Swing Joined: 8/10/09
Hoping to get a little help here for a report I'm putting together. Could people give names of live performances that were successfully (subjective, I know) filmed for film/tv. Examples: Leguizamo's FREAK, Lonny Price's SWEENEY concert, the original SWEENEY with Angela and George Hearn etc. Any examples of good theater to film tapings would be very helpful.
Thank you.
The film of the Company revival, regardless of what you thought of the production itself, is quite well-done I think. It's a good translation of what was on stage. Sunday in the Park With George is also one of my favorites.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
The House of Blue Leaves (one of the best imo)
The Man Who Came To Dinner with Nathan Lane
The Women (Roundabout Production)
Smokey Joe's Cafe
Passion
Into the Woods
Sunday in the Park with George
The Pirates of Penzane (Kline, Rondstadt) - I wouldn't call it "successful" because the film quality is not that great (1980?) but I'm glad it's available because Patricia Routledge is great as Ruth.
The Candide concert with the NY Philharmonic.
Swing Joined: 8/10/09
Thanks for the great suggestions thus far. I should have been more specific and said "filmed live in the theater with an audience in attendance" (I don't think there is a Pirates of P version with Kline other than the feature, is there?). Any more suggestions are appreciated.
Crazy for You
Pippin
Contact
Oh, Calcutta
Sophisticated Ladies
The Magic Show
Steambath
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
Fosse
Jekyll and Hyde
Updated On: 2/25/10 at 02:52 PM
Pirates of Penzance was not the film of the same name that had the same cast (except for Ruth-played by Angela Landsbury)...this version was the one that played Central Park and later moved to Broadway (Ruth was Estelle Parsons on Broadway) with Kline, Rose, Ronstandt, Smith and Azito. It was in black and white, but such a great show!
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
DRG, here is the "Pirates..." that was filmed in Central Park before a live audience. The quality of the film is not great, but it's definitely worth watching. Patricia "Hyacinth Bucket" Routledge is Ruth.
Link
Les Miserables ..to an extent. Footage is shown from the show as well as photos, but obviously it's a concert with people in costumes.
A TALE of TWO CITIES was likewise filmed, mostly as a concert but there were several props and legitimate action took place on stage!
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
The Grapes of Wrath
PASSING STRANGE (whatever you think of the show) looked pretty good on TV.
Featured Actor Joined: 12/6/05
Chorus Member Joined: 3/23/09
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
"WAIT. Where can I get a copy of Crazy for You?????"
It was filmed for a one time showing on PBS. So you have to find somebody who taped it.
"The did that with Calcutta? Really?"
Yes, and it makes you realize how really, really, really boring the show is. The nudity is exciting for about five minutes and then two hours of boredom.
Was the Light in the Piazza for PBS done in front of an audience?
I'm not sure if it was in front of an audience, but the flop Shangri-La was filmed for Hallmark Hall of Fame. See link.
Also, Simply Heavenly was filmed for "Play of the Week" in 1959, but again I'm not sure if that was in front of an audience.
Was Kiss Me, Kate with Brent Barrett in front of an audience? I have yet to see it.
Shangri-La (1956)
Stand-by Joined: 2/15/10
I love the Aint Misbehavin one. I think that and Rent are my two fave's filmed for live TV.
Kiss Me, Kate switches between having the audience and not, to keep it like a "play within a play". But then they put the audience in there at random times, even when it's not during "Taming of the Shrew" (Always True To You comes to mind). But it's a minor problem with an otherwise great DVD. I watch it all the time.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/28/05
I love Kiss Me, Kate with Rachel York and Oklahoma! with Hugh Jackman!
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/5/04
"Was the Light in the Piazza for PBS done in front of an audience? "
Definitely, twin belter. It was a Live From Lincon Center broadcast, though of course the intermission interviews (other than Beverly Sills' portion of the show) were taped in advance.
"Kiss Me, Kate switches between having the audience and not, to keep it like a "play within a play". But then they put the audience in there at random times, even when it's not during "Taming of the Shrew" (Always True To You comes to mind). But it's a minor problem with an otherwise great DVD."
I think it was performed entirely before a live audience, [tos]fan999, but they only showed the audience from time to time (which I thought was an odd choice too). I highly recommend KMK, twinbelter. Here's one of the songs from it.
Bianca, a KMK excerpt
Updated On: 2/26/10 at 03:30 AM
Actually the live "The Pirates of Penzance" is in color and available from Netflix.
The CRAZY FOR YOU film was done/filmed at the Papermill Playhouse -- not during the show's original Broadway run at the Shubert Theatre.
Taped for television at New Jersey's Paper Mill Playhouse under Ockrent and Stroman's supervision, the cast of "Crazy For You" features Jim Walton, Stacey Logan, Jane Connell, Bruce Adler, and M*A*S*H*'s Larry Linville.
Link to info on PBS telecast: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/crazyforyou/
Cathy Rigby's Peter Pan was filmed at La Mirada Center for the Performing Arts, in front of a live audience. It's a very good taping of her production of the show, and she along with Paul Schoeffler, are excellent.
I have Kiss Me Kate, Fosse, and Into The Woods. Anyone know where a fan-made DVD of Legally Blonde or Piazza would be sold?
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