PHANTOM will be the next ALW musical to stream for free

[phantom39]

Posted: 4/14/20 at 1:30pm

It's the 25th anniversary version. Also CATS is coming.

http://filmedonstage.com/news/110-stage-musicals-the-phantom-of-the-opera-and-cats-expected-to-stream-online-for-free

[Lot666]

Posted: 4/14/20 at 1:35pm

I already own the Blu-ray, which I bought as soon as it came out because we actually attended the Royal Albert Hall event, but I'm still excited for this!

[davidbrian81]

Posted: 4/14/20 at 5:19pm

I'm eagerly awaiting By Jeeves, even though I have it on DVD. (had to hack my DVD player to play it, but have since copied it to my computer) It is a fun little show.  I'm surprised its never been released on BluRay or digitally in the US.  Donna Lynne Chaplain (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) is great in it.  Hopefully it'll be an HD version instead of upconverted DVD.

[Globefan]

Posted: 4/14/20 at 6:06pm

At least its not the 2004 film 

[phantom39]

Posted: 4/15/20 at 3:59am

Globefan said: "At least its not the 2004 film"

It's actually pretty amazing how they managed to make this concert seem "staged" on camera. Much better than the 2004 film, yes.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 4/15/20 at 7:25pm

TaleofTwo said: "Globefan said: "At least its not the 2004 film"

It's actually pretty amazing how they managed to make this concert seem "staged" on camera. Much better than the 2004 film, yes."

It was staged. 

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/15/20 at 7:50pm

The promo that just came out on YouTube appears to be the full show with Sierra Boggess.

[Lot666]

Posted: 4/16/20 at 10:20am

uncageg said: "The promo that just came out on YouTube appears to be the full show with Sierra Boggess."

It's the 25th Anniversary Production at the Royal Albert Hall, which was filmed and released on DVD/Blu-ray. Ramin Karimloo in the title role, with Sierra Boggess as Christine and Hadley Fraser as Raoul.

[ggersten]

Posted: 4/16/20 at 1:34pm

Not really a spoiler overall but in this production: 

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

the chandelier does not fall - it just shoots out some sparks. very disappointing.

 

[Lot666]

Posted: 4/16/20 at 2:22pm

ggersten said: "Not really a spoiler overall but in this production:

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

the chandelier does not fall - it just shoots out some sparks. very disappointing."

 

That was to be expected here, as this production was staged for just two days at the Royal Albert Hall, so we didn't find it all that disappointing.

Updated On: 4/16/20 at 02:22 PM

[ggersten]

Posted: 4/16/20 at 4:48pm

Lot666 said: "ggersten said: "Not really a spoiler overall but in this production:

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

the chandelier does not fall - it just shoots out some sparks. very disappointing."

 


That was to be expected here, as this production was staged for just two days at the Royal Albert Hall, so we didn't find it all that disappointing."

I recognize the difficulties inherent in having the production at the Royal Albert Hall, but you have to admit: 

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

the sparks were very underwhelming.  I would have thought a slightly bigger explosion or more dramatic sparks might have been possible. But it is what it was.

 

 

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 4/17/20 at 8:26pm

Just finished watching the performance. I’m nowhere near as seasoned as some of you, with only several dozen musicals and plays under my belt, but I absolutely LOVED seeing this staged version of Phantom of the Opera. It kept my full attention, and it seemed I’d go forever forgetting to take a breath. Loved hearing the music again, seeing actors new to me perform, and watching the story play out in front of me on the TV (stage) as if it were the first time all over again. This brought back so many wonderful memories. Having seen the tour twice (Philadelphia and Pittsburgh), and the Broadway original in NYC, this is another memory I’ll always cherish, especially the guest stars who take the stage after the final curtain call. How incredibly special! I plan on watching it again tomorrow and making a donation. Thanks to everyone who made this possible. 

Updated On: 4/17/20 at 08:26 PM

[David10086]

Posted: 4/17/20 at 8:50pm

I wish they would stream the 1977 movie "A Little Night Music". It's worth watching solely for the superb performance by Diana Rigg - who saved this movie. (Taylor wasn't bad, but she wasn't good either - she was just 'there'. 

[imeldasturn]

Posted: 4/17/20 at 9:00pm

David10086 said: "I wish they would stream the 1977 movie "A Little Night Music". It's worth watching solely for the superb performance by Diana Rigg - who saved this movie. (Taylor wasn't bad, but she wasn't good either - she was just 'there'."

Oh yeah, Andrew Lloyd Webber's famous A Little Night Music

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/17/20 at 9:26pm

Could they have done something with the chandelier in post to at least make it look like it fell at the Albert Hall or would people have complained about that too?

[ggersten]

Posted: 4/17/20 at 10:01pm

CATSNYrevival said: "Could they have done something with the chandelier in post to at least make it look like it fell at the Albert Hall or would people have complained about that too?"

It was streamed live at the time. We watched it in the cinema. So there was nothing to do then! 

I guess very long after the fact they could have done something.  I believe Billy Elliot was re-edited from the camera shots/angles used during the live streaming. But, doing something else with the chandelier was likely viewed as an unneeded expense for a DVD... 

