In some major universities I have been to, productions have been recorded for actors', designers', directors', and schools' archives. And in some, parents brought cam corders.
I'm interesting in seeing their recent production of PARADE...however it is YALE (or NYU!) so I am unsure how strict their videotaping policy is. Whatever the case, it is illegal, but are they strict about it? You think there is a parent out there who didn't follow the rules?
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle