Why You Can’t Stream Broadway Shows? article

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 1/24/23 at 10:44pm

Fascinating. Definitely not looking to start any sort of argument. But this is an interesting read! 
 

https://playbill.com/article/why-you-cant-stream-broadway-shows

[cmorrow]

Posted: 1/25/23 at 6:49am

Interesting article -- thanks for posting. However, I need to point out that one comment about the Theatre on Film and Tape Archive (TOFT) is inaccurate. The writer says "The archive has complete videos of almost every single show that has played on Broadway since the 1990s." That's definitely not the case. I work at the library with the TOFT collection, and know that many shows are not recorded for the archive, for various reasons.

A number of years ago there was a discussion about this topic in All That Chat. People posting there said with confidence that every Broadway show is now taped, and were surprised when I replied this was not so. In response, I looked at a listing of all shows on Broadway the previous season, did the math, and found that about 60% of them were taped -- not including long-running shows which had been taped years earlier, such as Phantom and Wicked. So while it's fair to say most shows are recorded for the TOFT archive, many are not.

Updated On: 1/25/23 at 06:49 AM

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 1/25/23 at 8:23am

cmorrow said: "Interesting article -- thanks for posting. However, I need to point out that one comment about the Theatre on Film and Tape Archive (TOFT) is inaccurate. The writer says "The archive has complete videos of almost every single show that has played on Broadway since the 1990s." That's definitely not the case. I work at the library with the TOFT collection, and know that many shows are not recorded for the archive, for various reasons.

A number of years ago there was a discussion about this topic in All That Chat. People posting there said with confidence that every Broadway show is now taped, and were surprised when I replied this was not so. In response, I looked at a listing of all shows on Broadway the previous season, did the math, and found that about 60% of them were taped -- not including long-running shows which had been taped years earlier, such as PhantomandWicked.So while it's fair to say most shows are recorded for the TOFT archive, many are not."

I didn't think that sounded right about what years the collection spanned. But otherwise this is very interesting and should be read by all of those people who whine about how they think it would be so easy. 

[cmorrow]

Posted: 1/25/23 at 9:45am

hearthemsing22 said: I didn't think that sounded right about what years the collection spanned. But otherwise this is very interesting and should be read by all of those people who whine about how they think it would be so easy."

The first TOFT taping took place in 1970, and the early years are sparse. For the first decade or so, most plays and musicals taped were Off-B'way, or Off-off. The first Broadway show TOFT recorded was in 1974 (Liza at the Winter Garden). The tempo picked up in the '80s, however. I don't know why the author chose to say the archive is comprehensive since the '90s, unless it's because the earlier years are less representative. But as I noted, it's never been comprehensive.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 1/25/23 at 3:06pm

Also, none of Bob Fosse’s shows were archived by TOFT.  He declined the offers as he felt theater has to be experienced live.

Fortunately, the early 80s Canadian production of PIPPIN was filmed so there’s a record of his production.  His go-to assistant Kathryn Doby recreated his direction and choreography and while the released film is heavily abridged, the entire show was indeed filmed. Though it was not used, Bob Fosse did do his own edit of the full version of the film so we’re lucky that still survives. It includes not only the complete show but different camera angles and takes from the released version. 

[Rainah]

Posted: 1/26/23 at 3:03am

I remember Comet just barely got filmed for the archives before they went under. Not surprised many aren't filmed.