- Published on
While some of us are spending the pandemic baking bread, binging Netflix, and staring into the void afraid and half-hopeful that this will now be life as we know it, folks across the world are jumping online to make art, and specifically, musicals. The rapid turnaround of these musicals and, more importantly, their immense popularity, is leading folks in the theatre community to wonder if virtual development is the future of musical theatre making.
The most prominent musical flavoring much of the discussion is Ratatouille The Musical, the world’s first musical “created entirely over TikTok.” Based on the 2007 Disney animation about a Parisian rat who loves to cook, the musical had a very short gestation period. It began life in October 2020, when a TikTok user Emily Jacobsen posted a love ballad for Remy the Rat that went viral. In December 2020 Seaview Productions (who got a shoutout in the December newsletter for their promising new partnership with Sony Productions) negotiated with Disney to put on a virtual production of Ratatouille the Musical as a benefit for the Actors Fund.
Ratatouille the Musical aired on January 1st, 2021, and was only available to stream for 3 days, followed by a one-off encore screening a week later. The cast featured the talents of Wayne Brady, Tituss Burgess, Kevin Chamberlin, André de Shields, Andrew Barth Feldman, Adam Lambert, Priscilla Lopez, Ashley Park, and Mary Testa, under the direction of Six writer and director Lucy Moss. The music was recorded by the recently formed The Broadway Sinfonietta, an all-female identifying, majority women of color orchestral collective. The event was viewed by over 200,000 people, and raised $2million, the most successful fundraiser in Actors Fund history.
While yet to be performed on a physical stage, Ratatouille the Musical already has a huge global following, was put together in a month, and for a budget of $200,000. When you think of the years, and millions of dollars, it normally takes to mount a Broadway show, it’s no wonder theatre folks are excited.
Director Lucy Moss has stated “I hope it opens the doors and/or eyes of producers and the gatekeepers to democratize theater even further, and to show them that something of real merit can be created not in the “traditional” way.” Writing for Forbes, Lee Seymour believes virtual productions could help bolster Broadway’s return — “crowdsourced projects could provide a solution, or at least an augmentation, especially to cultivate younger fans.”
A new in-the-works musical starting to generate some heat is Bridgerton the Musical, based on the recently released original Netflix series, Bridgerton. Composed by Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, early songs have gone viral, with “Burn For You” reaching over 4.5 million views. The hashtag #BridgertonTheMusical has attracted over 2.5million views. Receiving some attention from Netflix itself, Barlow has claimed “…the gatekeepers that be are kind of no longer in power. The people have the power, and that’s an exciting thing.”
Another new created-virtually musical, or series of musicals, garnering attention is Averno. Created by 21-year-old Morgan Smith, Averno is “is a transmedia universe — think the Marvel universe, but with musicals (and comics and novels and more) about witches.” Through collaboration with a diverse group of young artists, Averno has created “13 musicals, 4 novels, a TV Show, a podcast, a concept album, a webcomic musical, virtual reality, and more.” The universe exists across various websites and social media platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Spotify, and YouTube. Broadway Records, one of theatre’s leading record labels, recently released three Averno musicals as concept albums — “Over and Out,” “Willow,” and “Bittersummer.”
What do you think? Will Ratatouille be served up on Broadway? Could Bridgerton The Musical sit alongside Bridgerton on Netflix? Will the Averno universe come to rival that of Marvel?
The most prominent musical flavoring much of the discussion is Ratatouille The Musical, the world’s first musical “created entirely over TikTok.” Based on the 2007 Disney animation about a Parisian rat who loves to cook, the musical had a very short gestation period. It began life in October 2020, when a TikTok user Emily Jacobsen posted a love ballad for Remy the Rat that went viral. In December 2020 Seaview Productions (who got a shoutout in the December newsletter for their promising new partnership with Sony Productions) negotiated with Disney to put on a virtual production of Ratatouille the Musical as a benefit for the Actors Fund.
Ratatouille the Musical aired on January 1st, 2021, and was only available to stream for 3 days, followed by a one-off encore screening a week later. The cast featured the talents of Wayne Brady, Tituss Burgess, Kevin Chamberlin, André de Shields, Andrew Barth Feldman, Adam Lambert, Priscilla Lopez, Ashley Park, and Mary Testa, under the direction of Six writer and director Lucy Moss. The music was recorded by the recently formed The Broadway Sinfonietta, an all-female identifying, majority women of color orchestral collective. The event was viewed by over 200,000 people, and raised $2million, the most successful fundraiser in Actors Fund history.
While yet to be performed on a physical stage, Ratatouille the Musical already has a huge global following, was put together in a month, and for a budget of $200,000. When you think of the years, and millions of dollars, it normally takes to mount a Broadway show, it’s no wonder theatre folks are excited.
Director Lucy Moss has stated “I hope it opens the doors and/or eyes of producers and the gatekeepers to democratize theater even further, and to show them that something of real merit can be created not in the “traditional” way.” Writing for Forbes, Lee Seymour believes virtual productions could help bolster Broadway’s return — “crowdsourced projects could provide a solution, or at least an augmentation, especially to cultivate younger fans.”
A new in-the-works musical starting to generate some heat is Bridgerton the Musical, based on the recently released original Netflix series, Bridgerton. Composed by Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, early songs have gone viral, with “Burn For You” reaching over 4.5 million views. The hashtag #BridgertonTheMusical has attracted over 2.5million views. Receiving some attention from Netflix itself, Barlow has claimed “…the gatekeepers that be are kind of no longer in power. The people have the power, and that’s an exciting thing.”
