 You Will Be PopularIn writing about filmed live musicals, I tend to not write about movie musicals (that may soon be changing, stay tuned…), but I would be remiss not to mention the box office record breaking, utterly stunning, film adaptation of Wicked. Perhaps you've heard of it?! As I wrote in 2018, it’s not an industry secret that when a movie version of a stage musical is released during the run of the musical, ticket sales go up at the box office. The same is true of livestreams. Musicals on screen also boost ticket sales on the road, and increase the likelihood of a show being licensed regionally and by amateur groups and schools. Of the top 10 musicals produced by high schools in the 2022-23 season, every single title was either based on a movie or filmed live on stage. Now while Wicked is a Broadway stalwart that needs no help selling tickets (except for a few expected dips here and there, attendance has been at 100%, or close to it, for the vast majority of its 21-year run at the Gershwin Theatre), the brand recognition for the Broadway show and national tour has undoubtedly sky-rocketed. On Broadway, December shows have just about all sold out, and the handful of tickets left in January start at $150US. You can bet that when the film is released to streaming for home viewing (expected to be February or March in 2025), interest will boom again. For a myriad of reasons, including cost, complex contract negotiations, and a refusal to change the status quo, Broadway is infuriatingly behind the eight ball when it comes to filming shows and making them available for public consumption. This leaves theatre fans, and even industry professionals, to rely on bootlegs to access shows that they might not otherwise be able to see because of cost, geography, lack of childcare, and a myriad of other reasons. In an interview published on Gizmodo, Wicked film director Jon M. Chu shared that he watched bootlegs of Wicked on stage as he was preparing for the film. During pre-production Zoom meetings, Chu requested videos of the stage show from writer Winnie Holzman, composer Stephen Schwartz, and producers Mark Platt, and Dana Fox. According to Chu, “...they were like, “We don’t have a recording.” I’m like, ” You have one in the back closet.” They’re like, “We do not.” I’m like, “That’s crazy, guys.” So I went on YouTube and found pirated versions and would just watch sections and be like, “Oh, yeah, that’s what happened.”” (emphasis my own) Just a few days ago Ariana Grande shared in her Variety “Actors on Actors” interview that she had sought out bootlegs of co-star Cynthia Erivo after first seeing Erivo perform at the Oscars (skip to around 34min in). While the Theatre on Film and Tape Archive at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts does have a recording of Wicked on Broadway, taped on November 16, 2004, the recording will not be available to watch (with restrictions) until the show closes on Broadway. Good luck...
In the meantime, as of December 16th, it’s only 344 days until the second installment of Wicked is released in theatres. If you're looking for some Wizard of Oz-adjacent filmed live musicals content in the meantime check out these wickedly fun filmed live musicals:
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Host Luisa Lyons chats with Nicole Holst, producer of The Zeigfeld Girls Revue, a new cabaret celebrating the stories of the original Follies girls including Mae Murray, Olive Thomas, Louise Brooks, Julie Newmar, and Fanny Brice.
Which Follies girl still haunts the New Amsterdam Theatre? Are any of the Follies girls still alive? What cultural trends did they start? In this delightful chat, dive into the making of the show, and hear some of the stories behind the featured women, and the performers who will be portraying them! The Ziegfeld Girls Revue will be livestreamed from NYC's The Green Room 42 on April 13, 2024. Nicole Holst is a classically trained dancer/choreographer, cabaret singer, and show producer who has been creating shows in NYC since 2006. Her specialty is creating high-quality, vintage-themed show concepts that transport the audience to magical eras in time and bring history back to life. To date, she has created 8 original evening-length shows, founded 3 dance companies, and curated several site-specific special events. Nicole has been hired as event manager by Sayen Art Festival, Dorian’s Guilded Society, and ACE Entertainment LA at the Ritz Carlton NoMad. Her work has been commissioned by Firestone Walker Beer, the American Folk Art Museum, and Billi Shakes at the Brooklyn Bowl. She looks forward to collaborating with the artists who inspire her and creating bespoke, immersive entertainment for NYC venues. See more at www.nicolenadineproductions.com and follow @nicolenadineproductions for the latest shows! SHOW LINKS
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The Filmed Live Musicals podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and on YouTube. Listen elsewhere? Find the show on your favorite podcast app here.
