Rumor: HELLO, DOLLY! on HBO?

[macbeth]

Posted: 3/21/20 at 11:42am

I've heard from a couple of people "in the know" this week that a deal had been done to air Bette's final performance as part of the HBO Max launch. I remember reading here at the time it'd been captured with more cameras than the normal archival taping. Has anyone else heard this one? 

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 3/21/20 at 11:53am

This is the first I have heard of this rumor. Where else is it floating around?

[Flowerlovestage5]

Posted: 3/21/20 at 12:13pm

I attended the second to last performance that same day and there were no cameras in sight. That is, if we are being literal about the last performance....that said, I would pay to see this on HBO for sure...

Updated On: 3/21/20 at 12:13 PM

[Huss417]

Posted: 3/21/20 at 12:18pm

Maybe I was blind but didn't see any cameras.

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 3/21/20 at 12:19pm

Flowerlovestage5 said: "I attended the second to last performance that same day and there were no cameras in sight. That is, if we are being literal about the last performance....that said, I would pay to see this on HBO for sure..."

They would have filmed more than one performance for alternate takes, and it would take longer than the few hours between the matinee and evening performance to set up the cameras and extra lighting. This definitely sounds like wishful thinking to me.

[phantom39]

Posted: 3/21/20 at 12:22pm

You can't really hide filming a show (when an audience is present), so i doubt this was filmed. Also, in order to film at the Shubert you need a huge camera truck sitting outside of the theater - and that never happened.

 

[Flowerlovestage5]

Posted: 3/21/20 at 12:37pm

Exactly. Lincoln Center takes a process to set up for their archives --- there is no way the final was taped.

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 3/21/20 at 1:10pm

With all the loud, extended applause and the ad-libbing that took place at the final performance, it really wouldn't make for good TV viewing anyway. It was a night for the cast and the fans, not for the casual viewer.

[nealb1]

Posted: 3/21/20 at 1:31pm

I was at the final performance and there were no cameras there - so there's that.  Don't believe FAKE NEWS!

[VotePeron]

Posted: 3/21/20 at 1:40pm

If someone was to dig through some old threads before burning the witch at the stake, you would recall that Bette and company did an extra performance that evening after her “final” show that was filmed.

There was an uproar on here because people felt cheated out of seeing her “final” run through.

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 3/21/20 at 1:45pm

VotePeron said: "If someone was to dig through some old threads before burning the witch at the stake, you would recall that Bette and company did an extra performance that evening after her “final” show that was filmed.

There was an uproar on here because people felt cheated out of seeing her “final” run through."

Oh, right, her final performance in January, not closing night in August. That's a horse of a different color! Wasn't there also talk about that week between Bette and Bernadette being used for filming?

Updated On: 3/21/20 at 01:45 PM

[Flowerlovestage5]

Posted: 3/21/20 at 2:00pm

I forgot about that.....thanks for reminding us.  OK then...HBO I'm ready

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 3/21/20 at 2:16pm

LOL - how quickly we all just make assumptions and claims without doing proper research or learning facts.

If it’s true, something to look forward to.

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 3/21/20 at 2:20pm

GreasedLightning said: "LOL - how quickly we all just make assumptions and claims without doing proper research or learning facts.

If it’s true, something to look forward to."

Well, to be fair, the OP said "Bette's final performance," which was in August, and was not filmed. 

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 3/21/20 at 2:20pm

VotePeron said: "If someone was to dig through some old threads before burning the witch at the stake, you would recall that Bette and company did an extra performance that evening after her “final” show that was filmed.

There was an uproar on here because people felt cheated out of seeing her “final” run through. "

Was this something that was confirmed, or was this just more rumors? We get an awful lot of unfounded rumors here that people take at face value. 