Another new created-virtually musical, or series of musicals, garnering attention is Averno. Created by 21-year-old Morgan Smith, Averno is “is a transmedia universe — think the Marvel universe, but with musicals (and comics and novels and more) about witches.” Through collaboration with a diverse group of young artists, Averno has created “13 musicals, 4 novels, a TV Show, a podcast, a concept album, a webcomic musical, virtual reality, and more.” The universe exists across various websites and social media platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Spotify, and YouTube. Broadway Records, one of theatre’s leading record labels, recently released three Averno musicals as concept albums — “Over and Out,” “Willow,” and “Bittersummer.”
What do you think? Will Ratatouille be served up on Broadway? Could Bridgerton The Musical sit alongside Bridgerton on Netflix? Will the Averno universe come to rival that of Marvel?
Sources
Articles
Articles
- Arifa Akbar, “Bridgerton: The Musical? Fans of Netflix hit take tunes to TikTok,” The Guardian (Jan 22, 2021)
- BBC News, “Bridgerton re-imagined on TikTok by US singer Abigail Barlow,” BBC (Jan 18, 2021)
- Alyssa Bereznak, “Anyone Can Cook: The Oral History of ‘Ratatouille: The Musical’” The Ringer (Dec 31, 2020)
- Greta Bjornson, “How ‘Bridgerton’ The Musical Became TikTok’s Latest Collective Endeavor,” Decider (Jan 27, 2021)
- BWW News Desk, “RATATOUILLE: THE TIKTOK MUSICAL Raises $2 Million For the Actors Fund,” Broadway World (Jan 12, 2021)
- Gordon Cox, “‘Ratatouille’ Musical Raised $1.9 Million: Here’s Where The Money Will Go” Variety (Jan 11, 2021)
- Ken Davenport, “Will “Ratatouille The Musical” make it to Broadway?” The Producer’s Perspective (Nov 24, 2020)
- De Elizabeth, ““Ratatouille” Musical Goes From TikTok to Virtual Broadway” Teen Vogue (Jan 3, 2021)
- Felicia Fitzpatrick, “EXCLUSIVE: Bridgerton is TikTok's Latest Musical — The Writers Share a Track and Discuss Future Plans,” Playbill (Jan 22, 2021)
- Jesse Green, “‘Ratatouille’ Review: What’s Small and Hairy With Big Dreams?” New York Times (Jan 3, 2021)
- Christina Morales, “On TikTok, Fans Are Making Their Own ‘Ratatouille’ Musical,” New York Times (Nov 30, 2020)
- Dan Meyer, “Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical Benefit, Starring Andrew Barth Feldman, Tituss Burgess, More, Streams January 1” Playbill (Jan 1, 2021)
- Brandon Powers, “The Future of Musical Theatre is on TikTok,” Medium (Jan 19, 2021)
- Adam Rothenberg, “Call Answered: Morgan Smith Interview: Averno Universe, Willow on Broadway Records,” Call Me Adam (Nov 18, 2020)
- Lee Seymour, “What Broadway Can Learn From The Record-Breaking TikTok Musical ‘Ratatouille’” Forbes (Jan 21, 2021)
- Ellise Shafer, “‘Bridgerton: The Musical’ blew up on TikTok. Could Broadway be next?”, Chicago Tribune (Jan 29, 2021)
- Elisabeth Vincentelli, “A ‘Marvel Universe’ for Musicals? Meet the Makers of Averno” New York Times (Jan 15, 2021)
- Ratatouille the Tik Tok Musical, Accessed via: https://ratatousical.com/
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This week on the podcast host Luisa Lyons chats with Eliza Jackson, an Australian producer based in the UK whom The Stage recently listed as one of the Top 100 Theatre Makers of 2020.
Topics including making the switch from acting to producing, the joys and challenges of producing virtual theatre content during the pandemic, paying artists during lockdown, the future of streaming, what it means to make theatre during this time, and Lambert Jackson Productions streams of The Last Five Years, Songs for A New World, [title of show], and the upcoming I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change.
Australian born Eliza Jackson trained in Musical Theatre at the prestigious NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Art) in Sydney. She moved to London in 2012 and since then, has worked in the theatre industry both on and off stage.
In 2018, Lambert Jackson Productions was born and their first project was to take Eliza’s one-woman show to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The show, The Voice Behind the Stars received 5-star reviews across the board and was then toured around Australia with much success. On her return, she took on the role of Creative Director of Lambert Jackson full time.
I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change will stream at select times between January 28-30, 2021. More info and tickets available from the London Coliseum.
Available wherever you listen to podcasts!
If you like what you hear, subscribe and leave a review!
Topics including making the switch from acting to producing, the joys and challenges of producing virtual theatre content during the pandemic, paying artists during lockdown, the future of streaming, what it means to make theatre during this time, and Lambert Jackson Productions streams of The Last Five Years, Songs for A New World, [title of show], and the upcoming I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change.
Australian born Eliza Jackson trained in Musical Theatre at the prestigious NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Art) in Sydney. She moved to London in 2012 and since then, has worked in the theatre industry both on and off stage.
In 2018, Lambert Jackson Productions was born and their first project was to take Eliza’s one-woman show to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The show, The Voice Behind the Stars received 5-star reviews across the board and was then toured around Australia with much success. On her return, she took on the role of Creative Director of Lambert Jackson full time.
I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change will stream at select times between January 28-30, 2021. More info and tickets available from the London Coliseum.
Available wherever you listen to podcasts!
If you like what you hear, subscribe and leave a review!
- Published on
What do the filmed live musicals Kinky Boots, The King and I, An American in Paris, and Spongebob the Musical all have in common?
If the title of this post didn't already give it away for you, these musicals were all major Broadway productions that were filmed in the UK.
Why are Broadway musicals being filmed in the West End?
There’s nothing wrong with filming shows in the UK, the standard of performance is the same, and there is a rich history of across-the-pond theatrical collaboration. But it is a loss to Broadway history that the original productions, and often the performers that created the roles, are not being captured on film for posterity.
Of the nearly 200 musicals currently in the database (there are approximately 200 more waiting to be added!), only 30 were filmed on Broadway. When you think of the hundreds of musicals that have played on Broadway, that is a tiny percentage of captures.
“But what about TOFT?!” I hear people cry (the Theatre on Film and Tape Archive has come up in almost every single episode of the Filmed Live Musicals podcast to date). Founded in 1970 by the visionary Betty Corwin, TOFT at the New York Public Library is a treasure trove of live theatre captures. Plays and musicals in New York (and further afield) are filmed and made available for “anyone with a New York Public Library card” to view for free at the library. Before you get too excited, you can’t just stroll in and watch every show. You need to make an appointment, and you must have a valid research reason in order to watch. You can’t watch anything currently playing on Broadway, and you only get one viewing.
Limits in funding mean that not *every* show is able to be recorded, and strict licensing and contractual agreements mean the library is not permitted to release the films commercially, or for viewing beyond the restrictions mentioned above. If TOFT were to attempt to change the viewing restrictions currently in place, every contract for every show would be need to be re-negotiated. You would need to find funding to fairly compensate all the performers, creatives, and license holders in the new negotiations, and answer a myriad of questions such as where to stream, for how long, to whom, and how to prevent bootlegging.
So while TOFT is an absolutely amazing resource for folks in New York City, its vast catalog is unlikely to be available to the general public, or for streaming, any time soon.
The issues for why TOFT can’t just stream their catalog carry over to why we simply don’t see more Broadway musicals filmed live: the cost of filming, and complex contract agreements.
It costs millions to mount a Broadway show, and very few Broadway shows recoup, let alone make a profit. According to Broadway producer Ken Davenport, just 1 in 5 Broadway shows recoup their investment. The cost of filming a Broadway show is also in the millions, though specific numbers are not always published.
Just as it is difficult for Broadway shows to recoup, the same can be said of the cost for filming them. As discussed with Tony nominee and founder of Streaming Musicals Paul Gordon on the Filmed Live Musicals podcast, most filmed live musicals need to be made available on a variety of platforms over a long period of time just to cover the costs of filming.
It took until November 2020 for SAG/AFRTRA (the union that covers film and television actors) and Actors' Equity Association (AEA - the union that covers theatre actors) to come to an agreement over who should have control of contracts for streaming theatre. Under the new rules, streams are only allowed on restricted platforms, and viewership cannot exceed “200% of the size of the theater’s house for the contractual run of the production,” or 300% if the theatre has less than 350 seats. Where the streams can be viewed is also limited. Platforms that include “widespread streaming to the general public," such as Disney Plus, Netflix, or HBO, are not permitted.
Katrina Michaels, an AEA Principal Delegate, recently noted that at the end of 2020 Equity also "released new media contracts which both allow the use of archival footage as well as new remote streamed production, and so adds new streams of income for theatres and artists".
Despite these recent changes, there is still a strong belief in the American theatre industry that theatre simply does not belong on screen. Meanwhile, the UK has been enjoying government funded live theatre captures for over a decade. Along with subsidies for filming, lower production costs, and a far simpler union structure, the UK is appealing to Broadway producers seeking to film stage shows.
In the case of The SpongeBob Musical, Nickelodeon flew the entire original cast and crew to the UK, and set up at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth for two days to film the show. The national tour (which was controversially a non-union contract) was performing at the time of filming, why not film the tour, or as in the case of Newsies, bring the original leads in and film a tour performance? Probably something to do with those contracts again!
Just last month, NBC took their production of The Grinch Live to London. Although four of the leads were cast from the United States, the ensemble were all British actors. While there was very little chatter about the show at all, there was even less commentary on the fact that high profile work was being carried out across the pond whilst American actors lost their health insurance and went into month 9 of seeing zero theatre work.
Despite the challenges of the pandemic, independent companies are stepping up to the plate to ensure the show goes on. In the UK, companies such as Southwark Playhouse, Wise Children, Chichester Festival Theatre, Adam Lenson Productions, and Lambert Jackson Productions have streamed live theatre with and without live audiences. And in the US, independent theatres such as Prima Theatre, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, Actors Theatre of Louisville, have worked hard to ensure artists can continue to work, and audiences are entertained.
The US is overdue for a shift in the belief that theatre should be filmed. We need to make it easier to navigate contract agreements, and lower the cost of filming. Unless companies with deeply lined pockets like NBC or Netflix are willing to invest in preserving Broadway performances and making them accessible to the general public -- as in the case of Diana which will be released by Netflix this year -- it is unlikely we will see new releases of Broadway musicals filmed live on Broadway.
If the title of this post didn't already give it away for you, these musicals were all major Broadway productions that were filmed in the UK.
Why are Broadway musicals being filmed in the West End?
There’s nothing wrong with filming shows in the UK, the standard of performance is the same, and there is a rich history of across-the-pond theatrical collaboration. But it is a loss to Broadway history that the original productions, and often the performers that created the roles, are not being captured on film for posterity.
Of the nearly 200 musicals currently in the database (there are approximately 200 more waiting to be added!), only 30 were filmed on Broadway. When you think of the hundreds of musicals that have played on Broadway, that is a tiny percentage of captures.
“But what about TOFT?!” I hear people cry (the Theatre on Film and Tape Archive has come up in almost every single episode of the Filmed Live Musicals podcast to date). Founded in 1970 by the visionary Betty Corwin, TOFT at the New York Public Library is a treasure trove of live theatre captures. Plays and musicals in New York (and further afield) are filmed and made available for “anyone with a New York Public Library card” to view for free at the library. Before you get too excited, you can’t just stroll in and watch every show. You need to make an appointment, and you must have a valid research reason in order to watch. You can’t watch anything currently playing on Broadway, and you only get one viewing.
