Host Luisa Lyons chats with the person who inspired the entire Filmed Live Musicals project, Ellen M. Krass!
Ellen M. Krass is the Emmy award winning producer behind the live captures of The Robber Bridegroom, Little Johnny Jones, Follies in Concert, Sweeney Todd with Angela Lansbury and George Hearn, Sweeney Todd with the San Francisco Philharmonic, Candide with the New York Philharmonic, the Broadway revival of Company starring Raul Esparza, Sondheim The Birthday Concert, Company with the New York Philharmonic starring Neil Patrick Harris, Patti LuPone, Stephen Colbert et al., Gypsy Live from the Savoy starring Imelda Staunton, and the Broadway revival of She Loves Me, which was the first Broadway musical to be livestreamed online. Ellen shares her insights into her historic journey working in film and television, and filming live theatre for the screen. Visit the Filmed Live Musicals database to learn where to watch all the musicals that Ellen has produced!
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This Week On the Calendar
Ride the Cyclone Two different productions of the cult favorite musical about 6 teens in a chamber choir whose lives are cut short in a freak accident aboard a roller coaster. Fifty Key stage Musicals The Routledge Key Guide book in concert! Gilbert & Sullivan Festival Catch 9 G&S productions streaming from the 29th International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival. Factotum Stream a new opera for free from the Lyric Opera of Chicago. The Midnight Gang A special one for the kids from London’s inclusive theatre company Chickenshed. Come to the Cabaret Catch Broadway performers such as Ann Hampton Callaway, Stephanie Torns, Caroline Illiff, and Jonathan Hoover performing their signature cabarets. And more!
A Strange Loop Filmed in London
Although not yet confirmed by the production, it was announced on Twitter/X this week that the West End transfer of Michael R. Jackson’s “big, Black and queer-ass American Broadway show” has been filmed in London. Hamilton The mega-hit musical Hamilton has announced two partnerships this week that extend the musicals reach into the virtual world and onto the pickleball court.
Hamilton Simulator
The musical has paired with gaming company Super League and Small World Games to release a new immersive digital experience which allows players to step in to the world of the musical, and American history. The game commences on a ship arriving at the Old New York Docks, and users can unlock collectible versions of Hamilton characters that become companions on their journey, rapping, singing, and going head-to-head with adversaries as they go deeper into the narrative world brought to life on Broadway. The Hamilton Simulator is available for free on Roblox. Hamilton Pickleball Paddles Pickleball — a hybrid of tennis, ping-pong and badminton — has been around since the 1960s and has been named the fastest growing sport by The Sports & Fitness Industry Association three years running, can now be played with USA Pickleball Association-approved paddles! To celebrate National Pickleball Day on August 8, Hamilton announced a partnership with the female-led Nettie, a company specializing in pickleball gear, and released a Hamilton emblazoned paddle featuring the quote “I’m not throwing away my shot.” Paddles are available for $99.99 from Hamilton and Nettie. NOW FREE: A Spotlight On Launched earlier in 2023, the British platform features interviews, shorts, documentaries, performances, and masterclasses. Most content is now freely available, with additional content available via a premium subscription. More info and access via A Spotlight On. Back to the Future on Good Morning America
To celebrate the opening of the West End musical on Broadway, the cast of Back to the Future performed “The Power of Love” and “Back in Time” on Good Morning America.
TOP OF THE UNIVERSE: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - “Subspace Rhapsody” According to Screen Rant, the soundtrack for Star Trek’s first musical episode topped the iTunes streaming charts after its release, charting at #1 in the Top 100 Soundtracks and #3 Top 100 Albums. The soundtrack features music and lyrics by Letters To Cleo's Kay Hanley and Tom Polce (the latter of whom also wrote for Crazy Ex Girlfriend). “Subspace Rhapsody” is available to stream via Apple. Stage Access & ReachTV The streaming platform Stage Access has partnered with travel entertainment provider ReachTV to broadcast opera, ballet, and concerts in airports and hotel rooms across the United States. 
