Dear Ellen M. Krass, PBS, and Other Television Producers

[CapnHook]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 11:13am

Dear Ellen M. Krass, PBS, and other television producers who don "the powers" that be:

First, I would like to thank you, Mrs. Krauss, for your decision to professionally record John Doyle's production of COMPANY at the Barrymore Theater. I had the opportunity to see the production and thought it was good (although I have seen better). The performances are indeed "great" and would make for a wonderful addition to your "Great Performances" series. I do hope it makes it to air so that I can enjoy this rendering of the show one more time. I am also sad to see it close on Broadway, but when it is time - it's time, and I'm glad you are catching it before it closes.

However, there seems to be a continuing trend with the selection of shows that are chosen for recording & broadcast. In my DVD collection, I own professionally recorded productions of SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, SWEENEY TODD, INTO THE WOODS, PUTTING IT TOGETHER, and PASSION. In addition, I also own the DVDs of the FOLLIES IN CONCERT and SWEENEY TODD IN CONCERT programs, as well as the MAKING OF THE ORIGINAL CAST ALBUM OF COMPANY documentary. Oh yes, I also own SONDHEIM - A CELEBRATION AT CARNEGIE HALL, BARBARA COOK IN MOSTLY SONDHEIM, and films that feature his work, such as DICK TRACY, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, and CAMP - just to mention a few.

I am very grateful that a plethora of Sondheim's work has been preserved for generations to come. Therefore, I would like to say 'thank you' and offer some advice: move on!

You are ignoring the GREAT PERFORMANCES of many other fine actors, directors, designers, and composers. In the past, you have preserved Rodgers & Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC IN CONCERT, CINDERELLA, and OKLAHOMA. You have preserved, Andrew Lloyd Webber's 50th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION, CATS, JOSEPH & THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, and JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. Leonard Bernstein's CANDIDE IN CONCERT, Cole Porter's KISS ME KATE, the Gershwins' CRAZY FOR YOU, and other Broadway-related concerts have been recorded - kudos on that. However, I find it to be a bit ignorant and self-satisfying to record yet ANOTHER Sondheim show for broadcast.

What about the works of Jerry Herman? A brilliant revival of his show, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, closed in less performances than the COMPANY revival has had, and there wasn't even a cast recording for this production! It won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical, by the way. Other composers whose stage productions haven't been filmed (or are rarely filmed) are Jason Robert Brown, Marvin Hamlisch, Kander & Ebb, William Finn, Stephen Schwartz, Richard Adler & Jerry Ross, David Yazbek, and countless other composers whose shows have become legendary.

I would also like to draw your attention to the GREAT PERFORMANCES given by actors, directors, designers, and playwrights in shows such as CORAM BOY, JOURNEY'S END, THE CLEAN HOUSE, THE LIEUTENANT OF INISHMORE, THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED, THE COAST OF UTOPIA, DOUBT, RABBIT HOLE, WELL, 700 SUNDAYS, etc. I can't recall the last straight play to receive preservation from being recorded.

In conclusion, I would strongly advise you to consider non-Sondheim shows to feature for broadcast in the future. Hopefully, in the not-to-distant future. As much as I love Sondheim, it is a shame we nearly have his Complete Works on DVD while other composers' & playwrights' masterpieces are sorely overlooked.

Yours Truly,

CapnHook

P.S. On a personal note, you really missed your opportunity to feature "great performances" back when THE LIEUTENANT OF INISHMORE was playing on Broadway, as well as Sara Ruhl's THE CLEAN HOUSE off Broadway. If I had the opportunity to have the amount of money you have, I certainly wouldn't spend it on just a small handful of composers. Just sayin'

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 11:27am

You know, this topic has been discussed TO DEATH. Your intentions are good, and while I wouldn't complain if all those other things were preserved and made available to the public, they aren't for a reason, and they never will be.

The main reason why Sondheim shows are pretty much the only stage musicals to be preserved and made available to the public is because of where his shows sit in the history of musical theatre.

For instance, people STILL talk about ITW, SITPWG, Sweeney Todd etc, regardless of the DVDs that are available. The recordings are there because in all honesty, there will never be an artist such as Sondheim (not just in terms of talent, but how unique his voice really is). That's why there is a market for HIS shows.

