Hal Prince, A Director's Life - link

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 11/24/18 at 10:55am

In case you missed the excellent "Hal Prince, A Director's Life" on PBS, here's a link which expires Dec 21.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/harold-prince-the-directors-life-full-film/9138/

Enjoy!

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 11/24/18 at 11:00am

Thanks! I watched it last night and really enjoyed it, but missed first 20 minutes.

[goodlead]

Posted: 11/24/18 at 12:48pm

Wonderful use of animation.

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/24/18 at 12:53pm

I am hoping it is on On Demand.

[allery]

Posted: 11/24/18 at 4:00pm

Sadly the PBS affiliate in my city did not play this program and I would love to see it. Is there anyway to watch that video outside of the country

[JBC3]

Posted: 11/24/18 at 5:46pm

I would try private browsing or using a VPN with the appropriate country selected. That has sometimes worked for me.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 11/24/18 at 6:42pm

allery said: "Sadly the PBS affiliate in my city did not play this program and I would love to see it. Is there anyway to watch that video outside of the country"

On the BWW app, BWW has posted a link above the main chat room threads. It appears you can watch the video without leaving the app. Could that work work for you? 

[sabrelady]

Posted: 11/24/18 at 7:31pm

sadly no. WNED our local Can/U.S. site did not purchase this so we in  the Western New York/ Toronto region cannot access. ( Sinatra, Neil Diamond and Michael Buble yep but Hal Prince nope)

ah well one day...

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 11/25/18 at 12:10pm

I'm told it's also available from the Apple TV PBS app (likely also Chromecast, Amazon Fire, & Roku). It could also be limited by location within the app, but it's worth a shot.

Updated On: 11/25/18 at 12:10 PM

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/25/18 at 9:20pm

Thanks for the link. Just watched it on my tablet. Loved every second of it.

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/25/18 at 10:09pm

I loved this, I actually wish it was longer!

[Sondheimite]

Posted: 11/25/18 at 11:08pm

Anyone having issues watching can send me a PM and I can help them out! :)

[musical3]

Posted: 11/26/18 at 3:34am

THANK YOU for this thread!  This will be my On Demand viewing treat for tomorrow morning.  I would have missed it, otherwise.  Can't wait.  I played in a pit orchestra for Pajama Game - regional theater.  Those were the days.  Good times!

[sabrelady]

Posted: 11/26/18 at 8:37pm

TY again Sondheimite- Really interesting program great to see all the archival footage!

[musical3]

Posted: 11/29/18 at 1:09am

I finally watched this.  It is fantastic.  What rich content - so comprehensive.  I particularly enjoyed how the narrative on his contribution to the theater is broken into topic segments - each segment introduced with delightful drawings.  The archival footage reminded me of some I saw in a course I took about Stephen Sondheim - a rehearsal which included clips of a young Mandy Patinkin and Elaine Stritch - I tried to google it without success.  I totally agree with Stroman who commented that Mr. Prince's initial rehearsal meet up would attract an audience - how wonderful it would be to personally listen to his genius mind at work. Again, my thanks to you, Sondheimite, for this thread which alerted me to the program while it was still available On Demand. I feel like I just spent my evening at the theater.  There is surely nothing better!

ETA:  Out here in CA, I was able to see it that way tonight, thank goodness.  But, at least it's possible through the PBS site otherwise.  It's certainly Must See TV as the phrase goes.

Updated On: 11/29/18 at 01:09 AM

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/29/18 at 1:15am

musical3 said: "THANK YOU for this thread! This will be my On Demand viewing treat for tomorrow morning. I would have missed it, otherwise. Can't wait. I played in a pit orchestra for Pajama Game - regional theater. Those were the days. Good times!"

Unless they put it up tbis week, it was not on On Demand when I looked on Sunday. Had to watch it on the PBS site.

 

[musical3]

Posted: 11/30/18 at 12:15am

I was compelled to read more about Mr. Prince.  I found this article:  https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2018/apr/07/harold-prince-theatre-musicals-interview-at-90 and I looked up some books about him.  His recent autobiography received some mixed reviews:  Sense of Occasion.  A biography on him, Harold Prince: A Director's Journey by Carol Ilson had one rave review, any suggestions which would be preferable?

[goodlead]

Posted: 11/30/18 at 6:54pm

The documentary is excellent, but it portrays Prince as a stage-struck kid who pursued his dream by writing to George Abbott and striking gold from there. Presumably just as any of us could have done.  However, I was reading a discussion between Prince and Sondheim and how they met.  Prince says it was at South Pacific's opening night.  "I was with the Rodgerses and he was with the Hammersteins."  So obviously he had some top-drawer Broadway connections to begin with.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 12/1/18 at 1:38pm

This is a GREAT documentary. My only complaint is that is was not longer. I could literally listen to Harold Prince talk about directing and the theatre for hours and not grow wary. Thank you so much for sharing this, MarkBearSF!

[BJR]

Posted: 12/3/18 at 7:47pm

I love the Aronson set models. Does anyone know where this is that Hal is walking though the file cabinets looking at them?

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 12/3/18 at 8:02pm

I seem to recall that the NY Public Library for the Performing Arts had some of his models on exhibition in the not too distant past, so they may still have some of the models in their collection. Hal Prince may also have some in his personal collection. The University of Texas at Austin also acquired some of his collection back in the 90s, though I'm not sure if they have any of the models or just his research and drawings.