This week in Filmed Live Musicals news:
?️ Streaming this week ? New book alert! ?♀️ The Little Mermaid now streaming ? Star Trek musical episode ? Support Filmed Live Musicals with a tax-deductible donation
This page contains affiliate links and as an associate, Filmed Live Musicals may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you.
Streaming This Week
?Go To the Festival There are a plethora of shows that will be available to stream from the Edinburgh Fringe. Make sure to check out Castle Gillian, the world’s first full-length virtual reality musical by Victor Kazan and Kevin Purcell (there are several ways to enjoy this musical - no VR headset required!). The She NYC Arts Festival are also streaming the majority of their productions including two new musicals - Chasing Grace, a meta-musical about learning to love your younger self and 0874: A Filipino-American Love Story of the composer’s grandparents told through 847 love letters. Also check out Moss Maidens, a play inspired by the true events of a group of teenage girls who flirted with Nazis, lured them into the woods for a romantic walk, and murdered them. Today is also your last chance to stream new musicals from The Orlando DigiFringe on demand. ? More New Musicals Discover The Death of the Living Club, a new musical inspired by the apocalypse and video games, or re-live the off-Broadway musical We Are the Tigers when the cast reunites at 54 Below! ? Come to the Cabaret Enjoy a night of Sondheim Unplugged, check out debut shows for several up-and-coming artists, and see the Broadway Matildas all grown up in Matildapalooza! ? Broadway in ASL Catch of some NYCs most talented Deaf Artists performing poetry and Broadway hits to benefit Deaf Austin Theatre’s fall production of The Laramie Project, and if you’re in NYC see Deaf Broadway performing Company to the 2011 New York Philharmonic concert production for free at Lincoln Center! Learn where you can watch these musicals and more in the streaming calendar! ? New Book Alert - Out For Blood: A Cultural History of Carrie the Musical In 1988, following the success of its production of Les Misérables and in the wake of the commercial success of mega-musicals such as Cats, Phantom of the Opera and Chess, the Royal Shakespeare Company agreed to co-produce a musical based on Stephen King's Carrie, written by the team behind Fame. The result was one of Broadway's most infamous disasters. Plagued by technical problems, on-stage chaos and a critical savaging, Carrie would soon become the by-word for musical theatre flops. But thanks to the efforts of a vocal army of fans and the impact of bootleg trading and emerging online communities, the show reinvented itself as a mainstream success story with thousands of productions worldwide. Featuring contributions from over eighty original cast members, creatives, crew and audience members, Out For Blood pieces together the surprising, hilarious and often-moving inside story of Carrie The Musical to discover how this 'horror of a Broadway musical' lived, died and was subsequently resurrected as a mainstream success story. Available via Amazon and Bookshop.org. ?♀️ The Little Mermaid
The new live action film starring Halle Bailey is now available to stream on Apple TV, Prime Video, and Vudu/Fandango. The film will also be available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD from September 19, 2023.
? Star Trek Musical Episode!
Trekkie fans rejoice! For the first time in the series franchise, a musical episode! The episode features 10 original songs by Letters to Cleo musicians Kay Hanley and Tom Polce. Polce also wrote for Crazy Ex Girlfriend. Airs on Paramount Plus on August 3, 2023.
? Support Filmed Live Musicals with a tax-deductible donation! Would you like to help preserve the history of filmed stage musicals and the curation of one easy place to find them all? You can now make a tax deductible donation to Filmed Live Musicals via The Field! Filmed Live Musicals is a sponsored artist with The Performance Zone Inc (dba The Field), a not-for-profit, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization serving the performing arts community. Contributions to The Field earmarked for Filmed Live Musicals are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. For more information about The Field, or for our national charities registration, contact: The Field, 225 West 34th St. Floor 9 New York, NY 10122, phone: 212-691-6969. A copy of our latest financial report may be obtained from The Field or from the Office of Attorney General, Charities Bureau, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271. Visit www.filmedlivemusicals.com to learn more, and learn how you can also support the site for free! 
