, nice production film. The other one would be Rene Auberjonois' The Ruling Class at ACT back in 1975.
I will always be bitter that 'the widow Goldman' prevented the recent revival of Follies from being filmed like most other Sondheim shows have been. The production deserved at least that......
Just watched this on PBS - I presume the DVD/Blu-Ray does not have those edited in moments of silence in place of certain "words". I'd heard that the DVD?Blu-Ray took advantage of the editing time - as opposed to the live broadcast. And you can certainly tell. I recorded it and will watch again - but the show felt fresh and alive and they actually showed full bodies dancing.
I noticed lots of changes from the Broadway version. I knew there were changes with words to "Americanize" it, but others were not. For example, the scene where the miners donate their money to Billy was a lot more drawn out, both with pauses by the actors and in the music. I remember the phrases "take this" "and this" "and this. And this." We're longer. In London, it was quick and seemed to occur during a scene change.
im so happy that this musical was captured on Video. The show itself was so cinematic in person. The show was one of the best live performances I have ever seen.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
ggersten said: "Just watched this on PBS - I presume the DVD/Blu-Ray does not have those edited in moments of silence in place of certain "words". I'd heard that the DVD?Blu-Ray took advantage of the editing time - as opposed to the live broadcast. And you can certainly tell. I recorded it and will watch again - but the show felt fresh and alive and they actually showed full bodies dancing.
"
I saw this recording in the theatres the first go around... the words in question were still there.
I'm happy too as I missed this in London with Ruthie Henshall.. I was going to go with wife and daughter, but the National was having a premiere of a new Richard Bean play starring Billie Piper titled Great Britain. The play was announced on a Wednesday with the premiere that Monday! I got a 15 pound front row seat, so I went to the play - which I did not enjoy. Wife and daughter had a great time at Billy Elliott, and I regretted my choice ever since. .
Just finished watching it here in the West Coast. I did see this at the movie theater. I'm glad they fixed the zooming in and not getting to see the whole picture issue. Loved the cast. This show will always have a spot in my heart.
I would pay A LOT OF MONEY for an A+ quality proshot capture of the Aida OBC with Heather Headley or at least all the main songs( think disney recorded them all because Ive seen pro shot clips of five or so songs)
Other top shows that could really use a pro-shot stage version include:
Gypsy preferably with Patti
West Side Story
Fiddler on the Roof
Kinky Boots before billy porter leaves, but preferably of the OBC)
Interesting twist to this release. When you buy the DVD that includes the streaming version read the fine print. The digital version is "subject to expiration." I don't like fooling with DVDs anymore and particularly the fact that they are so easily damaged. I have begun to buy the digital. Sure don't like the idea that my streaming version could disappear at any time.
How many cast members does this show have? And what is the operating cost for it? It seems like a extremely large and expensive show.
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
https://theaterworkersforaceasefire.com/statement
Call_me_jorge said: "How many cast members does this show have? And what is the operating cost for it? It seems like a extremely large and expensive show.
"
It's a cast of 75 with more kids than actually perform in one show since every role is at least triple casted.
Comden Green said: "Interesting twist to this release. When you buy the DVD that includes the streaming version read the fine print. The digital version is "subject to expiration." I don't like fooling with DVDs anymore and particularly the fact that they are so easily damaged. I have begun to buy the digital. Sure don't like the idea that my streaming version could disappear at any time. "
I'm pretty sure that refers to downloading, not the video itself.
I'm miffed I forgot BILLY ELLIOT was on PBS' LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER last night. I missed it. Was it any good? Will it be repeated? (I'm just a scatterbrained silly! I'll mark ACT ONE on my calendar for November 13th today.)
Well I guess I'm in the minority here but I did not like Billy Elliott at all, not on stage, not on PBS. I think the music is so sub-standard for Elton John. The book is blah, and the "special effects" , the flying is so freaking predictable it just left me saying "Why bother?" The movie at least was sincere with fully developed character and theme. I got none of that from this. I think the performances were for the most part very very good, much better than the material. It also doesn't deserve this "All Star" special performance.
I too am looking forward to Act One. It will be interesting to see if and how it will be updated from the 1960 movie version with George Hamilton.
Balthazar Chasen said: "I'm miffed I forgot BILLY ELLIOT was on PBS' LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER last night. I missed it. Was it any good? Will it be repeated? (I'm just a scatterbrained silly! I'll mark ACT ONE on my calendar for November 13th today.)
"
It was on Great Performances - so it may end up on the PBS website for viewing. It's not there today, though. For example, Driving Miss Daisy with James Earl Jones and Angela Lansbury is on the site..
I saw it at PBS, last night. I did enjoy it, especially the dancing. But, I thought it was very cluttered. There are a lot of unnecessary scenes (like the cross-dressing friend's song and the scenes where the dad waits for Billy at his audition) and the songs are okay, but the lyrics literally repeat over and over again and they just drag and drag.
Fosse76 said: "Comden Green said: "The digital version is "subject to expiration." I don't like fooling with DVDs anymore and particularly the fact that they are so easily damaged. I have begun to buy the digital. Sure don't like the idea that my streaming version could disappear at any time."
Usually digital versions that come with a Blu-Ray/DVD are download codes, not streaming. And, either way, the expiration, AFAIK, is related to the ability to register for a download. So, maybe give everyone 18 months from the release date to register for a streaming/download version. At that point, you're fine and can keep streaming/downloading/etc., but if you happened to buy a DVD after that 18 months, that is no longer a valid code.
I know because my brother never used his codes, so I took all his Disney codes home with me one year, and they were all expired at that point.
haterobics said: "Fosse76 said: "Comden Green said: "The digital version is "subject to expiration." I don't like fooling with DVDs anymore and particularly the fact that they are so easily damaged. I have begun to buy the digital. Sure don't like the idea that my streaming version could disappear at any time."
Exactly. That was my point. It isn't the video itself, but the ability to download it.
Usually digital versions that come with a Blu-Ray/DVD are download codes, not streaming. And, either way, the expiration, AFAIK, is related to the ability to register for a download. So, maybe give everyone 18 months from the release date to register for a streaming/download version. At that point, you're fine and can keep streaming/downloading/etc., but if you happened to buy a DVD after that 18 months, that is no longer a valid code.
I know because my brother never used his codes, so I took all his Disney codes home with me one year, and they were all expired at that point.