A link to an article in the Winston-Salem journal describing the elaborate filming that took place of the production over the weekend and last night.
The production will be broadcast on UNC TV sometime before next May, but the more exciting news is that according to John Mauceri, the production will also receive broadcasts in New York, Los Angeles (and other markets as approved by the R&H Organization) with proceeds from the screenings going to benefit UNCA scholarships.
Thanks! That made me very very happy! Of course I would never get to see any of those showings, but at least now I know I'll eventually have the chance...
It seems unheard of to grant a local station the rights to air a major musical, no matter who is doing the production, doesn't it? Would PBS ever pick this up? I do have one nit pick (as I always have...)
"The idea is create a TV-friendly composite of the school's production that will air on UNC-TV before next May. The final product will create the illusion of one scene flowing seamlessly into another without the need for a scenery change behind a curtain. "
Ummm weren't the scene changes done for Oklahoma "in one?" At any rate why film a recreation of the original production and then try to make it look more cinematic? But oh well, it could be worded wrong, and I really don't care that much...
(And I wonder when they'll update the rest of their behind the scenes web series... Not that I check every day or anything...)
*edit* just realized UNC TV is a PBS station... sigh Updated On: 5/12/11 at 12:25 AM
Actually, the 1979 Broadway revival of OKLAHOMA! Was taped for a one time broadcast by a cable access television studio in the state of Oklahoma. It wasn't nearly as elaborate a filming as what was just done in NC (UNC-TV is PBS btw) but the video is out there- you can see clips of it on YouTube.
I wouldn't worry too much about the blurb about covering the scene changes - safe to say, I think I think the reporter is trying to infer that the goal is to make the production flow on film. Honestly, a lot of the local coverage of the profiction has been a little simplistic in editorial style-- I would imagine the R&H estate will have some input into the final product and will make sure the recreation on film has integrity.
MB that does make sense--the reporter seemed to be under the impression that filming a show over several nights to make one taping was some brand new innovative process--but of course concerts and stage shows have been filmed this way for the past 30 or more years...
I had no idea the 79 revival had been recorded--somethign to keep an eye out for I guess... Of course I know about one time only PBS showings--Live from Lincoln Center, etc, but never before about them being shown on one specific network. At any rate, it's just fantastic that it's going to be filmed and viewable to the public in some way.
You never know Best12, I'd say its possible but it sounds like R&H is going to ultimately be making the call where this gets a screening/broadcast. Any of you that want to see this taping screen in your area might consider dropping a note of enthusiasm to Ted Chapin (ted@rnh.com) or Bill Gaden (bill@rnh.com) who head Rodgers and Hammerstein in New York (and who have been involved in this recreation). It couldn't hurt...
I did not see the show live, but I watched the telecast which a friend had recorded and sent to me. It is a fantastic production and the young cast is fantastic. The telecast was also very well done, with multiple cameras and great sound. I am sure it was even better live.
Alma, where did it air? I know originally they said the local PBS in N Carolina would show it but I can't find ANY mention online--or is this copy just a private circulating thing...
OKLAHOMA! was the first professional show I saw when I was 15. It was the national tour of Broadway's '79 revival (Mary Wickes as Aunt Eller was wonderful!) and stopped in Philadelphia at the Forest Theater.
Little did I know that a year later, I would be Curly in my high school production.
Needless to say, OKLAHOMA! has a special place in my heart.
Well if we're all jumping on the PM bandwagon, I'll add my name to the list. Oklahoma! was the first show I ever worked on and I think it's pretty darn perfect. I did see the broadcast (my parents in NC tivoed it for me, but I don't know how to make that transferable) and thought it was great. I would love to have a copy to watch over and over!