[nealb1]

Posted: 3/21/20 at 2:23pm

In addition to attending the actual, final performance in August, I also attended Bette's first final performance for The Actor's Fund on that Sunday night.  That was specifically filmed for the Lincoln Center archives.  It's completely and totally different than filming it for a tv special in terms of lighting, extra cameras, etc.

Let's not believe this fake news, only to have people complain that it ultimately never happened, when it was never going to. 

 

[phantom39]

Posted: 3/21/20 at 2:23pm

VotePeron said: "If someone was to dig through some old threads before burning the witch at the stake, you would recall that Bette and company did an extra performance that evening after her “final” show that was filmed.

There was an uproar on here because people felt cheated out of seeing her “final” run through."

I believe that was for the Lincoln Center archives, unless you mean something else?

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/HELLO-DOLLY-with-Bette-Midler-Taped-for-Lincoln-Center-Archives-20180115

 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 3/21/20 at 2:24pm

If anyone knows anyone that was part of the run, ask them. I’m sure they could confirm the filming scenarios.

[macbeth]

Posted: 3/21/20 at 2:49pm

To be clear, it was Bette's last show not the production's last show... My friend who works in the business said it was included in cast agreements and in the NDAs that all of that producer's casts generally sign which is why it wasn't public knowledge. 

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 3/21/20 at 3:14pm

macbeth said: "To be clear, it was Bette's last show not the production's last show... My friend who works in the business said it was included in cast agreementsand in the NDAs that all of that producer's casts generally sign which is why it wasn't public knowledge."

The point is that Bette's last show was the production's last show.

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 3/21/20 at 3:19pm

I did some searching, and I found some speculation about a possible additional filming on 1/11/18, 3 days before the Actors Fund performance, which we already know was filmed. On 1/14, someone posted that they had filmed on 1/11, for what it's worth.

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1105834&page=3

[phantom39]

Posted: 3/21/20 at 3:27pm

CT2NYC said: "I did some searching, and I found some speculationabout a possible additional filming on 1/11/18, 3 days before the Actors Fund performance, which we already know was filmed. On 1/14, someone posted that theyhadfilmed on 1/11, for what it's worth.

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1105834&page=3"

Jan 15th, 2018:

"BroadwayWorld has confirmed that filming trucks spotted outside the Shubert Theatre over the weekend were on hand to capture a performance of Hello, Dolly! for the Theatre on Film and Tape Archive. This weekend marked the final performances for many of the show's original cast members, including Taylor Trensch, Beanie Feldstein, David Hyde Pierce, and Tony winner Bette Midler."

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 3/21/20 at 3:30pm

TaleofTwo said: "CT2NYC said: "I did some searching, and I found some speculationabout a possible additional filming on 1/11/18, 3 days before the Actors Fund performance, which we already know was filmed. On 1/14, someone posted that theyhadfilmed on 1/11, for what it's worth.

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1105834&page=3"

Jan 15th, 2018:

"BroadwayWorld has confirmed that filming trucks spotted outside the Shubert Theatre over the weekend were on hand to capture a performance ofHello, Dolly!for the Theatre on Film and Tape Archive. This weekend marked the final performances for many of the show's original cast members, includingTaylor Trensch,Beanie Feldstein,David HydePierce, and Tony winnerBette Midler.""

Yes, we already know this. The thread I linked to discusses filming specifically on Thursday, not the weekend.

[RunnyBabbit]

Posted: 3/21/20 at 4:41pm

How many cameras are normally used for the TOFT archive?  I remember seeing at least 6 cameras set up for Dolly with Bette.  After the show I was taking some pictures of the marquee outside and overheard a few of the production staff talking about the amazing/beautiful shots they got.


I know realistically it’s unlikely this is going to air on HBO (wouldn’t it have happened by now if it was?), but I would definitely love to see it.

Updated On: 3/21/20 at 04:41 PM

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 3/21/20 at 5:03pm

I don’t feel like this is plausible due to the HBO Max information. Wasn’t Universal a major backer of the revival? Why would they let this go to their competitor?