 

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/17/20 at 11:04pm

The chandelier is gorgeous and the sparks are just fine. This is quite beautifully staged. I am a fan of Sierra Boggess and she does not disappoint. The entire cast is quite good. Gorgeous sets and costumes also.

A lot of people seem to be watching. views were at 1.9M when I started watching. So glad I can cast this to my TV. A very enjoyable Friday night in!

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/17/20 at 11:06pm

ggersten said: "I guess very long after the fact they could have done something. I believe Billy Elliot was re-edited from the camera shots/angles used during the live streaming. But, doing something else with the chandelier was likely viewed as an unneeded expense for a DVD..."

That's what I meant. I was thinking maybe some creative editing could have made the chandelier effect a little more exciting on film. There was some creative editing implemented already. I don't know if they did this when it was originally broadcast in cinemas but if you watch the title song, while the Phantom and Christine doubles are traveling to the underground layer back and forth across the bridge, they splice in some footage of Sierra Boggess to further the illusion that it is Sierra and Ramon crossing the bridge but, of course, we know it's not really them. Not to mention the footage they use is identical to a shot of Sierra we see moments later near the end of the song.

Updated On: 4/17/20 at 11:06 PM

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/18/20 at 12:26am

Just finished watching. It was excellent and one heck of a curtain call.

Had I been in that Hall, I would not have had and problem with anything. It was a concert/anniversary staging. It is amazing that they had a chandelier with the effects it had. What more would one want? 

[dangeresque49]

Posted: 4/18/20 at 2:31am

I will point out I was not a fan of this show personally but seeing it live changed my mind. This performance is nice to have but pales to comparison  to Broadway on most fronts. Maybe it was better live but I would not consider it defining for the show. 

[Fosse76]

Posted: 4/18/20 at 9:14am

ggersten said: "I guess very long after the fact they could have done something. I believe Billy Elliot was re-edited from the camera shots/angles used during the live streaming. But, doing something else with the chandelier was likely viewed as an unneeded expense for a DVD..."

All three performances of The Phantom of the Opera at the  Royal Albert Hall were recorded and edited for final release (as well as using different angles than were broadcast). They wanted to present the show as performed,  so editing the chandelier would have altered what was presented. 

Billy Elliot was live streamed, but I believe they also filmed the previous performance, in addition to filming some scenes in an empty theater for the final release (when it finally streamed in the U.S., it had already been edited for its home video release).

[JennH]

Posted: 4/18/20 at 10:22am

TaleofTwo said: "Globefan said: "At least its not the 2004 film"

It's actually pretty amazing how they managed to make this concert seem "staged" on camera. Much better than the 2004 film, yes."

Was it blocked like any of the regular running productions? No, but it certainly wasn't a concert. It def was a larger scale production made especially for the RAH. 

And indeed thank goodness it wasn't the movie...I was worried for a sec that since the Joseph stream was the official film, the this would be too. The movie is new travesty. Heck, I expected the Superstar film to be the film too, I don't think anyone would complain about that, but the arena tour was LIT. 

I don't say this lightly, I'm hard to please, but this Phantom is the only one worth watching. It helps that it was a special event so energy was naturally high, but it still was a dang masterpiece. 

[16 Years Later]

Posted: 4/18/20 at 12:22pm

I was fairly excited for this, but it went above and beyond my expectations -- so much so I think I will rewatch it before it goes away Sunday.  I love Phantom, have seen it multiple times on Broadway, though not for a while.  This more than anything I’ve watched through this time has really made me feel the energy and fun of live theatre.  It’s making me a little sad though, with how Phantom relies on tourists, I’m beginning to question if we’ll see it back on Broadway.

Ramin and Sierra were wonderful, Wishing You Were Somehow Here was a great standout.  Being so close really made you see the tears and feel things, just like the movie (which I admit has its flaws but I still love it). To see so many people singing Masquerade was heartwarming, and the finale was wonderful, with Sarah and all the Phantoms -- though I was pretty disappointed Michael Crawford didn’t sing anything.  I get that he just came over from Wizard and had to save his voice, but he really couldn’t sing one line of Music?  Oh well, the others were wonderful.

[dadaguza]

Posted: 4/18/20 at 12:36pm

ggersten said: "Not really a spoiler overall but in this production:

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

the chandelier does not fall - it just shoots out some sparks. very disappointing.

I was a little disappointed about that too but I guess it would've been a bit difficult to pull off in this theater which is absolutely gorgeous. 

I watched it from beginning to end last night too (helped make this Friday a little less depressing). I was tired but couldn't turn it off, it was so beautifully done. I'm going to watch it again tonight.

Not sure if this would be a spoiler but ..

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

I was disappointed they cut out the Christine bride mannequin at the end of MOTN, which was the reason she faints. I think they also changed one of the lyrics - instead of 'Hear it, feel it secretly possess you," he said something else.

Ramin Karimloo was awesome but I still loved Ben Crawford's performance when I saw it in February. Whenever Broadway reopens this will probably be the first show I go see again, unless I find decent tickets for Moulin Rouge.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 4/18/20 at 12:44pm

16 Years Later said: "I was fairly excited for this, but it went above and beyond my expectations -- so much so I think I will rewatch it before it goes away Sunday."

You know you can always buy it,  right?