Questions. re filmed stage musicals..

I'm having a "discussion" with someone on another board about archive recordings of shows. Among other things, this person claims that all actors going into the role of the Phantom are "required" to watch the original cast video to see how Michael Crawford handled the role. Is that likely? I believe someone here told me awhile ago that the POTO recording wouldn't be available until the show closed, is that correct?

Another issue that was discussed was that the archived tapes are made available to libraries for viewing by library patrons -- my impression is that those tapes never leave the library.

One more thing... has PBS ever shown a filmed performance of a musical that wasn't available on video/dvd? I know they've aired the RNT production of Oklahoma, which is available on DVD and other similar events, but cannot recall any performance that wasn't available on video/dvd.

Any and all assistance you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

I seem to recall something about CONTACT being on PBS, and I have a tape of PIPPIN which I taped off Bravo many years ago. I looked the other day to see if CONTACT was available on DVD, but didn't find it. Didn't look for PIPPIN.

The thing about watching Crawford's performance really doesn't make any sense to me. Surely the actor going into the role would not want to "influence" his performance in any way by copying something MC did? Or is that just an ignorant assumption on my part?

Contact and Pippin were both released, my library has them both.

But if you wanted to see lets say, Urinetown, could you?

It's very unlikely about Phantom. First, the production itself doesn't own the archive copy. The archives do not allow anyone to see a currently running production that is archived. While they do have different restrictions per show, these are negotiated well in advance, and Phantom doesn't have a complete archived copy (according to the library's website, they only have clips). You can't check out the videos (for very obvious reasons), but you can view them at the library. While technically you need a valid reason (research, etc.) I've been told it isn't difficult to watch them.

Contact, Showboat, Crazy for you were shown but not released. When did Ragtime air? I would love to have been able to get a copy of it. I'm SURE there others, but those are the ones I know about.

RAGTIME aired on PBS??? When?

I remember the "making of" specials that aired. There were actually two: One for the LA (which was was the American Premiere) production. It was hosted by Audra McDonald (who wasn't even in it). Then the Broadway production had their own PBS special, hosted by Whoopi Goldberg. Both were good, but (believe it or not), the LA special was better!

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Oh and what is the librarys website?

http://www.nypl.org/research/lpa/the/the.specfea.html

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The library is pretty easy to view anything.

If you are going to be Artistic Staff for a production you should usually have no problem for newer shows. When I did South Pacific I had to have the Library call my theatre and verify we were really doing the show cause it was the original and rare, but they still OK'd it.

For Parade, I said I was doing a report on "Artistic Renderings of Anti-Semitism) and no problem

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"When I did South Pacific I had to have the Library call my theatre and verify we were really doing the show cause it was the original and rare, but they still OK'd it."

I don't think it was the original South Pacific which opened in 1949. I think the oldest show they have dates back to the early 1970's.

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"Nope this was the original Mary Martin Cast."

What you probably saw was the rehearsal footage of the London version.

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Updated On: 8/31/05 at 06:39 PM

Yeah - my mistake I went and looked it up afterwords. Shows how much I pay attention.

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back to ragtime...on pbs?! was it really aired? the one with rachel york from the papermill?!! i'd die if i could have a video of that. i saw it and was in love.

me. too. i've watched the broadway production at the lincoln center library and i think it's just such a great show...which should be revived as soon as possible.