Like what you hear? Rate and review us on Apple or Spotify! Let's get social! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Want to support the preservation of the history of filmed stage musicals and the curation of one easy place to find them all? Become a patron or make a tax-deductible donation! Filmed Live Musicals is created by Luisa Lyons, an Australian actor, writer, and musician. Luisa holds a Masters in Music Theatre from London's Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and now lives, works, and plays in New York. Learn more at www.luisalyons.com and follow on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  On the calendar This week in the *new look* streaming calendar:
The Eras Tour
Taylor Swift has announced that a film of her recent record-breaking Eras Tour, filmed live at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles in August, will be released in North American cinemas on October 13. Deadline reported that sales exceeded well over $10 million on the first day of the presale. If only theatre had a way to emulate the model of filming a live event with limited seats and making it available to millions of fans around the world… The Prince of Egypt: Live from the West End Disney’s stage adaptation of the 1998 animation was filmed live in the West End at the Dominion Theatre in 2021. According to Filmed on Stage the musical will be released in cinemas in the UK and Ireland in October, 2023. Marvin Hamlisch: What He Did for Love A 2013 documentary all about composer Marvin Hamlisch is now available to stream for free on All Arts. A composer, conductor, musical genius like no other, Marvin Hamlisch is the artist responsible for some of the most iconic music of our time. Hits like the Broadway sensation A Chorus Line and Oscar winning scores for The Way We Were and The Sting cemented his place in music history. At the extraordinary age of 31 he became one of two PEGOT winners ever, having won a total of 4 Grammys, 3 Oscars, an Emmy, Tony and a Pulitzer prize. Featuring interviews with close friends including: Barbra Streisand, Woody Allen, Carly Simon, Steven Soderbergh, Quincy Jones and many more. Directed by Dori Berinstein. Available on All Arts. Michael Jackson ONE: MJ Blue Sapphire Celebration of the King of Pop’s Birthday A special panel and performance featuring the cast of ONE by Cirque du Soleil, a state-of-the-art visual and audio experience dedicated to the creative legacy of one of the most successful recording artists of all time, Michael Jackson. Features an interview with MJ: The Musical star and Tony Award winner Myles Frost. Filmed live at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. Available on demand for free via YouTube. Support a new musical: Grace and the Ghost Written by up and coming composers Anna DeNoia and Joshua Villa, Grace and the Ghost tells the story of a reclusive young musician who spends her days alone in her room, singing songs for the friend she’s imagined in the shadow on her wall. When a city-wide blackout leaves her without light, however, she discovers her “imaginary friend” has been listening. In the darkness, Shadow is able to move around uninhibited, physicalized by Grace’s touch. The two discover how they are connected, explore the consequences of making physical contact, and wrestle with who should hold ownership over the body that exists between them— a depressed, living person who wishes they could disappear, or a spirit who wishes for a second chance. Learn more at Indiegogo. 
Waitress Capture World Premier
The live capture of Waitress premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 12.
Watch Sara Bareilles performing live after the screening:
​LOLST: The Puzzle
The newly formed League of Livestreamed Theatre (LOLST) have partnered with Hedgerow Theatre to livestream the world premier of Juliette Dunn’s The Puzzle from June 16-18, 2023. The play blends clowning and neurodivergence to tell a story of connectivity and follows two clowns, Finneas and Quinton as they strive to escape a surreal scrap yard, and The Boy - a non-speaker with autism - whose arrival upends their plans. The cast features Tony award-winning clown David Shiner, Daniel Passer, and Michael Stahler, an actor with autism. Livestreamed from the Hedgerow Theatre in Pennsylvania. For more info and tickets visit LOLST.