Jay Cruz & IFT Network
Host Luisa Lyons chats with Jay Cruz, entrepreneur, marketing executive, and CEO & founder of the Indie Film Theater Network, or IFT Network.
Jay shares his journey to working in the world of theatre, IFT’s three pronged approach to streaming theatre — including a writing room, production and marketing, and streaming — and insights into the making of filmed theatre. Jay Cruz is an Award Winning Advertising Marketing Executive (ADWEEK: HBO 2010), and Customer Service Expert. He has produced Independent Films, Off-Broadway Theater, and Various Themed Shows and Live Events. As the CEO/Founder of IFT Network, Jay is dedicated to empowering Independent Filmmakers & Theater Producers around the globe. “My passion is creating new and exciting original experiences, while creating opportunities for diverse, and talented people.” Show Links: IFTNetwork.com YouTube 
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.
 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!  I've been researching filmed live musicals for close to a decade now. Pre-pandemic we were lucky to get 1 or 2 releases a year, now it seems like they're being released every other week! Here is a list of filmed stage musicals from Broadway and beyond to look forward to watching at home before the year is out. November Wuthering Heights (Nov 7) Wise Children’s rocking re-telling of the Brontë novel was released on SkyArts this week (only available in the UK). Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 (Nov 17 & Dec 1) Shotgun Players in California will be livestreaming their production of Dave Malloy’s gorgeous musical (only available to watch within California). Much Ado About Nothing (Nov 22) The Public Theater’s production filmed live at the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park will re-air on Great Performances. December Mr Saturday Night The Broadway musical adaptation of the 1992 movie starring Billy Crystal was filmed live during its run in 2022. It will be available to stream on BroadwayHD from Dec 1. Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration (Dec 15) Billed as an animated/live-action hybrid event, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast will be performed live on ABC in honor of the film’s 30th anniversary. Produced my Jon M. Chu, current cast members include H.E.R (Belle), Josh Groban (Beast), Joshua Henry (Gaston), Rita Moreno (Narrator), Martin Short (Lumiere), Shania Twain (Mrs. Potts), David Alan Grier (Cogsworth), Rizwan Job Briones (Maurice), and Leo Abelo Perry (Chip). It will be available to stream on Dec 16. Encanto at the Hollywood Bowl (Dec 28) Two live concerts on November 11-12 featuring an 80-person orchestra, 50 dancers, and songs from the Disney movie Encanto will be filmed live and released on Disney Plus. DATES TBA Audra McDonald Sings the Great American Songbook Audra McDonald’s sold-out September concert at the Palladium in London was filmed live for later release. If the buzz on Twitter after the concert is anything to go by, this will be one not to miss. Aladdin Disney's Broadway musical based on the classic animation was filmed live in the West End in 2019. Bonnie and Clyde A concert production featuring Jeremy Jordan and Frances Mayli McCann was filmed live in the West End in January of this year. Children of Eden A staged concert production of Stephen Schwartz and John Caird’s musical was filmed live at Chicago’s Cadillac Theatre in mid-October. Emojiland After the national tour of the off-Broadway musical was suddenly cancelled after just one night in early June, a special performance was filmed live at the Palace Theatre in Columbus, Ohio. Girl from North Country Set in the heartland of America during the Great Depression, this new musical with a book by Conor McPherson features the music of Bob Dylan. It was filmed live on Broadway at the end of April. Jersey Boys Live Helmed by the original Broadway director Des McAnuff and filmed live in at the Playhouse Square Theatre in Cleveland, Ohio in the summer of 2021. The Prince of Egypt The DreamWorks musical was filmed live in the West End at the end of 2021. SIX The West End production of the feisty pop musical about the six wives of Henry VIII was filmed live over the summer. A Very Merry Unauthorized Children’s Scientology Pageant LIVE! Kyle Jarrow's satiric musical was filmed live at the 14th St Y under the direction of Sean Pollock on November 5, 2022. It will be released on the newly launched Indie Film Theater Network (IFT Network). Waitress Sara Bareilles’ delicious musical based on the movie of the same name, was filmed live on September 22, 2021. The opening number of that performance was also livestreamed on TikTok. Want to be in the know of what filmed stage musicals are streaming? Sign up to have our weekly newsletter delivered straight to your inbox every Thursday! Updated Nov 15, 2022.