[misschung]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 11:37am

*edit* nevermind

I'm just happy they are recording this show - end of story

Updated On: 6/28/07 at 11:37 AM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 11:40am

you should aslo know that PBS really had nothing to do with the filming and release of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 50th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION, CATS, JOSEPH & THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, and JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 11:55am

CATSNY - I'm not certain on the history of ALW's shows being produced, however PBS did air them: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/genre/musical_theater.html

Thesbijean - your comments made me speechless. I mean, we all talk about Sondheim, yes, but equally I discuss shows such as HELLO DOLLY, MAME, 42nd STREET, AIDA, THE LAST 5 YEARS, PARADE, and countless other shows with people. Several of those are are even MORE produced than Sondheim shows around the country. So if we're STILL talking about these shows as well - why not preserve THEM, too?

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 11:58am

They aired them. They were filmed by the really useful group and other companies. Not PBS.

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 12:01pm

JOURNEY'S END would never work as well on film.

Oh, and: I can't recall the last straight play to receive preservation from being recorded.
All shows are recorded.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 12:02pm

I think it's good that so many of teh SOndheim shows have been preserved. I agree with Andrew that I would love to see many others plays and musicals taped but if we have to focus on just one composer, Sondheim deserves the attention.

I really wish PBS hadn't prostituted themselves by wasting so much money taping the ALW musicals.

It would be really good idea if PBS could do annual specials profiling the careers of great Braodway songsmiths. Anyone remember their excellent Rodgets & Hammerstsin program hosted by Mary Martin? There was also a profile of Lerner and Loewe.

How about a Kander and Ebb profile? Using materials from Ed Sullivan shows, Tony Telecasts and other sources.

A Jerry Herman profile is long overdue, but I disagree with Andrew on the merits of the recent LA CAGE AUX FOLLES. I saw the original both on Broadway and on tour, and from what I have seen the 2005 revival was a mess and not worthy of preservation in any form. The segment shown on the 2005 Tony Awards was appallingly awful.


O Leonard Bernstin? (I guess his shows have been covered with conceret broadcasts of ON THE TOWN, WONDERFUL TOWN and CANDIDE plus the making of the Bernstain WEST SIDE STORY album.)

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 12:03pm

Of course, if you loo at it that Sondheim has created a significant piece of the backbone of musical theater evolution, of course his work is some of the most frequently preserved this way. There are plenty of other shows that would be great to have for personal enjoyment, but if the purpose is history, then preserving such important pieces of the canon makes total sense.

Also, Dear Ellen M. Krass,

THANK YOU.

"Emcee"

Updated On: 6/28/07 at 12:03 PM

[JRybka]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 12:06pm

Thanks for the great words. I do hope that this will be the start of some great performances recorded for those of us who are unable to see the show in NYC.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 12:07pm

**I really wish PBS hadn't prostituted themselves by wasting so much money taping the ALW musicals.**

Again...PBS did NOT film/record those ALW shows. PBS only broadcasted them. They were fully produced by The Really Useful Group, which is owned by ALW himself.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 12:22pm

I thought we were taking a step in the right direction when PBS recorded THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA. They also missed out on CAROLINE, OR CHANGE.

I don't accept the "for the sake of musical theatre history" argument. Recent shows that made musical theatre history, in my opinion, are RENT, THE LION KING, SPRING AWAKENING, and THE PRODUCERS. Those are the ones that immediately sprung into mind. There isn't a single Sondheim show I can recall in the past 10 years to make history...EXCEPT the SWEENEY TODD revival...and that's only because of the directorial concept. COMPANY makes up for it, I guess.

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 12:27pm

CapnHook, you answered your own question. Sondheim shows AREN'T produced that often, correct, another reason WHY they are recorded.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 12:40pm

Thesbijean, the same can be said about other composers I listed. While some of those shows are produced more often than Sondheim shows, they get the backburner.

My argument isn't that Sondheim shows shouldn't be recorded & aired, my argument is that other composers' shows should also have the opportunity.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 12:43pm

PBS, we need a video of "A Chorus Line". This show should not be known by its movie version.

[Sondheim Geek]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 1:21pm

^Seconded

[CapnHook]

Posted: 11/6/08 at 2:57pm

I would like to bump.

And mention that we have another two composers' works to add to the collection of filmed shows: Jonathan Larson and George O'Keefe. RENT and LEGALLY BLONDE. Others since my original "letter" included CYRANO (which still hasn't aired?) and another straight play I am forgetting.

They missed out on GREY GARDENS. And A CHORUS LINE.

They need to get GYPSY and AVENUE Q before they close.

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 11/6/08 at 6:20pm

I would hardly call Jerry Zaks' troubled production of La Cage Aux Folles brilliant.