Could the Extended Broadway Shutdown Prompt More Live TV Musicals?

[Lanie J]

Posted: 10/10/20 at 12:00pm

Now that the Broadway theaters are going to be shut down for nearly another year, do you think that any TV networks might take on the task of doing another live television production? I know that those television musicals have been on the decline, apparently due to low viewership for The Little Mermaid and Jesus Christ Superstar, but since most people are still stuck in their homes, and since the live theaters are shut down, I think viewership for a TV musical now could be a lot higher than TLM and JCS. 

 

We're probably going to reach some sort of shut-down grey area in which it's technically safe to STAGE a show, but it won't be safe to pack people into the theater to VIEW it. Another live TV production could give some work to a good group of theatre professionals who have been without employment.

 

If you think this would be possible soon, what musical do you think would make the most sense? I think Beauty and the Beast could be a good choice, because it'd be popular with adults and youths alike, but I don't know how easy it would be to stage. Maybe CInderella, because it could function with a much smaller cast?

[BwayLB]

Posted: 10/10/20 at 12:07pm

I would be surprised if it happens

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 10/10/20 at 1:23pm

This is easier to pull off as the cast will be required to self-quarantine and the same crew remains throughout the process. Numerous TV and film productions have resumed filming with zero COVID cases, so the safety guidelines they have implemented are working and they have a production crew of about 50-100 plus people, not just the cast itself.  Actors are only mask-less when not filming but everyone is masked at all times.  No exceptions.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/10/20 at 5:22pm

One can hope .

[Sunny11]

Posted: 10/10/20 at 6:59pm

It’s not live but Apple + recently announced a new original series with a great cast.

TV line link

Updated On: 10/10/20 at 06:59 PM

[itsjustmejonhotmailcom]

Posted: 10/10/20 at 8:32pm

I doubt it would be live. Doesn't seem worth the risk of potentially having to cancel it if people got Covid close to filming and they had to cancel it. Sure there would be some coverage but they would need the celebrities to draw people in and had to cover those roles. When Jurassic Park had to shut down because of Covid infections that cost them money I'm sure, but it didn't affect the release date.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 10/10/20 at 10:23pm

itsjustmejonhotmailcom said: "I doubt it would be live. Doesn't seem worth the risk of potentially having to cancel it if people got Covid close to filming and they had to cancel it."

The live netweork shows somewhat reminded me of the Andrew Lloyd Webber video releases in the late-90s-early-2000s. Cats was fimed on its stage set, but JCS and Joseph were hybrids of a regular studio set that were adapted from their stage designs, retaining much of their  theatricality (only The Wiz Live really did this). I'd be fine if some other shows (or networks) did this without the live aspect. My only complaint about the live shows (design-wise) is the lack of theatricality in their lighting design. The ALW releases always had visible spotlight beams and other stage lighting effects so as not to mask their theatrical nature.

When Jurassic Park had to shut down because of Covid infections that cost them money I'm sure, but it didn't affect the release date."

It has. It's been pushed back to 2022.

[Globefan]

Posted: 10/10/20 at 10:42pm

I'd love My Fair Lady LIVE! 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/10/20 at 11:03pm

I just don't understand how the NY theater community isn't able to come together and offer anything new other than Zoom readings. I've said a zillion times before - the West End is just providing SO much content and really keeping theater "alive" by streaming live productions (both new and archival) for months now while Broadway (no fault to the actors/musicians/etc) just sits on it's hands saying "Here, have another Zoom video". Kudos to the Actors Fund for streaming a couple of their concerts that they never would have before, but really there should be so much more content like that made available right now. 

[itsjustmejonhotmailcom]

Posted: 10/10/20 at 11:03pm

Fosse76 said: "itsjustmejonhotmailcom said: "I doubt it would be live. Doesn't seem worth the risk of potentially having to cancel it if people got Covid close to filming and they had to cancel it."

The livenetweork shows somewhat reminded me of the Andrew Lloyd Webber video releases in the late-90s-early-2000s. Cats was fimed on its stage set, but JCS and Josephwerehybrids of a regular studio set that were adapted from their stage designs, retaining much of their theatricality(only The Wiz Live really did this). I'd be fine if some other shows (or networks) did this without the live aspect. My only complaint about the live shows (design-wise) is the lack of theatricalityin their lighting design. The ALW releases always had visible spotlight beamsand other stage lighting effects so as not to mask their theatrical nature.

When Jurassic Park had to shut down because of Covid infections that cost them money I'm sure, but it didn't affect the release date."

It has. It's been pushed back to 2022."

According to the trades, that was because of the depressed post-Covid box office, not because of their on-set infections. What I meant was something like Jurassic Park could afford to shut down for a couple of weeks and still make their release date. With a live TV musical you don't have any margin for error.

[bk]

Posted: 10/11/20 at 12:46am

Jordan Catalano said: "I just don't understand how the NY theater community isn't able to come together and offer anything new other than Zoom readings. I've said a zillion times before - the West End is just providing SO much content and really keeping theater "alive" by streaming live productions (both new and archival) for months now while Broadway (no fault to the actors/musicians/etc) just sits on it's hands saying "Here, have another Zoom video". Kudos to the Actors Fund for streaming a couple of their concerts that they never would have before, but really there should be so much more content like that made available right now."

There's plenty of interesting content.  You just have to be more aware than this board and know where to look.

[blaxx]

Posted: 10/11/20 at 1:13am

Fun Home Live!

Updated On: 10/11/20 at 01:13 AM

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 10/11/20 at 2:40pm

Jordan Catalano said: "I just don't understand how the NY theater community isn't able to come together and offer anything new other than Zoom readings. I've said a zillion times before - the West End is just providing SO much content and really keeping theater "alive" by streaming live productions (both new and archival) for months now while Broadway (no fault to the actors/musicians/etc) just sits on it's hands saying "Here, have another Zoom video". Kudos to the Actors Fund for streaming a couple of their concerts that they never would have before, but really there should be so much more content like that made available right now."

I think we'll get some live performances from a Tonys bubble, plus filming of "Diana" and rumored "Aladdin" on Disney+ later this year. I think a few TV musicals could happen in the spring. Not sure what or where, but I wouldn't be shocked to see NBC or ABC pop up with a couple of live musicals. They have understudies and swings, like a Broadway production, plus they could be in a housing bubble. That's how TV shows and films are operating currently!