 This week in Filmed Live Musicals news includes work from Tony nominees and winners, a Hawaiian Language Theatre Festival, new digital offerings from Chichester Festival Theatre, TEDx Broadway Ten, upcoming releases and more!
Tony Tony Tony! I know many of my readers outside the US were frustrated that they weren’t able to watch the Tony Awards this year, either live or on catch-up. Despite this, it bodes well for filmed theatre that 6 shows from the 2021/22 Broadway season have been, or will be filmed live for release.
Earlier in the week, I shared a blog post, Where To Watch the Tony Winners & Nominees, which features a list of over 35 filmed live musicals that this year’s Tony contenders previously worked on, most of which are available to stream! 'Aha Hana Keaka: KEAKA Hawaiian Language Theatre Festival The month long festival is available on demand for free and includes a wide range films, plays, musicals, and slam poetry performed in “full Hawaiian language to partial Hawaiian language.” The musical Wordsworth, available with Hawaiian or English subtitles, looks particularly delightful. More info and access via KEAKA Hawaiian Language Theatre Festival. Chichester Festival Theatre: Digital Stages In July, Chichester Festival Theatre (CFT) will be celebrating their 60th anniversary with five unique digital events. Events include Visionary Stages which will use cutting-edge technology to recreate the stage as it looked in 1962, and Digital Diorama which will feature 60 pieces from CFT’s archive such as model boxes, props, costumes, set designs, and sound bites. More info and tickets from CFT. International Thespian Festival A festival celebrating school theatre taking place at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. For the first time, a virtual option is being made available which includes access to a livestream of the opening ceremony, online workshops, and screenings of The SpongeBob Musical and the National Theatre production of Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Virtual tickets for non-members are $99US. More info and tickets from ITF. TEDx Broadway Ten The tenth anniversary of TEDx Broadway was held at New World Stages on May 17, and is now available to stream via Stellar. Speakers include Emanuel Azenberg, Sammy Lopez, past Filmed Live Musicals podcast guest Margaret Hall, and more! Tickets are $15US. More info and access via Stellar. Upcoming Releases
 I had so much fun live-tweeting the Tony Awards and sharing the past filmed live work of the nominees! As I shared on Twitter, I love celebrating Broadway & live theatre, but I also want to acknowledge how hard it is for so many people to attend in person because of cost, location, childcare, disability, illness & a myriad of other reasons. Filmed theatre provides access to theatre, it creates a historical record of the ephemeral, has the potential to generate new income, and can be used as an educational tool. Filmed theatre must be a part of accessibility planning. It bodes well that 5 shows from this season were filmed/broadcast (whether from Broadway or the West End). I hope that one day, audiences around the world will be able to access every show. Here you'll find a list of the filmed live musicals and plays from the 2021/22 season, and a list of filmed live musicals that this year's winners and nominees have worked on. In this week's newsletter dropping on Thursday, patrons will also have access to a list of plays, operas, films, and other digital works from this year's nominees. If you want access, become a Filmed Live Musical Patron today! You'll also get access to the streaming calendar, early access to the podcast, and more bonus content! This post contains affiliate links and as an affiliate I may earn from qualifying purchases made through these links. Filmed Live Shows from the 2021/22 Season Musicals Diana: The Musical (2021)
Girl from the North Country (2022)
Six (2022)
Plays Clyde’s (2022)
The Lehman Trilogy (2019)
Filmed Live Musicals An American in Paris (2017)
Anything Goes (2021)
Cabaret (1993)
Candide (2004)
Carousel (2013)
Come From Away -
Contact (2002)
Company (1996)
Company (2011)
The Cradle Will Rock (1986)
FELA! (2011)
Fosse (2001)
Hamilton (2016)
Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert (2018)
The King and I
The Last Five Years (2020)
The Light in the Piazza (2006)
Little Women (2021)
Les Misérables in Concert: The 25th Anniversary
Love Never Dies
Newsies
Oklahoma! (1998)
Passing Strange (2008)
Passion (2005)
Phantom of the Opera at Royal Albert Hall (2011)
She Loves Me -
Shrek the Musical
Smokey Joe’s Cafe (2000)
South Pacific (2010)
Spongebob The Musical (2019)
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Live in Concert -
Taboo
The Wiz Live! (2015)
Want to know what new musicals are streaming?