Broadway Day Rally
A rally in solidarity with the Writers Guild of America East featuring performances from some of Broadway’s best that took place in Times Square on June 15, 2023. Hosted by Paula Pell and featuring Sara Bareilles, Craig Bierko, Norbert Leo Butz, Jordan Cooper, Adam Pascal, musical director Seth Rudetsky, and many more. The rally was livestreamed and is now available on demand on YouTube. 2023 Metro Awards The best in high school musicals across Westchester, Bergen, Rockland, and Putnam Counties filmed live at the Tarrytown Music Hall.
The 76th Annual Tony Awards
​Catch-up on the performances from the 76th Annual Tony Awards, filmed live at the United Palace Theatre in New York City. You can stream The Tony Awards: Act One - which included presentation of the technical categories, along with the Lifetime Achievement Awards for Joel Gray and John Kander - for free on Pluto TV. Re-live the stunning opening number, along with numbers from Sweeney Todd, Parade, Some Like it Hot, Shucked, A Beautiful Noise, Kimberly Akimbo, Funny Girl, New York New York, & Juliet, Camelot, and Into the Woods, along with Joaquina Kalukango’s In Memoriam Performance of "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" from The Phantom of the Opera, ​all available on YouTube.
All Arts: Broadway
The free arts channel All Arts have curated an on-demand Broadway playlist featuring over 20 videos with performances, interviews, and behind-the-scenes looks from a wide range of Broadway musicals including Six, MJ: The Musical, Moulin Rouge, The Phantom of the Opera, The Book of Mormon, TINA: The Tina Turner Musical, Aladdin, Beetlejuice, Wicked, Funny Girl, A Strange Loop, Company, Hadestown, Come From Away, The Lion King, Beautiful, The Cher Show, The Band’s Visit, Mean Girls, Once on this Island, Kinky Boots, and Hamilton. Visit All Arts to learn more. “Not in my Body†from A Transparent Musical Watch a number from the new Broadway-bound A Transparent Musical filmed at the Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles.
Vale Treat Williams
Stage and screen actor Treat Williams passed away earlier this week from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. Among his many screen credits, Williams appeared as Berger in the movie adaptation of HAIR (available on DVD and Blu-Ray or to stream). On Broadway, Williams performed in the original production of Grease (Danny replacement), Over Here! Once in a Lifetime, The Pirates of Penzance (The Pirate King replacement; the 1981 production was filmed with its original cast starring Kevin Kline), Love Letters, and the 2001 revival of Follies.
Visit the Filmed Live Musicals calendar to discover what's streaming this week.
​For more musicals available on demand, take a look through the Filmed Live Musicals database. You'll discover musicals dating back to 1938 and from all around the world. 
Host Luisa Lyons chats with Dominic Frisby about the history and the creation of audio musical Kisses on a Postcard, based on Terence Frisby’s musical and radio play Just Remember Two Things… It’s Not Fair and Don’t Be Late.
Described as “Oliver for vacee kids,” Kisses on a Postcard tells the story of brothers Terence and Jack Frisby who were evacuated from London to Cornwall during World War II. Dominic Frisby — comedian, composer, financial writer, and son of Dominic Frisby — adapted Kisses on a Postcard into an audio musical during lockdown. Dominic Frisby is a British financial writer and comedian. He is the author of several books on finance and economics, including Life After the State, Bitcoin: The Future of Money? and Daylight Robbery: How Tax Shaped Our Past and Will Change Our Future. Frisby is a regular contributor to financial publications, including MoneyWeek. As a comedian, Frisby has performed stand-up comedy in the UK and internationally. https://dominicfrisby.com/ Show Links
The Filmed Live Musicals podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and on YouTube. Listen elsewhere? Subscribe on your favorite podcast app here.
Host Luisa Lyons chats with choreographer, director, producer, and digital theatre artist Brandon Powers. Brandon shares his journey to becoming a choreographer/director, and his fascinating insights into the integration of VR and live theatre, Musical Theatre Factory’s XR initiative, TikTok, and the future of filmed theatre.