Limits in funding mean that not *every* show is able to be recorded, and strict licensing and contractual agreements mean the library is not permitted to release the films commercially, or for viewing beyond the restrictions mentioned above. If TOFT were to attempt to change the viewing restrictions currently in place, every contract for every show would be need to be re-negotiated. You would need to find funding to fairly compensate all the performers, creatives, and license holders in the new negotiations, and answer a myriad of questions such as where to stream, for how long, to whom, and how to prevent bootlegging.
So while TOFT is an absolutely amazing resource for folks in New York City, its vast catalog is unlikely to be available to the general public, or for streaming, any time soon.
The issues for why TOFT can’t just stream their catalog carry over to why we simply don’t see more Broadway musicals filmed live: the cost of filming, and complex contract agreements.
It costs millions to mount a Broadway show, and very few Broadway shows recoup, let alone make a profit. According to Broadway producer Ken Davenport, just 1 in 5 Broadway shows recoup their investment. The cost of filming a Broadway show is also in the millions, though specific numbers are not always published.
Just as it is difficult for Broadway shows to recoup, the same can be said of the cost for filming them. As discussed with Tony nominee and founder of Streaming Musicals Paul Gordon on the Filmed Live Musicals podcast, most filmed live musicals need to be made available on a variety of platforms over a long period of time just to cover the costs of filming.
It took until November 2020 for SAG/AFRTRA (the union that covers film and television actors) and Actors' Equity Association (AEA - the union that covers theatre actors) to come to an agreement over who should have control of contracts for streaming theatre. Under the new rules, streams are only allowed on restricted platforms, and viewership cannot exceed “200% of the size of the theater’s house for the contractual run of the production,” or 300% if the theatre has less than 350 seats. Where the streams can be viewed is also limited. Platforms that include “widespread streaming to the general public," such as Disney Plus, Netflix, or HBO, are not permitted.
Katrina Michaels, an AEA Principal Delegate, recently noted that at the end of 2020 Equity also "released new media contracts which both allow the use of archival footage as well as new remote streamed production, and so adds new streams of income for theatres and artists".
Despite these recent changes, there is still a strong belief in the American theatre industry that theatre simply does not belong on screen. Meanwhile, the UK has been enjoying government funded live theatre captures for over a decade. Along with subsidies for filming, lower production costs, and a far simpler union structure, the UK is appealing to Broadway producers seeking to film stage shows.
In the case of The SpongeBob Musical, Nickelodeon flew the entire original cast and crew to the UK, and set up at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth for two days to film the show. The national tour (which was controversially a non-union contract) was performing at the time of filming, why not film the tour, or as in the case of Newsies, bring the original leads in and film a tour performance? Probably something to do with those contracts again!
Just last month, NBC took their production of The Grinch Live to London. Although four of the leads were cast from the United States, the ensemble were all British actors. While there was very little chatter about the show at all, there was even less commentary on the fact that high profile work was being carried out across the pond whilst American actors lost their health insurance and went into month 9 of seeing zero theatre work.
Despite the challenges of the pandemic, independent companies are stepping up to the plate to ensure the show goes on. In the UK, companies such as Southwark Playhouse, Wise Children, Chichester Festival Theatre, Adam Lenson Productions, and Lambert Jackson Productions have streamed live theatre with and without live audiences. And in the US, independent theatres such as Prima Theatre, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, Actors Theatre of Louisville, have worked hard to ensure artists can continue to work, and audiences are entertained.
The US is overdue for a shift in the belief that theatre should be filmed. We need to make it easier to navigate contract agreements, and lower the cost of filming. Unless companies with deeply lined pockets like NBC or Netflix are willing to invest in preserving Broadway performances and making them accessible to the general public -- as in the case of Diana which will be released by Netflix this year -- it is unlikely we will see new releases of Broadway musicals filmed live on Broadway.
- Published on
This week on the podcast, I interview British director and producer Adam Lenson! We had a great time chatting about Merrily We Roll Along, what should we call filmed theatre, Signal Online, Alt+Right+Shift, making new work without a theatre, filming theatre without an audience, and more!
Based in London, Adam Lenson is a director, producer, dramaturg, and musical theatre specialist. He was recently included in The Stage 100, a list recognizing theatremakers for their extraordinary achievements in 2020. He is the founder Signal and Signal Online, programs for incubating new musical theatre, Make Your Own Musicals which provides activity packs for children, and Theatrical Solutions which offers affordable solutions for theatrical livestreaming.
As a director, original works include WASTED (World Premiere, Southwark Playhouse), SUPERHERO (World Premiere, Southwark Playhouse), THE SORROWS OF SATAN (World Premiere, Tristan Bates Theatre), LOCK AND KEY (World Premiere, Vault Festival), THE LEFTOVERS (World Premiere, National Tour). Other works include THE RINK (Southwark Playhouse), THE STORM (Helios Collective/ENO), 35MM (The Other Palace), WHISPER HOUSE (The Other Palace), SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD (St James Theatre, 20th Anniversary Production), DISGRACED (English Theatre Frankfurt), DARK TOURISM (Park Theatre), GHOST (GSA), SEE WHAT I WANNA SEE (Jermyn Street Theatre), REEL LIFE (Ustinov Theatre Bath and St James Studio), THE GOODBYE GIRL (Upstairs at the Gatehouse), WEST END RECAST (Duke of York’s Theatre, Phoenix Theatre), ORDINARY DAYS (Trafalgar Studios), LITTLE FISH and SATURN RETURNS (Finborough Theatre), COME FLY WITH ME (Salisbury Playhouse), THE DEAD GUY (English Theatre Frankfurt) and THE FAMILY (Old Vic US/UK Exchange, Public Theater, NY).