Sign up to the Filmed Live Musicals newsletter!  With Tony Award nominations being announced on Monday, May 9, it's time to re-visit filmed live Tony Award nominated and winning musicals! It's sad to think that of the 34 eligible Broadway plays and musicals in the 2021/22 season, only two productions were streamed - Diana The Musical (now available to stream on Netflix) and Second Stage's production of Clyde's. Girl From North Country was filmed in late April, but a release date has yet to be announced.
This post includes a list of over 30 Tony nominated, and Tony Award winning musicals, including 9 Best Musical winners, most of which are available to stream on demand. Dating back to 1962, the majority of shows were filmed on Broadway, however musicals filmed on tour, or in the West End, that are transfers or replicas of the Tony nominated show have also been included. If you’re looking for more content, the Filmed Live Musicals database contains info on over 170 filmed live musicals (and growing!), including new productions of Tony nominated musicals like the filmed live concerts of Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera, three versions of Jesus Christ Superstar, regional productions of Fun Home, Curtains, Your Arms Too Short to Box with God, and more! Visit the database to learn more! This post contains affiliate links and the author may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. Show Girl This star vehicle revue for Carol Channing was filmed towards the end of its Broadway run at the Eugene O’Neil Theatre in 1961 and broadcast on early pay TV in Etobicoke, Canada. It hasn’t officially been released, but it’s available to view on YouTube. Tony Nominations/Wins
Pacific Overtures Sondheim and John Weidman’s concept musical about Commodore Perry’s first visit to Japan in 1853. The original Broadway production was filmed live at the Winter Garden in 1976 for distribution on Japanese television. Like Show Girl, it hasn’t officially been released since airing on television, but it’s available on YouTube. Tony Nominations/Wins
Pirates of Penzance The Public Theater’s 1980 production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s operetta transferred to Broadway in 1981. Before its transfer, the production was filmed live at the Delacorte in Centra Park featuring Kevin Kevin Kline, G. Eugene Moose, Rex Smith, Patricia Routledge, Linda Ronstadt, Alice Playten, Marcie Shaw, Wendy Wolfe, and Alexandra Korey. Kultur Video released the DVD in 2002. Tony Nominations/Wins
Ain’t Misbehavin’ Based on an idea by Murray Horwitz and Richard Maltby, Jr., a revue musical set in a 1930s Harlem nightclub featuring music written, or made popular by, stride pianist Fats Waller. It was later taped with a live audience at NBC’s Burbank Studios in 1982, featuring Nell Carter, Andre De Shields, Armelia McQueen, Ken Page, and Charlaine Woodard. It was broadcast on NBC, and also in Finland. It hasn’t officially been released since, though it’s currently available on YouTube. Tony Nominations/Wins
Sophisticated Ladies A musical revue featuring the music of Duke Ellington. In November 1982, it was billed as the first musical to be broadcast on pay TV. Most of the Broadway cast picketed the filming over contract negotiations, and a fear that the broadcast would negatively impact ticket sales. The touring cast, which included original cast members Hinton Battle, Terri Klausner, and Gregg Burge performed in the broadcast instead. The revue is now available on DVD and on BroadwayHD. Tony Nominations/Wins
Camelot The short-lived revival of Lerner and Loewe’s mythic musical. Starring Richard Harris and Meg Bussert, the musical was filmed live at the Winter Garden and aired on HBO, who had invested $3 million into the taping. Now available on DVD. Tony Nominations/Wins
Sweeney Todd Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s dark operetta that tells the story of a London barber who seeks revenge on the judge who destroyed his life. Directed by Hal Prince and starring Len Cariou and Angela Lansbury, the musical opened on Broadway in 1979. Three years later, the musical was filmed live at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, the first major American musical to be taped whilst on tour. It aired on cable TV in 1982, and is now available to stream on Amazon. Tony Nominations/Wins