Brandon Powers is a creative director + choreographer who creates experiences across physical and virtual space. His work focuses on capturing liveness in the digital, building interdisciplinary communities, and shifting culture towards a more embodied future. His key projects include VR saga Queerskins: ARK (Venice International Film Festival), Frankenstein AI (Sundance Film Festival), and Duet (New York Live Arts). On TikTok, Brandon has grown a community of over 70,000 inviting audiences into the process of creating theatre and dance. He founded Constellation, an immersive strategy and production studio building engaged digital communities for theatrical properties. Brandon is a Creative Producer at Musical Theatre Factory, where he leads MTFxR, a program supporting XR musical theatre experiences. He has spoken on the intersection of arts and technology at the TCG National Conference, Verizon’s 5G Lab, Lincoln Center and more. Show Links: Learn more about Brandon: https://www.brandon-powers.com/ Musical Theatre Factory MTFxR 5th Wall Forum Constellation "The Future of Musical Theatre on Tiktok" Medium Article Follow Brandon on social media: Tiktok YouTube
The Filmed Live Musicals podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and on YouTube. Listen elsewhere? Find the show on your favorite podcast app here.
Let's get social! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Want early access to site content? Becoming a patron! Your financial support will help preserve the history of filmed stage musicals and the curation of one easy place to find them all. Filmed Live Musicals is created by Luisa Lyons, an Australian actor, writer, and musician. Luisa holds a Masters in Music Theatre from London's Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and now lives, works, and plays in New York. Learn more at www.luisalyons.com and follow on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. 
Host Luisa Lyons chats with artistic director, writer, and director Sheldon Epps. Mr. Epps shares what it took to film his musicals Play On! and Blues in the Night, how theatre on television influenced his own career, and why we must continue to film live theatre for television.
Sheldon Epps has directed major productions on and off Broadway, in London and at many theatres across America. In addition, he has had an active television career helming some of the classic shows of recent years. He was the artistic director of the renowned Pasadena Playhouse for two decades, and currently serves as senior artistic advisor at historic Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. Mr. Epps new book, My Own Directions: A Black Man’s Journey in the American Theatre recounts his rollercoaster ride of a life in the theatre, with all the excitement and occasional anguish that come with the highs and lows. The author’s journey in the American theatre has been amplified by his experience as a Black man who has frequently been “one of the few,” “the first” or even “the only.” My Own Directions is available from Amazon and Bookshop.org (as an associate I may earn from qualifying purchases made through these links). Watch Blues in the Night and Play On!.
The Filmed Live Musicals podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and on YouTube. Listen elsewhere? Find the show on your favorite podcast app here.
On the 50th episode of the Filmed Live Musicals podcast, host Luisa Lyons chats with Alex Borovenskiy, the founder and executive director of the ProEnglish Theatre and Drama School in Kyiv, the only English-language theatre in the Ukraine.
Alex shares his experience of creating theatre in the middle of a war, how ProEnglish Theatre has adapted and continued to make new work, as well as collaborate with artists and theatres from around the world. ProEnglish Theatre is an independent theatre based in Kyiv, Ukraine. Following the Russian invasion into the Ukraine in February 2022, ProEnglish Theatre has served as a bomb shelter, a volunteer center, and a theatre. Despite the ever present threat of war, the company has continued to create new work, collaborated with theatres and artists in Japan, Taiwan, and Australia, performed at Prague Fest with an adaptation of The Book Thief, staged Pro.Act Fest — an international festival, and continued to teach theatre. Watch the 2022 Pro.Act Fest for free on Scenesaver. Support ProEnglish Theatre at Patreon, or make a donation via PayPal to [email protected]. Visit ProEnglishTheatre.com, and follow on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.  How very! There are two new entries in the database - Heathers: The Musical filmed live at The Other Palace in May this year, and Velvet Determination filmed live at the Hudson Guild Theatre in early 2020.