You can learn more about Adam at www.adamlenson.com and follow him on Instagram and Twitter.
Tickets to Public Domain, streaming live on Jan 15 and 16 2021, are available at Southwark Playhouse.
Based in London, Adam Lenson is a director, producer, dramaturg, and musical theatre specialist. He was recently included in The Stage 100, a list recognizing theatremakers for their extraordinary achievements in 2020. He is the founder Signal and Signal Online, programs for incubating new musical theatre, Make Your Own Musicals which provides activity packs for children, and Theatrical Solutions which offers affordable solutions for theatrical livestreaming.
As a director, original works include WASTED (World Premiere, Southwark Playhouse), SUPERHERO (World Premiere, Southwark Playhouse), THE SORROWS OF SATAN (World Premiere, Tristan Bates Theatre), LOCK AND KEY (World Premiere, Vault Festival), THE LEFTOVERS (World Premiere, National Tour). Other works include THE RINK (Southwark Playhouse), THE STORM (Helios Collective/ENO), 35MM (The Other Palace), WHISPER HOUSE (The Other Palace), SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD (St James Theatre, 20th Anniversary Production), DISGRACED (English Theatre Frankfurt), DARK TOURISM (Park Theatre), GHOST (GSA), SEE WHAT I WANNA SEE (Jermyn Street Theatre), REEL LIFE (Ustinov Theatre Bath and St James Studio), THE GOODBYE GIRL (Upstairs at the Gatehouse), WEST END RECAST (Duke of York’s Theatre, Phoenix Theatre), ORDINARY DAYS (Trafalgar Studios), LITTLE FISH and SATURN RETURNS (Finborough Theatre), COME FLY WITH ME (Salisbury Playhouse), THE DEAD GUY (English Theatre Frankfurt) and THE FAMILY (Old Vic US/UK Exchange, Public Theater, NY).
You can learn more about Adam at www.adamlenson.com and follow him on Instagram and Twitter.
Tickets to Public Domain, streaming live on Jan 15 and 16 2021, are available at Southwark Playhouse.
- Published on
Coming up in 2021, you may see a few less blog posts from me as I attempt to catch-up on the back log of musicals in the database. When I wrote my thesis on filmed live musicals back in 2012, I had a list of about 80 musicals. By the end of 2020, that list has exploded to over 350 musicals, only 185 of which are currently in searchable database! And that doesn’t even include musicals filmed without an audience or “zoomsicals” (musicals performed over zoom). That’s a lot of musicals to write up!
I want to continue spotlighting musicals by a diverse range of artists from around the world, especially musicals by women and people of color, and musicals in languages other than English.
The Filmed Live Musicals Podcast will continue to feature artists, creators, and industry specialists who make filmed live musical theatre.
I will continue to update the Filmed Live Musicals calendar, If you want to make sure you don't miss when musicals are screening, make sure to sign up for the weekly newsletter!
I’m hoping that as the vaccine is rolled out, I can return to focusing on stage musicals that have been filmed live with an audience present!
Filmed Live Musicals is very much a labor of love. Thank you to my wonderful patrons for helping to offset the financial cost of running the site. No matter what level you pledge at, every patron receives early access to content and the podcast.
And to everyone who has signed up for the weekly newsletter, downloaded the podcast, and shared a love of filmed live musical theatre with me, thank you!
IIIIIII’ll drink to that!
I want to continue spotlighting musicals by a diverse range of artists from around the world, especially musicals by women and people of color, and musicals in languages other than English.
The Filmed Live Musicals Podcast will continue to feature artists, creators, and industry specialists who make filmed live musical theatre.
I will continue to update the Filmed Live Musicals calendar, If you want to make sure you don't miss when musicals are screening, make sure to sign up for the weekly newsletter!
I’m hoping that as the vaccine is rolled out, I can return to focusing on stage musicals that have been filmed live with an audience present!
Filmed Live Musicals is very much a labor of love. Thank you to my wonderful patrons for helping to offset the financial cost of running the site. No matter what level you pledge at, every patron receives early access to content and the podcast.
And to everyone who has signed up for the weekly newsletter, downloaded the podcast, and shared a love of filmed live musical theatre with me, thank you!
IIIIIII’ll drink to that!
Thank you to patrons Rachel Esteban, Mercedes Esteban-Lyons, Al Monaco, David Negrin, Jesse Rabinowitz & Brenda Goodman, David & Katherine Rabinowitz, and Bec Twist, for financially supporting Filmed Live Musicals.
- Published on
So, 2020, huh?! It has been a tumultuous, painful, bizarre year with so much loss, grief, and uncertainty. But on the other side of darkness, there is light. And if one good thing has come out of the pandemic, it’s that filmed live theatre content is more available than ever. From Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Shows Must Go Online, The National Theatre and Met Opera’s weekly streams, Disney+ releasing Hamilton, to smaller independent theatres like Southwark Playhouse, Wise Children, or Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe releasing previously filmed content, and creating new musicals to stream.
This year I launched the Filmed Live Musicals podcast. I chatted with director and writer Al Monaco, Tony nominee Brenda Braxton, the founder of Scenesaver Caroline Friedman, the executive director of Sarasota’s Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe Julie Leach, dancer and engineer Lena Wolfe, actor and puppeteer David Colston Corris, actor and producer Kimberly Faye Greenberg, academic Kelly Kessler, dancer and associate choreographer Barry Busby, collector Robert Sokol, and the award-winning composer Paul Gordon! The Filmed Live Musicals podcast is available for download wherever you listen to podcasts, and transcripts are available for each episode.