Sunday in the Park with George Sondheim and Lapine’s musical based on Seurat’s pointillist painting “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.” The musical was filmed after the show closed during a special performance at the Booth Theatre and aired on Showtime in February 1986. It has since been released on DVD. Tony Nominations/Wins
The Will Rogers Follies Inspired by the words of Will and Betsy Rogers, this 1991 revue at the Palace Theatre was is an upbeat celebration of the life of American folk hero and international superstar Will Rogers, told through lavishly staged production numbers. Like Pacific Overtures and Victor/Victoria, the show was filmed live for distribution on Japanese television. It hasn’t officially been released, but is available on YouTube. Tony Nominations/Wins
Into the Woods Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s 1987 fairytale musical that combines several different children’s stories into one intricate and grown-up world. The musical was filmed live towards the end of its run in 1989 and aired on PBS in 1991. It was later released on VHS and DVD, and is now available on Amazon Prime. Tony Nominations/Wins
Victor/Victoria Based on the 1982 movie of the same name about a singer who disguises herself as a man pretending to be a woman in order to work, the show was a star vehicle for Julie Andrews in her first Broadway show in over three decades. The musical played a troubled run at the Marquis Theatre from October 1995 until July 1997. Like Pacific Overtures and The Will Rogers Follies, the show was filmed live for distribution on Japanese TV. Unlike the previous two, Victor/Victoria also aired on television in North America and was released on DVD and Blu-Ray. The show received one Tony nomination, Best Actress for Julie Andrews, who famously turned down the nomination stating the show had been snubbed. It’s now available on Amazon Prime. Tony Nominations/Wins
Smokey Joe’s Cafe A revue celebrating the songbook of 1960s pop composers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller whose hit songs included “Hound Dog,” “Love Potion No. 9,” “On Broadway,” and “Yakety Yak.” The final few performances were taped by the Broadway Television Network in January 2000, and aired later in that year. It is now available on DVD. Tony Nominations/Wins
Putting it Together A musical revue featuring songs by Stephen Sondheim. The show takes place at a party thrown by a wealthy, older married couple, and involves a younger man, a frisky maid, and a comedic commentator. Opening in 1999, the revue featured Carol Burnett, George Hearn, John Barrowman, Ruthie Henshall, and Bronson Pinchot. Like Smokey Joe’s Cafe the final performance was filmed live at the Barrymore Theatre by the Broadway Television Network in February 2000. Now available on BroadwayHD. Tony Nominations/Wins
Fosse A revue-style three-act musical celebrating the “great, and lesser-known, musical numbers” choreographed by the legend himself. The musical opened at the Broadhurst Theatre in January 1999. A week before its closing in August 2001, Dance in America captured the show over four performances. The film aired on PBS in January 2002, and it’s now available on DVD. Tony Nominations/Wins
Jekyll and Hyde Frank Wildhorn, Leslie Bricusse, and Steve Cuden’s musical based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s infamous novella. The musical starred David Hasselhoff and was filmed live by the Broadway Television Network during the last week of its run at the Plymouth Theatre (now the Gerald Schoenfeld) in December 2000. It was released on cable TV and also aired in select US cinemas, the first “non-film” to receive a digital release. It’s now available on BroadwayHD. Tony Nominations/Wins
Contact This “dance play” was conceived, directed, and choreographed by Susan Stroman in collaboration with John Weidman, and was set in eighteenth century France, 1950s New York, and modern day New York. Its 7 Tony Award nominations stirred much controversy, with the Musicians Union, along with several prominent Broadway orchestrators, petitioning the League of American Theatres and Producers to reconsider contact’s eligibility as a musical. The closing night performance was broadcast live from the Vivian Beaumont Theater on Live From Lincoln Center on PBS. It has not been officially released since the broadcast. Tony Nominations/Wins
