Theatre on Tape at the NYPL

[BroadMagTech]

Posted: 5/12/16 at 6:58pm

How many of you have seen a recording of a show at the New York Public Library? Which shows and how was the quality of the tape?

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 5/12/16 at 7:14pm

I was in NYC for my first extended visit time in Nov--with a large group of family (though I managed to see 6 shows, a couple on my own) but was pressed for time.  Still, I made sure to find time to visit the archives to see one of their earliest videos--a B&W recording made in DC at the end of the original Company tour (Donna McKechnie was back in her role).  I've wanted to see this for at least a decade, and honestly, it didn't disappoint.  The quality was very high, even if recorded B&W and gives a good idea of the iconic original Prince/Bennett staging (and makes me think even less of the revised version of the show).

I had been told different things about how easy it would be to access the archive--it was completely easy.  I filled out, online, a temporary library card, and then went down and spoke to them, prepared with my reason for going (I am a grad student at a university here in Canada and have done theatre research as part of my English work) but wasn't even asked.  Honestly, at this point I can't imagine not going to NYC and not seeing something there--if I lived in the city I'd probably be there as often as I could until they got suspicious.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 5/12/16 at 7:17pm

I will add that I did make an appointment via phone two days in advance, although when I was there and talking to the woman who was working she said that on Tuesdays (when I went) you could pretty much just walk in.  I only saw a few other people when I was there.  I did have to leave my phone (otherwise, I hate to admit, I would have had a hard time not filming as much as I could from that video to re-watch.  it really is a treasure for any Company/Sondheim fan)

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 5/12/16 at 7:20pm

This is the Company listing.  I have no idea why it was chosen to be filmed (and it is pro shot--albeit with cameras at the back of the theatre) but thank God it was.  If only those other early Prince/Sondheim shows had been.

http://browse.nypl.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb14388223__Scompany%20sondheim__P0%2C6__Orightresult__U__X2?lang=eng&suite=def

 

Company [videorecording] / Harold Prince, in association with Ruth Mitchell, [and Theater Now] presents ; music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim ; book by George Furth ; musical numbers staged by Michael Bennett ; production directed by Harold Prince ; [videotaped by Directors Circle] ; [video producer, Theatre on Film and Tape Archive, Betty L. Corwin, director]

Imprint

Washington, D.C., c1972.

Description

3 videodiscs (DVD) (139 min.) : sd., b&w NTSC ; 4 3/4 in.

Note

Performed in Washington, D.C. as part of a 1972 national tour.

Access

Restricted to qualified researchers.

Credits

Set design, Boris Aronson; lighting, Robert Ornbo; costumes, D. D. Ryan ; orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick ; dance music arrangements by Wally Harper ; musical direction by Arthur Wagner.

Cast

Barbara Broughton, J. T. Cromwell, Tandy Cronyn, Rolly Fanton, Louisa Flaningam, Joy Franz, Del Hinkley, Jane A. Johnston, Gary Krawford, Bernie McInerney, Donna McKechnie, Mary Roche, and Julie Wilson.

Event

Videotaped by The New York Public Library's Theatre on Film and Tape Archive at the National Theatre, Washington, D.C., May 20, 1972.

Funding

Recorded with the financial assistance of Harold Prince.

 

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 5/12/16 at 8:16pm

It's an excellent resource and the recordings are generally of good quality.  They have been--for about two years now--transferring their tape collection to digital, so a lot of titles are not available.  I have been trying to see the Public's production of RICHARD II circa 1994 with Michael Stuhlbarg for almost a year and a half now.  Frustrating. 

[beforetheparade]

Posted: 5/12/16 at 8:21pm

My dad and I went to watch 2004's Assasins revival. Quality was great!

[_IrisTInkerbell]

Posted: 5/13/16 at 4:46am

I went recently to watch Music In The Air (the 2009 Encores!), and the quality was excellent. A good mix of close-ups and wide-angle shots, good picture quality and they give you pretty good headphones too. Obviously that was a very new recording compared to some of the stuff they have there, but I've been dying to see Kristin in this show, and I wasn't disappointed. I only wish the quality of the monitiors were a bit better. They are really old TVs, and quite grainy compared to what we're are used to now.

 

I have to say, not being a student and not working in theater at all, I was terrified when I made the appointment via phone. I had prepared a reason, but since I didn't want to outright lie it honestly wasn't a very good one, and I didn't expect it to be accepted. They did ask on the phone I wanted to see it, and told them the first part (I had a an extension of the reason as a back-up), but it wasn't a problem at all. I had to fill out a form when I got there and write it down there again but it seemed like a formality. The video was already set up when I filled that out, and I doubt they would still kick you out at this point (yea, I was still pretty nervous when I got there).

Funnily enough, nobody even checked my library card at any point (I was asked on the phone if I had one, but that was all) Also, I didn't realize until when I left that cell phones weren't allowed in there. I had mine on me the whole time. I wouldn't have dared to record though, and you would only get the video anyway, without sound, because you listen with headphones.

 

I wish they would just make the archived videos actually publically available. Why not share the greatness with everyone who is interested, esp since they don't really seem to care about your "reason" when you go. They could charge $5-10 for non-theater-students for example (like at the movies or renting a DVD), and they would even make some money off it, which might help to speed up the remastering and buying new TVs! I understand that students need to be given first rights to see videos, but they could only open it to the public at certain times, or some of the monitors or what not. I know I'd be happy to pay a small fee and know I'm 100% allowed to watch EVERYTHING and not stress out about being sent away.

 

Oh, and I went on a Tuesday too, and there was 5 other people in there with me, anything but full! I had made the appointment then day before.

[cmorrow]

Posted: 5/13/16 at 7:33am

_IrisTInkerbell said: "I wish they would just make the archived videos actually publically available. Why not share the greatness with everyone who is interested, esp since they don't really seem to care about your "reason" when you go. They could charge $5-10 for non-theater-students for example (like at the movies or renting a DVD), and they would even make some money off it, which might help to speed up the remastering and buying new TVs! I understand that students need to be given first rights to see videos, but they could only open it to the public at certain times, or some of the monitors or what not. I know I'd be happy to pay a small fee and know I'm 100% allowed to watch EVERYTHING and not stress out about being sent away."

I work at the library. First, glad to hear you had a good experience with TOFT. Charging admission to view the videos has been suggested many times, but doing so would violate the contracts under which they were made. It should be understood that the artists (i.e. playwrights, directors, performers, etc.) were not paid extra for allowing their shows to be taped, because they were made with the understanding that no admission would be charged. The library vowed this would NEVER happen. If the contracts were re-negotiated, and money changed hands, it would be a whole new ballgame. Everyone would expect to be paid -- and rightly so. The NYPL is not that kind of business, or you'd have to pay to check out books and audio recordings, too. Trust me, it's not as simple as people believe.

P.S. There are more reasons why TOFT doesn't charge admission, and why the videos aren't "released," but this is just for starters.

[_IrisTInkerbell]

Posted: 5/13/16 at 8:27am

I see, that makes sense then. It's still sad, knowing that all these amazing recordings are there and you can't really access them. Except I guess that you can, now that I know that, haha. I'll definitely come back on my next trip to NY to see something else!

[Jshan05]

Posted: 5/13/16 at 10:06am

I watched the 2008 production of 'Gypsy' with Patti LuPone and Laura Benanti. The quality was terrific and the entire production was marvelous. This resource at the NYPL is beyond wonderful...I'm so grateful this is available!