Company at the NY Phil - Full Cast Announced- Page 3

[madbrian]

Posted: 4/6/11 at 1:05pm

Don't most, if not all, of these movie theater releases eventually make it to DVD/Blu-Ray?

[lull89]

Posted: 4/6/11 at 1:11pm

Hoping this follows the recent trajectory of the Les Miz concert, filmed live, then broadcast in theatres, then on PBS, and finally on DVD and Blu-Ray. So glad there's filming happening (although it took them long enough to announce it!), as I would pretty much never be able to spend money again if I bought full-priced tickets to the show.

[jpbran]

Posted: 4/6/11 at 1:14pm

Am guessing a home release isn't a certainty with something like "Memphis" which is still playing and launching a tour. One-offs like this, probably. Provides some extra revenue to off-set the HD filming costs I'd imagine.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/6/11 at 1:41pm

I'm optimistic because there's also been mention here by some pretty trustworthy posters that PBS is involved, too, so hopefully it's possible that we'll get both, a la Les Miz.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 4/6/11 at 2:59pm

I do wonder how well this type of thing would do in a movie theater, so it's interesting that they're going that route with it. I hope it eventually does go to PBS. I'll go see it wherever I can find it, though!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/6/11 at 3:02pm

Well, when these things go to theaters, it's not a regular release like your typical movie gets; it's a very limited number of showings over a short period of time. Enough time for the people who care to go see it, but it wouldn't hang out there like your average Hollywood film.

[phantom39]

Posted: 4/6/11 at 3:19pm

I'm pretty sure Ellen M. Krass is behind the filming, and if so I think we can expect a DVD/Blu-Ray (she also produced the 2007 Company filming and the recent Birthday Concert). Hopefully more Broadway shows follow this path..

Updated On: 4/6/11 at 03:19 PM

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 4/6/11 at 3:23pm

Right, I know that, but I don't know how well it would do with even a few showings. Though I of course love the show, I don't think there would be the same kind of audience for this as for, say, the Les Mis concert. I doubt they expect to make a lot of money off it.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/6/11 at 3:28pm

I'm pretty sure Ellen M. Krass is behind the filming, and if so I think we can expect a DVD/Blu-Ray (she also produced the 2007 Company filming and the recent Birthday Concert)

I think so too, and for these things, she is a saint.

No, obviously Company doesn't have the kind of following that Les Mis does, but this version has a whole bunch of famous people, which some things that have had these theatrical releases did not. I think it'll be fine. I can't imagine it'll get more than a few-city release, either.

[phantom39]

Posted: 4/6/11 at 3:42pm

I love the fact they're trying to revive the trend of theatrical releases (which failed in the early 2000's mostly because of the number of HD screens across the country). I think it's a great idea as long as it's also available on home video later on.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 4/6/11 at 3:43pm

I've never seen Company live, and am most familiar with Bernadette Peters' rendition of Being Alive. Very excited about this, but don't know to whether to watch the Raul Esparza DVD first.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/6/11 at 3:52pm

I don't think there's any need to. It can't hurt, but just know that this will be very different. My inclination, and I love this show more than life, is to tell you to go in with as little prior knowledge as possible. Its complexity isn't one that hugely benefits from prior knowledge like some of Sondheim's other shows, and there's nothing like the first time.

Updated On: 4/6/11 at 03:52 PM

[jdtp12]

Posted: 4/6/11 at 3:55pm

"Am guessing a home release isn't a certainty with something like "Memphis" which is still playing and launching a tour."

They actually confirmed on their youtube page that it would be released later in the year on DVD.
Updated On: 4/6/11 at 03:55 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/6/11 at 4:42pm

Some new photos here:

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2011/04/07/theater/Company.html

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 4/6/11 at 8:08pm

Thanks, I generally like to go in cold, but sometimes with hindsight I think a little familiarity wouldn't have been so bad. I imagine both versions are (will be) fantastic anyway!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/6/11 at 8:23pm

Whatever you choose to do will be fine, and I definitely, definitely recommend watching the 2006 production at some point, even if it's not before you see the concert. But I really think this is one you should just go into cold and let it (hopefully) move you. You can't ever get that first surprise experience back, and knowing this show up and down and inside out, I honestly think you should give yourself that.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 4/6/11 at 8:42pm

You make a very good case, luvtheEmcee! I definitely plan to see the 2006 DVD at some point, I really should've seen it already. I remember being in NYC around that time and seeing the marquee on the theatre, but still being young and dumb enough to not have discovered Sondheim I went to see something else instead...perhaps my biggest theatre regret so far!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/6/11 at 8:51pm

Eh, better late than never.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 4/6/11 at 8:58pm

I agree that going in blind might be a good idea. My one qualm would be that, since it's a concert staging and the show is already pretty complex, a first-timer might get a bit confused as to what exactly is going on. But I can definitely say that when I sat down to watch the PBS broadcast of the '06 revival, I knew almost nothing about it, and I was mesmerized. Emcee couldn't be more right about the thrill of experiencing it like that, and now it's easily one of my favorite shows.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/6/11 at 9:08pm

Yeah, it's hard to say definitively since we don't really know how much they will be including or cutting, but I think I trust Lonny Price to make sound and coherent decisions about that.

As much as I love that now it feels like going back to an old friend, I truly, truly wish I could go back to that first time, just one more time.

[MusicAndPassion]

Posted: 4/7/11 at 1:13am

I cannot wait to see this tonight at 7:30! What should one wear, especially if one has never attended a production at Avery Fisher Hall?

Thanks!

[newintown]

Posted: 4/7/11 at 10:23am

A two-piece, pumps, and fake fur.

[Blockhead24]

Posted: 4/7/11 at 10:28am

I'll be there tonight!! can't wait

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/7/11 at 10:30am

What should one wear, especially if one has never attended a production at Avery Fisher Hall?

For me, dressing up to go to the Philharmonic or the opera always makes it more fun than wearing jeans. And have someone take a picture of you and whoever you're with in front of the fountain before the show.

[HistoryBoy2]

Posted: 4/7/11 at 10:35am

I'm gonna make this my screensaver.