The Filmed Live Musicals database currently has information on nearly 200 musicals. The list I’m currently working on has almost twice that! And that’s not even including musicals that have been filmed without an audience, or the new genre of “zoomsicals”, musicals performed over Zoom.
In 2021, I’m looking forward to continuing to grow the site, learning about new filmed live musicals, and spotlighting artists from all around the world who make them happen.
The Filmed Live Musicals database currently has information on nearly 200 musicals. The list I’m currently working on has almost twice that! And that’s not even including musicals that have been filmed without an audience, or the new genre of “zoomsicals”, musicals performed over Zoom.
In 2021, I’m looking forward to continuing to grow the site, learning about new filmed live musicals, and spotlighting artists from all around the world who make them happen.
My Favorite Things (2020)
To close out 2020, here's a list (in no particular order) of my favorite filmed live musicals released this year!
Wise Children
Based on Angela Carter’s novel of the same name Wise Children tells the epic story of show biz twins Dora and Nora Chance. Produced by Emma Rice’s new company Wise Children and filmed live at the York Theatre Royal in March, 2019. It was briefly available online via the Bristol Old Vic and BBC iPlayer.
Why I loved it: Whimsical, joyful, and heart-breaking story-telling, cross-gender and cross-racial casting.
Based on Angela Carter’s novel of the same name Wise Children tells the epic story of show biz twins Dora and Nora Chance. Produced by Emma Rice’s new company Wise Children and filmed live at the York Theatre Royal in March, 2019. It was briefly available online via the Bristol Old Vic and BBC iPlayer.
Why I loved it: Whimsical, joyful, and heart-breaking story-telling, cross-gender and cross-racial casting.
Your Arms Too Short to Box with God
Based on the Book of Matthew, Vinnette Carroll’s soaring celebration in song and dance of the story of Jesus. Produced by Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, and filmed live in 2020. Not currently available to view — although WBTT Executive Director Julie Leach mentioned on the podcast that it might be available again at Easter!
Why I loved it: Glorious music with outstanding performances. Even though the film was not super high quality, it beautifully captured the energy and joyousness of the performance.
Based on the Book of Matthew, Vinnette Carroll’s soaring celebration in song and dance of the story of Jesus. Produced by Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, and filmed live in 2020. Not currently available to view — although WBTT Executive Director Julie Leach mentioned on the podcast that it might be available again at Easter!
Why I loved it: Glorious music with outstanding performances. Even though the film was not super high quality, it beautifully captured the energy and joyousness of the performance.
Passion Project in Concert
A song cycle about twelve unsung women from history who sing to their great loves: the object of their careers. An aviator sings to her airplane, an acrobat to her tightrope, an astronomer to her comet. Filmed live in 2019 at The Green Room 42. Available on Facebook.
Why I loved it: A show about women and history, I’m sold! Written and produced by an all-female-identifying team. Great music with solid performances.
A song cycle about twelve unsung women from history who sing to their great loves: the object of their careers. An aviator sings to her airplane, an acrobat to her tightrope, an astronomer to her comet. Filmed live in 2019 at The Green Room 42. Available on Facebook.
Why I loved it: A show about women and history, I’m sold! Written and produced by an all-female-identifying team. Great music with solid performances.
Wasted
A “rocumentary,” or documentary rock musical, about the Brontë family. Filmed live at Southwark Playhouse in 2018. Not currently available to view.
Why I loved it: I’m a sucker for historical musicals re-told with rock music. The film did a great job of capturing the raw and gutsy energy of the show.
A “rocumentary,” or documentary rock musical, about the Brontë family. Filmed live at Southwark Playhouse in 2018. Not currently available to view.
Why I loved it: I’m a sucker for historical musicals re-told with rock music. The film did a great job of capturing the raw and gutsy energy of the show.
Fabulous Fanny Brice
A one-woman musical about the life of Fanny Brice. Written and performed by Kimberly Faye Greenberg. Available to stream on select dates via Stellar.
Why I loved it: KimberIy Faye Greenberg is a hoot (I even got to interview her on the podcast)! I learnt new things about Fanny Brice, and her songbook has some of the best songs of the 20th century!
A one-woman musical about the life of Fanny Brice. Written and performed by Kimberly Faye Greenberg. Available to stream on select dates via Stellar.
Why I loved it: KimberIy Faye Greenberg is a hoot (I even got to interview her on the podcast)! I learnt new things about Fanny Brice, and her songbook has some of the best songs of the 20th century!
Only the Brave
Based on true stories, Only the Brave follows Captain John Howard and Lieutenant Denholm Brotheridge, and their wives Joy and Maggie, as the soldiers prepare for the D-Day landings. Filmed live at the Wales Millennium Centre in 2016. Available on Vimeo.
Why I loved it: A moving portrayal of harrowing events from World War II.
Based on true stories, Only the Brave follows Captain John Howard and Lieutenant Denholm Brotheridge, and their wives Joy and Maggie, as the soldiers prepare for the D-Day landings. Filmed live at the Wales Millennium Centre in 2016. Available on Vimeo.
Why I loved it: A moving portrayal of harrowing events from World War II.
Pinocchio
Chichester Festival Theatre have streamed several excellent shows this year, and it seems unfair to pick just one! Pinocchio is a new adaptation of the classic children’s book by Anna Ledwich, with music by Tom Brady. Produced by Chichester Festival Youth Theatre and performed and streamed live in December 2020. Not currently available to view.
Why I loved it: Gorgeous staging, inventive, playful, and performed by an outrageously talented cast of young performers. The show itself was delightful, but made even more impressive by the fact that it was rehearsed and performed with a cast of over 50 kids during the pandemic with social distancing!