Heathers is a dark musical comedy set at Westerberg High School where cliques rule. Veronica Sawyer is a reluctant member of the popular girl clique, the Heathers. With the help of newcomer J.D., Veronica sets to turn popularity on its head, and murder and mayhem ensue. The London debut of the show has proved so popular it has had two West End runs (one pre, and one post the theatre shutdown), and is now in its extended second run in the off West End theatre The Other Palace. Learn more about Heathers: www.filmedlivemusicals.com/heathers. Velvet Determination is an autobiographical one woman show by actor, singer, and classical pianist Cynthia Shaw. In the show, Cynthia shares her journey from a tiny Colorado town to a prestigious music school in NYC, and all the characters who help, or hinder, along the way. You can also catch Cynthia talking about the history of the show on the Filmed Live Musicals podcast ! Learn more at www.filmedlivemusicals.com/velvet-determination. Want to know about upcoming filmed live musicals from Broadway and beyond? Sign up for our free weekly newsletter!  As elemental as song and dance are to human nature, so to is the quest for power, control of resources, and control over one another. Today marks 104 years since the armistice between the Allied Forces and Germany after four bloody years of war was declared. Now known as Remembrance Day, or Veterans Day in the US, it is a day to reflect upon the sacrifice of war, and honor the men and women who have served their countries through the military. Sadly, war continues to be an ever-present reality for many people in the world. I had the honor of interviewing Alex Borovenskiy, the founder and executive director of the Ukrainian ProEnglish Theatre and Drama School in Kyiv. Literally amidst falling bombs, power cuts, and continued Russian aggression, Alex and his colleagues are creating new work that speaks to the times and broadcasting it to the world beyond the Ukraine’s borders. The 2022 PRO.ACT Festival, with the theme “Unbreakable,” is available to stream for free on Scenesaver. The episode will be available next week. Other podcast episodes looking at musicals about war include Allegiance with composer and producer Jay Kuo going behind the scenes of the musical about the incarceration of Japanese-American citizens on American soil during WWII, Pieces of String with composer Gus Gowland talking about his musical inspired by the untold stories of gay men in the military, and Pacific Overtures with theatre historian Margaret Hall delving into the history of Sondheim’s musical about the forcible opening of Japan to the West. Below is a list of stage musicals you can watch from home which tell the stories of war across history, and from across the world. Allegiance Allegiance is loosely based on the events of actor George Takei’s life. During World War II, Takei and his family, along with 120,000 Japanese-American citizens were incarcerated in camps within the United States. Filmed live on Broadway in 2016, and released in cinemas in December of that year. It briefly held the record as Fathom Events’ highest grossing Broadway film. Click here for streaming options. An American in Paris Using the music of George and Ira Gerswhin, this romanticized musical tells the story of an American GI who falls in love with a Parisian woman in the days following the end of WWII. Adapted from the MGM movie of the same name, the stage production was filmed live in the West End in 2017. Click here for streaming options. Bandstand Filmed live on Broadway in 2017, this swing musical tells the story of a musician who returns from fighting in Europe during WWII, traumatized but with the desire to re-build his life following the death of his best friend. Although the musical was the first theatrical production to be certified by Get Your 6 for its authentic portrayal of the military, Bandstand was criticized for its lack of characters or actors of color. Released in cinemas in 2018, the musical was briefly available to stream on Playbill and Broadway on Demand earlier this year. Click here for streaming options. From Here to Eternity British musical From Here to Eternity is based on James Jones’ novel of the same name. With music by Stuart Brayson, lyrics by Sir Tim Rice, and a book by Bill Oakes, the musical depicts the affairs of US soldiers stationed in Hawaii in the lead-up to the attack on Pearl Harbor. It was filmed live during its West End run in 2014. Click here for streaming options. Hamilton A much lauded hip hop musical following the trials and tribulations of American founding father Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton depicts battles from the Revolutionary War, along with the battles of the cabinet. Click here for streaming options. Imagine This A fictionalized re-telling of true events, Imagine This is set in the Warsaw Jewish ghetto during the Holocaust. With departure to a camp imminent, a local theatre troupe are encouraged by their director to stage a musical about Masada (where a group of 960 Jewish refugees in the year 70 attempted to evade Roman soldiers before committing mass suicide). The musical had a short-lived run on the West End in 2008 where it was filmed live. Now available on DVD. Click here for purchasing options. Les Miserables Based on Victor Hugo’s historical novel