Legally Blonde Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin’s 2007 musical adaption of the movie of the same name. The musical was filmed live at the Palace Theatre and later broadcast on MTV, drawing in 12.5 million viewers. The broadcast was directly credited with boosting ticket sales at the box office, and the show’s popularity on the road. Due to strict contract negotiations, the capture has not been officially released it aired on television. Tony Nominations/Wins
Company John Doyle’s 2006 actor-muso revival of Stephen Sondheim’s concept musical about marriage and relationships. Toward the of its run in 2007, the musical was filmed live at the Ethel Barrymore and broadcast on PBS’ Great Performances. It is now available on Blu-Ray and DVD. Tony Nominations/Wins
RENT: Filmed Live on Broadway Jonathan Larson’s multi-award winning rock opera based on La Boheme. The original show was filmed live in its 12th and final year on Broadway at the Nederlander, and screened in cinemas across the US. It’s now available on DVD and Blu-Ray, and widely available to stream online including on Amazon. Tony Nominations/Wins
FELA! A musical about Nigerian musician Fela Kuti, who developed a unique style of music known as AfroBeat, a blending of African rhythms and harmonies with jazz and funk, with politically and socially driven lyrics. It was the first show staged at the National Theatre to be concurrently running on Broadway. It was filmed live during its run at the National Theatre and broadcast in cinemas around the world in 2011. Not currently available to view. Tony Nominations/Wins
Shrek the Musical Featuring Brian d’Arcy James, Sutton Foster, Daniel Breaker, Christopher Sieber, and John Tartaglia, DreamWork’s first foray into stage entertainment was filmed live on Broadway with 10 HD cameras during its run at the Broadway Theatre. The DVD and Blu-Ray were released in 2013, and the musical is also available to stream on demand on Netflix. Tony Nominations/Wins
Passing Strange Developed in collaboration with Heidi Rodewald and Annie Doren, the musical was a loosely based on its composer and writer, Stew, who left his conventional religious Los Angeles home to travel and find “the real.” Spike Lee filmed the musical live on Broadway in 2008, and the film premiered at the 25th annual Sundance Film Festival in 2009. It’s now available on DVD. Tony Nominations/Wins
South Pacific Lincoln Center’s sumptuous 2008 revival directed by Bartlett Sher and starring Kelli O’Hara and Paulo Szot. In the last week of the run at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre, the musical was broadcast live on PBS’ Live from Lincoln Center. It has not been officially released since. Tony Nominations/Wins
Memphis An original musical about the power of music to overcome racial divides in 1950s America starring Montego Glover, Chadd Kimball, and James Monroe Iglehart. The musical was filmed live on Broadway in January 2011 by NCM Fathom and Broadway Worldwide. It’s now available on DVD and Blu-Ray and to stream on BroadwayHD. Tony Nominations/Wins
She Loves Me Roundabout’s 2016 revival starring Laura Benanti, Gavin Creel, Byron Jennings, Jane Krakowski, and Zachary Levi. In June 2016, the show became the first Broadway musical to be livestreamed online. The broadcast attracted viewers from 60 countries around the world and #SheLovesMeLive trended internationally on Twitter. It’s now available to view on BroadwayHD. Tony Nominations/Wins
Hamilton Lin-Manuel Miranda’s smash hit musical about founding father Alexander Hamilton told with hip hop music and a cast made up predominantly of people of color. The musical was filmed live in 2016 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, and after a fierce bidding war, made available worldwide on Disney Plus in July 2020. It’s now available to stream on Disney Plus. Tony Nominations/Wins
Bandstand A swing musical about Donny Novitzk, a musician who returns from the war, traumatized but with the desire to re-build his life following the death of his best friend. Directed and choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler, and starring Laura Osnes and Corey Cott, the musical played on Broadway in 2017. It was filmed live at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre during its run and broadcast in cinemas across the US. It is not currently available to view, though in the past year has received limited-time screenings on Broadway on Demand and stream.theatre. Tony Nominations/Wins