Chichester Festival Theatre have streamed several excellent shows this year, and it seems unfair to pick just one! Pinocchio is a new adaptation of the classic children’s book by Anna Ledwich, with music by Tom Brady. Produced by Chichester Festival Youth Theatre and performed and streamed live in December 2020. Not currently available to view.
Why I loved it: Gorgeous staging, inventive, playful, and performed by an outrageously talented cast of young performers. The show itself was delightful, but made even more impressive by the fact that it was rehearsed and performed with a cast of over 50 kids during the pandemic with social distancing!
Count Orlov
The Moscow Operetta Theatre’s epic musical set in 18th century Russia, telling the story of Count Orlov and his love affair with Elizabeth, who claims to be rightful heir to the Russian throne.
Why I loved it: The COSTUMES. The EMOTIONS. The POWER BALLADS. Truly, it was so pretty to look at.
The Moscow Operetta Theatre’s epic musical set in 18th century Russia, telling the story of Count Orlov and his love affair with Elizabeth, who claims to be rightful heir to the Russian throne.
Why I loved it: The COSTUMES. The EMOTIONS. The POWER BALLADS. Truly, it was so pretty to look at.
Hamilton
The Broadway smash hit about Founding Father Alexander Hamilton. Told through a blend of hip-hop, musical theatre, and featuring a racially diverse cast. Filmed live at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in 2016.
Why I loved it: One of the biggest Broadway musicals of the 21st century captured live with most of the original cast and streamed on a platform available at an affordable price across the planet?! What's not to love?!
The Broadway smash hit about Founding Father Alexander Hamilton. Told through a blend of hip-hop, musical theatre, and featuring a racially diverse cast. Filmed live at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in 2016.
Why I loved it: One of the biggest Broadway musicals of the 21st century captured live with most of the original cast and streamed on a platform available at an affordable price across the planet?! What's not to love?!
Beardo
An early musical by Dave Malloy (Great Comet, Octet) about the life of Rasputin. Filmed live for archival purposes in 2011 at Ashby Stage.
Why I loved it: Much like Rasputin himself, the musical was dark, creepy, and disturbing. Even though it was filmed with one camera at the back of a black box theatre, it was so great to be able to see this little gem.
An early musical by Dave Malloy (Great Comet, Octet) about the life of Rasputin. Filmed live for archival purposes in 2011 at Ashby Stage.
Why I loved it: Much like Rasputin himself, the musical was dark, creepy, and disturbing. Even though it was filmed with one camera at the back of a black box theatre, it was so great to be able to see this little gem.
Filmed Live Without an Audience
Papi Piernas Largas
Spanish language production of Daddy Long Legs filmed live in Mexico City. Not currently available to view.
Why I loved it: Daddy Long Legs is one of my favorite musicals, and the chance to see it in Spanish was wonderful.
Spanish language production of Daddy Long Legs filmed live in Mexico City. Not currently available to view.
Why I loved it: Daddy Long Legs is one of my favorite musicals, and the chance to see it in Spanish was wonderful.
Fiver
A new musical about the life of a £5 note as it is passed through the hands and pockets of people in London. Presented in concert by Southwark Playhouse. Not currently available to view.
Why I loved it: The energy of the cast was palpable. Great score, with some killer vocals.
A new musical about the life of a £5 note as it is passed through the hands and pockets of people in London. Presented in concert by Southwark Playhouse. Not currently available to view.
Why I loved it: The energy of the cast was palpable. Great score, with some killer vocals.
Zoomsicals (musicals performed online/virtually)
Who’s Your Baghdaddy?
Australian virtual production of the off-Broadway satirical musical about a support group for the people who started the Iraq War. Available to stream via Curveball Creative and BroadwayHD.
Why I loved it: Hands down one of the best zoom-musicals made in 2020. A technical and artistic feat with an incredible cast.
Australian virtual production of the off-Broadway satirical musical about a support group for the people who started the Iraq War. Available to stream via Curveball Creative and BroadwayHD.
Why I loved it: Hands down one of the best zoom-musicals made in 2020. A technical and artistic feat with an incredible cast.
Into the Woods by Deaf Broadway
A split-screen stream of the original Broadway production of Into the Woods, with actors performing in American Sign Language (ASL). Not currently available to view.
Why I loved it: Actors who can sign are incredibly watchable. The production was inventive, beautifully performed, and best of all, made a piece of iconic theatre more accessible to people in the Deaf community.
A split-screen stream of the original Broadway production of Into the Woods, with actors performing in American Sign Language (ASL). Not currently available to view.
Why I loved it: Actors who can sign are incredibly watchable. The production was inventive, beautifully performed, and best of all, made a piece of iconic theatre more accessible to people in the Deaf community.
Where Did We Sit on the Bus?
Not exactly a “musical,” but it had to go on the list. Produced by Actor’s Theatre of Louisville, this one person piece by Brian Quijada comprises spoken word, rap, and hip-hop to explore the experience of growing up in an immigrant family and finding identity in making art. Available to stream until May 31, 2021 via Actor’s Theatre of Louisville.
Why I loved it: Satya Chávez is phenomenal. The piece is a brilliant intersection of music, art, history, and commentary on American politics.
Not exactly a “musical,” but it had to go on the list. Produced by Actor’s Theatre of Louisville, this one person piece by Brian Quijada comprises spoken word, rap, and hip-hop to explore the experience of growing up in an immigrant family and finding identity in making art. Available to stream until May 31, 2021 via Actor’s Theatre of Louisville.
Why I loved it: Satya Chávez is phenomenal. The piece is a brilliant intersection of music, art, history, and commentary on American politics.
Bonus Play
Emil!a
A play about Emilia Bassano, the woman who may have been Shakespeare’s muse. Filmed for archival purposes in the West End at the Vaudeville Theatre. Not currently available to view.
