Best Recorded Video of a Show

[MungoGypsy8232]

Posted: 6/12/07 at 3:38pm

What do you guys say the best show that was recorded has been? My vote goes to the Light in the Piazza.
Updated On: 6/12/07 at 03:38 PM

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 6/12/07 at 3:39pm

Do you mean video, or CD?

[MungoGypsy8232]

Posted: 6/12/07 at 3:40pm

video, sorry

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 6/12/07 at 3:43pm

Definitley Sunday in the Park With George. Just gorgeous.

[madbrian]

Posted: 6/12/07 at 3:44pm

I would agree with The Light In The Piazza.

[BigFatBlonde]

Posted: 6/12/07 at 5:13pm

I think the Sweeney Todd tour was really well done.

[Broadwayboy2631]

Posted: 6/12/07 at 5:21pm

Into the Woods, or Sweeney Todd concert.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 6/12/07 at 5:25pm

Anything recorded by Lincoln Center's performing arts archive.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 6/12/07 at 5:30pm

Contact.

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 6/12/07 at 5:31pm

"Anything recorded by Lincoln Center's performing arts archive."

I disagree, most of the recordings I've seen were terrible from a production standpoint. I imagine the director/producers have very little time to prep for proper coverage and a shoot.

"Into the Woods" is really great. I wish they would all be done.... someday...

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/12/07 at 5:43pm

My DVD-R of Light in the Piazza scrambels up the whoel second act--makes me incredibly sad--I really wish there was a way I could just get a good copy (that said I completley missed the Lincoln Center broadcast of Contact because I was out of the continent so shouldn't complain). I was sitting down to rewatch it just this week and when it started to screw up literally felt a weight in my throat

Anyway, I think the three Lapine/Sondheim shows are very well done. Normally I like shows being done in a slightly more "fil;m" style and without an audience but I think doing Passion from an empty stage works for it. (Terry Hughes who did Sunday and Woods also did Sweeney but that one isn't nearly as satisfying even from just a film version with a few too many weird angles from the wings etc for my tastes)

I have to admit i'm a traditionalist--I'm ok with the Lincoln Center Archive approach of basically filming the frame to hold all the major action as you'd see it from center floor. Nothing pisses me off more for instance than when they film a dance number and decide to focus on the performer's faces, or what have you.

SPeaking of those SOndheim tapes the 1976 Japanese taping of Pacific Overturs is near perfectly done IMHO too--and that's not an easy show to film. Image needs ot get back ont heir feet with their plans to released this NOW.
The Japanese broadcast of Will Rogers (not a fave show of mine) is likewise basically everything you could want in a taping except for missing some of the start due to Tommy Tune's intro. As is Jeckyll and Hyde (again not a fave show but...)

The ones that annoy me is when they can't decide if they want to be a film or a filmed record of a live show. Yes Andrew Lloyd Webber I mean you. All three of his major "live" recordings (I haven't seen Jeaves) IMHO would work much better if they simply were filmed on stage with an audience, not filmed ona soundstage with most of the stage setup, etc. You get the worst of both worlds. Nunn's taping of Oklahoma suffers from this too (and in a way is even more insulting cuz they insert shots of the audience that's not even there!)

E

[raiosunshine]

Posted: 6/12/07 at 5:48pm

Speaking of the recording of The Light in the Piazza... I'm pretty sure you can't buy this already, but does anyone know if it will ever be released commercially? My DVD-R didn't work that night for some reason so I never got it!

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/12/07 at 5:49pm

I think the direction of the filmed performance of PASSION is superb (I mean in terms of camera work, though Lapine's direction is quite good as well). However, there are parts of it I do not enjoy like the stylized Giorgio's nightmare scene.
SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE has that annoying montage of the Georges cut-outs at the end of "Putting It Together" which is really annoying.
Having said that, I think those are the best I have seen.

[jv92]

Posted: 6/12/07 at 5:51pm

Sunday in the Park with George is hands down the best video recording of a show done commerically.
I also loved Piazza's camera work.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/12/07 at 5:55pm

I think the Barnum video was well done.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 6/12/07 at 6:36pm

Barnum
LITP

[jewishboy]

Posted: 6/12/07 at 7:07pm

PBS did a great taping of the Paper Mill Playhouse's production of Show Boat in 1989. The camera work is very good especially when it focuses on Shelly Burch (Julie) because her acting is just marvelous in this production.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 6/12/07 at 7:11pm

Passion, hands down

[Boq101]

Posted: 6/12/07 at 8:18pm

Piazza is my favorite.