Salaam Bombay Dreams DVD...and a question?

[SimpleJoysHaveSimpleVoice]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 9:26pm

I recently purchased this wonderful DVD. I went to NYC last December and chose to see Little Women over Bombay Dreams, so I got the DVD to see what I missed. What a great DVD...but a tease...they show parts of the London production, but have an entire, over 4 hours, documentary on the making of it. From scratch to opening night. I am really impressed with the score and the energy. Raza Jeffery is impressive too.

My question is...why don't more shows make DVD's like this? Could you imagine how much money Wicked or Ave Q could make? Why don't more shows have DVD-styled extra footage? Is there a union law that disallows it?

[FosseBoi]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 9:32pm

WHERE DID YOU BUY THIS!? I havent seen this anywhere!

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 9:35pm

I would think that it's a big gamble to make a dvd like Bombay Dreams's for these reasons:
1- The target audience would be only theatre people like us which is not that big
2-It's expensive to make
3-While making the documentary, no one knows if the show will be a hit or a complete flop. If it's a hit, it might sell a lot...but if it's a complete flop not many people would want to see it and then all the money that was put into the project goes down the drain.


Edit: Amazon sells the bombay dreams dvd.

Updated On: 4/23/05 at 09:35 PM

[SimpleJoysHaveSimpleVoice]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 9:37pm

Fosse...I first saw it on amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com back in January. Then last week I found it at the local Tower Records here in Los Angeles. Scooped it up for under $15.00. It is great, my 4 kids (9 yrs and under) have memorized the dance to Chaiyya Chiyya Sukhwinder Singh.

I hope you find it, then tell me more about the show. Did you see it?

Is there a Bombay Dreams tour in the making?

[SimpleJoysHaveSimpleVoice]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 9:42pm

Chinkie...as a retort to your 3rd point, isn't wise to document or create a history of any body of work, regardless of it's success?

I did get a feel from the DVD that it was done at little cost. The behind the scene stuff is great, the interviews are a bit long, but everytime they showed a rehearsal or performance it was amazing to watch. I love the workings, behind the scenes, of a musical, that is the best part of it for me.

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 9:43pm

i wonder how many people are buying it on amazon at this moment....

[FosseBoi]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 11:05pm

simplejoys- No I did not see the show! I REALLY wanted to because I have heard some of the music and LOVED it! But I think I will prob. order this. Thanks!

[devonian.t]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 3:11am

ALW uses the making-of films as a marketing tool, and in the UK they often air on terrestrial TV.

Of late, Mary Poppins, Acorn Antiques, Chitty, Bombay Dreams and Witches of Eastwick have all been broadcast on BBC1.

I guess extended info-mercials pay off in ticket sales.

[SimpleJoysHaveSimpleVoice]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 1:25pm

If that what ALW does...it is a GREAT idea. I think everyone likes to take a bit of a good show home with them. Maybe I am just a video generation baby.

[ShuQ]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 1:30pm

There is a Bombay Dreams tour in the making. So far the only announced stops that I'm aware of are Chicago, St. Louis, and Columbus

[SimpleJoysHaveSimpleVoice]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 1:38pm

ShuQ...do you have a website that gave that information? I'd like to check in on it to see when they are coming to Los Angeles. Thanks.

[ShuQ]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 6:51pm

Sorry...I spoke incorrectly, it isn't coming to Chicago. It isn't scheduled for LA...atleast not yet.

[SimpleJoysHaveSimpleVoice]

Posted: 4/25/05 at 12:10am

Does anybody have a website link or web address to see the Bombay Dreams tour schedule? Help me...I need to 'Shakalaka'!!

[noahrp3]

Posted: 4/25/05 at 12:24am

Bombay Dreams will be coming to the Orange COunty Performing Arts Center at the end of this year (i think November)

[IMsooHyprToday]

Posted: 4/25/05 at 2:05am

really? i might see it... if i have money to burn.

[Cyndy]

Posted: 4/25/05 at 2:42am

Bombay Dreams will also be coming to Sacramento next year as part of the Broadway Series. March 10-21. http://www.sacbroadwayseries.com/bway.htm

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/25/05 at 9:56am

The Bombay Dreams tour will also be in Houston. I hope it comes to Chicago! I would love to see this delightful show again.

[TheatreManiac]

Posted: 4/25/05 at 12:28pm

Hope this helps...
https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?thread=841285

Also, the Salaam Bombay Dreams DVD is a great idea -- except of course if it had the Broadway cast featured instead. What can ya do? Something is better than nothing.

[SimpleJoysHaveSimpleVoice]

Posted: 4/25/05 at 5:16pm

TheaterManic..."something is better than nothing", was the Broadway cast superior to the London cast? Can you tell me more about it? I am soaking up this DVD, and the show, like a sponge...I need more info.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/25/05 at 5:20pm

No, the Broadway cast was superior. The entire Broadway production was superior. In fact, the reason Lloyd Webber closed the production in London was to apply the changes they made to Broadway, and he plans to re-open it with the NY changes.

[TheatreManiac]

Posted: 4/25/05 at 11:43pm

That's basically the story. I can only judge from what I saw on Broadway to what I've heard on the London CR and seen on the DVD. I would have loved to have had something of the Broadway cast to take away (cast recording, DVD... how about a poster with the actual actors in the show on it?), especially since it closed. While the DVD is good, what is lacking is something tangible from Broadway. In my opinion, we had better singers on Broadway. Also, for example, Chaiyya Chaiyya was one of the songs that used pre-recorded music (like Shakalaka Baby) in the London Version whereas on Broadway it was done live. There is a small clip of that on the Bombay Dreams website. Little things like that where I say, at least they have some great rehearsal footage -- but at the same time I'm like, "oh, but so-and-so did it better". That's what I meant.

[Love4Cheno]

Posted: 4/26/05 at 9:52am

I only saw the B'way production, and was less than impressed with most of it, but I know many who saw both, and HIGHLY preferred the London version of the show.

As for the actors, the vocals were just OK in my opinion for both casts. Dime a dozen, nothing special that you haven't seen a million times on B'way. Actualy, some of the vocals were dismal.

I thought the dancers were the best element of the show. Really talented and tireless. As evidenced in Chaiyya Chaiyya and Shakalaka Baby.

[SimpleJoysHaveSimpleVoice]

Posted: 4/27/05 at 7:45pm

2 questions...

1. Why did the London show have pre-recorded music?

2. Have the choreographers done any other shows since Bombay Dreams?

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 4/7/06 at 5:26pm

the show just had 1 pre recorded song and it was becuz it was the # with water and all that...and it was the filming of a movie.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 3:04pm

The London production used 2 precorded tracks. Chaiyya Chaiyya was lip syched in London, but was done live in NY.

Farah Khan is still a huge director/choreographer in Bollywood. Anthony van Laast is still around in his native West End.