Coast of Utopia on Live From Lincoln Center?

I'd say it's pretty unlikely, unfortunately.

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While I'd love to see it happen, I'd have to say the odds would be slim to none. It seems like it would be a massive undertaking.

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Too expensive to undertake, and PBS isn't exactly in the market for programming of this nature anymore. Now if it was Yanni Live At Lincoln Center, it'd probably have a really good shot.

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Well, there are only two ways that they could do it:

1. Broadcast a marathon and monopolize PBS programming for an entire day

or

2. Broadcast all three plays separately on three consecutive nights.

Both would be incredibly expensive and I don't think there's a wide audience for it.

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It would be wonderful if they did, though. Like 25 years ago, when they broadcast the RSC's production of NICHOLAS NICKLEBY over two nights. That was brilliant. I wish they would just suck it up and do it no matter what it costs, if only for the prestige and the chance to preserve such an extraordinary experience.

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As they say in England:

Oh, bugger.

Oh well.

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I would absolutely love for this to be filmed for PBS broadcast. It sounds like a truly amazing theatrical event.

Anything's possible, but sadly PBS simply doesn't have the money for such a large undertaking anymore. COAST OF UTOPIA is certainly the odds-on favorite to win the Best Play Tony this year (along with a few other awards), but national affiliates would balk at airing a 9 hour rumination on the trials and tribulations of a bunch of 19th century intellectuals that 99% of the American public has ever heard of, starring a cast (other than perhaps Crudup and Hawke) that few people have heard of.

And it's a damn shame, especially looking back at the kinds of telecasts PBS used to regularly do in the 70s and 80s. When I was growing up, some of my favorite television memories came from watching filmed plays on PBS' "Theatre In America" "Great Performances" and "American Playhouse" series that broadcast dozens and dozens of extraordinary productions from Broadway and regional theaters around the country, starring a who's who of great actors. These broadcasts took place several times a year (as did "Live from the Met" and "Dance in America" telecasts) bringing great art to the masses. Now, we're lucky to get even one play a year. There SHOULD be broadcasts of things like COAST OF UTOPIA and last summer's MOTHER COURAGE in the Park w/ Streep and Kline (Joe Papp had dozens of his productions in the Park and at the Public filmed and broadcast, including a couple with Streep back in the 70s and early 80s), or that wonderful HENRY IV from Lincoln Center a couple of seasons ago with Kline -- productions by major not-for-profits that weren't going to tour and give audiences around the country the opportunity to see first rate professional theater that they may not have ready access to in their own communities. But apparently there's no money for such things anymore which is why PBS is filled with Yanni and Doo-Wop and adult contemporary music concerts that get ratings, but to my mind don't fulfill PBS's original mission to bring the arts -- theatre, dance, opera, classical music -- to the masses.

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Updated On: 4/15/07 at 01:36 PM

Margo, you are so right. Whatever happened to those old days?

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I have Contact on VHS and I wish I could get it on DVD. I did get Crazy for You put on DVD, but I missed Play On! and some others. I'd like to cet a copy of Play On! on DVD... I just wish they would just stop complaining and draw up all the paper work and get those shows released on DVD. Some of those performances really are great and it's a shame they can't/wont be seen by future generations.

^Would you be referring to the crapheads known as the Republicans?

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