When are B-way shows officially videotaped?

[LeeLee2]

Posted: 1/25/08 at 12:33pm

I don't know the legalities, etc...I live in Alaska and enjoy B-way shows vicariously through you-all! (Saw a DVD of Cats that was performed for the cameras...)Once in a while a PBS TV-special of a show comes our way...

[george95]

Posted: 1/25/08 at 12:38pm

There is no time when they are officially videotaped. Its entirely up to each production if and when they ever want to tape any show.
There is performing Arts library up at Lincoln Center, but isnt it difficult to get into, and I understand some of the b-way shows that they do have tapes of may not be viewed until the show closes, or unless you have like a super-important reason for seeing it.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 1/25/08 at 12:52pm

Only when PBS is willing to broadcast a production is when they're taped for public viewing.

Often, you'd see a PBS Great Performances broadcast of a Broadway musical/play every few years. Our cups runneth over with the airings of Company in February, Antony Sher in Primo in April, and the upcoming airing of the Kevin Kline Cyrano later this year.

Unless they're given a grant to tape the shows by PBS (like the Live from Lincoln Center transmissions of Contact and Light in the Piazza), it's up to the producers of the show to raise the money. Stewart F. Lane and co. (producers of the Company and Cyrano recordings) must have had very generous backers this year.

The Performing Arts library at Lincoln Center has their research archive, which houses gorgeous, professional recordings (better than anything you'd see on PBS) for research purposes - you're an actor researching a role, a student writing a paper, etc.

[Cartwheel]

Posted: 1/25/08 at 12:52pm

I wonder why they're not selling them, at least for closed shows? They would've made a killing.

[Jon]

Posted: 1/25/08 at 12:57pm

Because if you sold them, you'd have to pay royalties to the actors, writers, directors, musicians, etc.

[thtrbear]

Posted: 1/25/08 at 1:09pm

The linc ctr recordings are better than PBS'? Doesnt PBS use more camera people and stuff?

[Cartwheel]

Posted: 1/25/08 at 1:12pm

"Because if you sold them, you'd have to pay royalties to the actors, writers, directors, musicians, etc."

Yeah, but the same is true for movie DVDs, and that does not stop studios from releasing them.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 1/25/08 at 1:19pm

The entire permission from the various unions and guilds is based on the promise that the tapes will never be sold. Period. The cost of arranging separated rights for everyone involved would be astronomical. And it would be the death knell of the recording agreement. So just go to New York and watch the videos but forget ever buying one of them.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 1/25/08 at 1:21pm

Oh, and of course, the producers of the stage play/musical - unless it's a totally original work for the stage and for that exact producer - don't HAVE the right to make a filmed version of the production for public screening. That would be held by the shows authors or rights holders, who would never give such permission anyway.

[Cartwheel]

Posted: 1/25/08 at 1:32pm

Well, that sucks.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 1/25/08 at 1:32pm

The tapes I've viewed at LC are better than stuff I've seen on PBS, yes.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/25/08 at 1:49pm

They are officially taped when somebody agrees to pay for it and ponies up the money.

For Broadway shows, the Library at Lincoln Center usually uses 3 cameras. For an off-Broadway show or regional production, qutie often it's a one camera deal.

[SaraBeth302]

Posted: 1/25/08 at 3:45pm

What is the best way to find out when shows will be aired on PBS?

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 1/25/08 at 3:48pm

yankeefan, will they let anyone into the LC library? or is it strictly actors and theatre students?

[maya5892]

Posted: 1/25/08 at 5:53pm

Aren't all shows recorded at one point nowadays for promos, etc.? I mean, I know that that footage is probably locked up somewhere but still, it exists

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 1/25/08 at 6:03pm

verynewyork - The rules are strict, but not too strict. You do need a reason to be there - you can't walk in off the street and say "hey, I want to watch footage from the 1994 revival of Grease" and expect them to let you without batting an eyelash. You need a reason to watch it, you need a library card (not hard to get) and an appointment. You're only allowed to watch the same show once (to prevent the stealing of intellectual property for productions you may be working on).

maya - Select clips are recorded as B-roll for commercials and promo packages. Generally, they'll be up on the websites, as well.

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 1/25/08 at 7:03pm

yankeefan, will they let anyone into the LC library? or is it strictly actors and theatre students?

You'll need an ACCESS card (different from the regular NYPL card), but that is easy to get, you just fill out a form. When you set up an appointment, as long as you say you want to watch a show for reasearch purposes/for a paper/etc, they shouldn't give you any problems.

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 1/25/08 at 11:25pm

i was in new york back in september and just walked in, got a card and watched city of angels. The quality was unbelivable.

[TheatreFreak05]

Posted: 1/27/08 at 2:28pm

so can you just walk in, get a card, and ask to view a whole show???