Miss Saigon The 25th anniversary gala production of Schönberg and Boublil’s re-telling of Madame Butterfly set in Vietnam was filmed live in the West End in 2014. It was broadcast in cinemas in 2016, becoming the first musical to air in cinemas before its Broadway run. Available to stream on Amazon and BroadwayHD. Tony Nominations/Wins
Falsettos Lincoln Center’s 2016 revival of William Finn’s musical about family, relationships, bar mivahs, baseball and AIDS. Directed by James Lapine and featuring Stephanie J. Block, Christian Borle, Andrew Rannells, Anthony Rosenthal, Tracie Thoms, Brandon Uranowitz, and Betsy Wolfe, the final performances were filmed live at the Walter Kerr Theatre and later broadcast in cinemas. It’s now available to stream on BroadwayHD and Amazon. Tony Nominations/Wins
An American in Paris Based on the MGM film, and featuring a score with the music of George and Ira Gerswhin, Theatre du Chatelet’s stage adaptation tells story of a young American soldier, a beautiful French girl and an indomitable European city, each yearning for a new beginning in the aftermath of war. The musical opened on Broadway in 2015, before transferring to the West End in 2017 where it was filmed live. The film received a worldwide cinema release. It’s now available on DVD and Blu-Ray, and to stream on BroadwayHD. Tony Nominations/Wins
Holiday Inn A new musical inspired by the 1942 movie of the same name, with a score made up of twenty Irving Berlin songs. Featuring Bryce Pinkham, Corbin Bleu, Lora Lee Gayer, Megan Lawrence, Danny Rutigliano, Megan Sikora, and Morgan Gao, the musical was filmed live at Studio 54 and was the second Broadway musical to be streamed live online. Now available to stream on BroadwayHD. Tony Nominations/Wins
Kinky Boots Cindy Lauper and Harvey Fierstein’s musical based on the film about a men’s shoe factory that must pivot its business plan in order to stay afloat. The West End transfer was filmed live in 2018 and released in cinemas. It’s now available to stream on BroadwayHD and Amazon. Tony Nominations/Wins
SpongeBob The Musical Based on the cartoon, the cult classic favorite directed by Tina Landau opened on Broadway at the Palace Theatre in 2017. Forced to close due to theatre renovations, Nickelodeon flew the entire cast and crew to the UK to film the production during a special performance. The film aired on Nickelodeon and was the number one program across all of children’s television. Now available to stream on Amazon, Apple, and Paramount Plus. Tony Nominations/Wins
Come From Away The remarkable musical that tells the true stories of 7,000 stranded passengers on 9/11 and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them. Directed by Christopher Ashley, and featuring a top notch ensemble cast, the musical was filmed live at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre during the Broadway shut down in May 2021. On September 10, 2021 the film was released worldwide on Apple Plus where it's now available on demand. Tony Nominations/Wins
More to come! Look out for these yet to be released musicals: Aladdin Disney's Broadway musical based on the classic animation was filmed live in the West End in 2019. A release date has yet to be announced. Tony Nominations/Wins
Girl From North Country Set in the heartland of America during the Great Depression, this new musical with a book by Conor McPherson features the music of Bob Dylan. It was filmed live on Broadway at the end of April. A release date has yet to be announced. Tony Nominations/Wins
Waitress Sara Bareilles’ delicious musical based on the movie of the same name, and the first Broadway musical to have an all-female core creative team, including director Diane Paulus, choreographer Lorin Latarro, book writer Jessie Nelson, and composer and lyricist Sara Bareilles. The musical first opened at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre in April 2016, playing 1,537 performances before closing in January 2020. The musical re-opened at the Ethel Barrymore for a limited run at the beginning of September 2021, and on September 22 was filmed live (at the same performance, the opening number was livestreamed on TikTok). A release date has yet to be announced. Tony Nominations/Wins
Still want MORE Broadway content?! Check out the Filmed Live Musicals database which contains info on over 170 filmed live musicals (and growing!), nearly 40 of which were filmed on Broadway! |
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