of the same name, Les Miserables is not set during the French Revolution, during the uprisings that took place a few decades later. Although the stories and characters in Les Mis are fiction, they are drawn from Hugo’s close observations of Paris life. The musical has to date been filmed live three times, the 10th anniversary concert, 25th anniversary concert, and, most recently, last year’s West End staged concert. Click on each title for streaming options. Love at Times A two-act play with music and movement filmed at the ProEnglish Theatre in Kyiv during the Russian invasion in 2022. Part 1 “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” sees two gay soldiers from the Territorial Defense of Kyiv discussing their romantic relationship. In part 2, “Katie and Frank,” the title couple argues over the old adage “you never listen to me.” Available for free with registration on Scenesaver. The ProEnglish Theatre’s one-woman play The Book of Sirens, a contemporary adaptation of The Book Thief set in Kyiv, is also worth a watch. Miss Saigon A modernized re-telling of Puccini’s Madame Butterfly, Miss Saigon is set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War during the Fall of Saigon. The musical tells the ill-fated love story of Kim, a young woman in Saigon, and an American G.I., Chris. The 25th anniversary gala production was filmed live in the West End in 2016. Click here for streaming options. Only the Brave Based on true stories, this British musical follows Captain John Howard and Lieutenant Denholm Brotheridge, and their wives Joy and Maggie, as the soldiers prepare for the D-Day landings. The 2016 production at the Wales Millennium Centre featured a real-life vet playing the role of John Howard Senior. Only the Brave was filmed live for archival purposes in 2016. Click here for streaming options. Pacific Overtures Self-described by composer Stephen Sondheim as “the most bizarre and unusual musical ever to be seen in a commercial setting,” Pacific Overtures is a concept musical set around Commodore Perry’s first visit to Japan in 1853. It was filmed live during its original Broadway run for distribution on Japanese television. Click here for streaming options. Pieces of String Set in 1940 and the present day, British musical Pieces of String was inspired by a BBC documentary that briefly mentioned gay relationships in the armed forces during World War II, and modern day stories of gay men being unable to donate blood. Composer Gus Gowland sought to widen the scope for the way gay male characters are portrayed in musical theatre (a topic which he later explored in his PhD dissertation), and attempted to ensure women were also equally represented in the musical. The musical was filmed live during its run at Mercury Theatre Colchester in 2018. Click here for streaming options. South Pacific Based on the short story collection Tales of the South Pacific, the now classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical was ground breaking musical for its exploration of racism, war, and interracial relationships. There are currently two filmed live productions of South Pacific in the database - the 2010 Lincoln Center revival and the 2005 Carnegie Hall concert starring Reba McIntyre and Brian Stokes Mitchell. The latter is available on DVD. Click here for purchasing options. A Tale of Two Cities Set against the backdrop of the French Revolution, A Tale of Two Cities is based on Charles Dickens’ novel of the same name. The musical had a brief run on Broadway in 2008, and has received concert stagings in London, Paris, and Brighton. The concert performances were compiled into a special which was broadcast on PBS and is now available on DVD (this is an affiliate link and as an associate I may earn income from qualifying purchases). Tyneham: No Small Sacrifice This British musical tells the story of the residents of Tyneham, who were told to leave their homes in 1942 as the bequest of the British military. Although the residents were promised their homes would be returned, Tyneham remains military property to this day. Performed by amateur theatre company Generations Apart in 2013, the musical is currently available to view on YouTube. V for Victory This still-in-development British musical explores the lives of a group of friends in the resistance against the German occupation of Jersey during World War II. A concert version was performed at the Stockwell Playhouse in 2018 and was filmed live. Click here for streaming options. Waiting for the Ship to Sail Produced by Chickenshed in the UK, this timely musical is an artistic response to the urgent and pressing questions of global migration, and investigates the concepts of national and personal identity. It is currently available on YouTube. Yank! The off-Broadway musical YANK! tells the story of soldiers falling in love, and depicts the gay scene that “thrived just beneath the surface of the US Army in the 1940s.” The musical was a hit of the NY Musical Theatre Festival in 2005, and had a successful off-Broadway run in 2010. Below 54 hosted a 10th anniversary concert in early 2020, and the video is currently available on YouTube. How will you be honoring those whose lives have been lost in war, and those who have devoted their lives to service today? |
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