Why I loved it: A historic woman of color reclaiming her voice through the centuries? Yes please! The play is visceral and moving, with gorgeous use of music on stage. Coupled with powerhouse performances, and you have a brilliant night of theatre.
A play about Emilia Bassano, the woman who may have been Shakespeare’s muse. Filmed for archival purposes in the West End at the Vaudeville Theatre. Not currently available to view.
Why I loved it: A historic woman of color reclaiming her voice through the centuries? Yes please! The play is visceral and moving, with gorgeous use of music on stage. Coupled with powerhouse performances, and you have a brilliant night of theatre.
What did you see this year that you loved?
Let me know in the comments, or on Twitter and Facebook!
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Let me know in the comments, or on Twitter and Facebook!
Don’t want to miss upcoming streams?
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It's the final episode for 2020 of the Filmed Live Musicals podcast!
This week, I chat with writer, designer, and publisher Robert Sokol. We talk about Robert’s extensive cast recording collection, cast recordings in languages other than English, how changing the language affects a musical, the pros and cons of recordings going digital, Japanese takarazuka theatre, watching theatre online, and more!
Robert Sokol is a writer, designer, publisher, and producer. Credits include leadership roles with the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle, the TBA Awards program, and the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA), as well as concerts, conferences, and other events from New York to Los Angeles. Robert and his husband Ron Willis own VIA MEDIA, which provides playbill publishing and other creative services as BAYSTAGES. A Munich native, he has been collecting musical cast recordings for half a century and specializes in translations of Broadway and West End musicals. You can follow Robert on Facebook.
Available wherever you listen to podcasts! If you like what you hear, make sure to subscribe, and rate and review us!
This week, I chat with writer, designer, and publisher Robert Sokol. We talk about Robert’s extensive cast recording collection, cast recordings in languages other than English, how changing the language affects a musical, the pros and cons of recordings going digital, Japanese takarazuka theatre, watching theatre online, and more!
Robert Sokol is a writer, designer, publisher, and producer. Credits include leadership roles with the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle, the TBA Awards program, and the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA), as well as concerts, conferences, and other events from New York to Los Angeles. Robert and his husband Ron Willis own VIA MEDIA, which provides playbill publishing and other creative services as BAYSTAGES. A Munich native, he has been collecting musical cast recordings for half a century and specializes in translations of Broadway and West End musicals. You can follow Robert on Facebook.
Available wherever you listen to podcasts! If you like what you hear, make sure to subscribe, and rate and review us!
- Published on
When I wrote my Masters thesis on Filmed Live Musicals back in 2012, there was exactly ONE online platform dedicated to streaming musical theatre, the UK’s Digital Theatre. Over the past nine years, especially the past year, online streaming has boomed. There are now over a dozen streaming services providing filmed live theatre content including BroadwayHD, Broadway on Demand, Streaming Musicals and more!
Two new platforms have launched in the past month, Stage2View and stream.theatre.
Stage2View is a new pay-per-view streaming service based in the UK. Launched in mid-November, the platform is aiming to provide live theatre and music content.
The platform was founded by Austin Shaw, Joshua Andrews, and Stuart Galbraith, a team with quite a bit of experience in filmed live musicals. Shaw also runs Stage2View Films, which co-produced the captures of The Phantom of the Opera, The King & I, 42nd Street and Kinky Boots. Andrews and Galbraith are the founders of Kilimanjaro, the UK’s leading music act promoters, who also Kilimanjaro Theatrical which co-produced An American in Paris. Their other other Broadway and West End credits include Pretty Woman, Noises Off, 9 to 5 The Musical, Hadestown, and Mrs Doubtfire.
The Stage2View catalogue currently only contains 9 titles (all of which are already available on BroadwayHD), however the catalogue is expected to grow once theatres re-open for business. Current titles include 42nd Street, Kinky Boots, From Here to Eternity: The Musical, An American in Paris, The Wind in the Willows: The Musical, Hetty Feather, Ruthless! The Musical, and The Toxic Avenger.
stream.theatre is the British division of Broadway on Demand. Launched in September 2020, the company aims to be provide an accessible platform for streaming theatre content. Current titles include NAMT’s 32nd Annual Festival of New Musicals, Falling Stars, The Last Five Years, two concerts filmed live at St Paul’s Church A West End Christmas and We Need a Little Christmas, and E15 Jazz Sessions recorded live from Stratford Circus Arts Centre.
It’s not a platform (yet), but Sony have announced they now have a 50% ownership of Seaview, the theatre company behind the Broadway productions Slave Play and Sea Wall/A Life. Between the two companies, upcoming stage productions include Sing Street, a musical adaptation of the film that was scheduled to open on Broadway just after the shutdown, and Lempicka, a new musical directed by Rachel Chavkin about the life of artist Tamara de Lempicka. I have a pretty good feeling that Sony will be jumping into the streaming market before too long.
What platforms are you using to watch filmed live theatre? Since the beginning of the pandemic, I've been keeping a running list of where to find streams. Visit Filmed Live Musicals to learn more.
Two new platforms have launched in the past month, Stage2View and stream.theatre.
Stage2View is a new pay-per-view streaming service based in the UK. Launched in mid-November, the platform is aiming to provide live theatre and music content.
The platform was founded by Austin Shaw, Joshua Andrews, and Stuart Galbraith, a team with quite a bit of experience in filmed live musicals. Shaw also runs Stage2View Films, which co-produced the captures of The Phantom of the Opera, The King & I, 42nd Street and Kinky Boots. Andrews and Galbraith are the founders of Kilimanjaro, the UK’s leading music act promoters, who also Kilimanjaro Theatrical which co-produced An American in Paris. Their other other Broadway and West End credits include Pretty Woman, Noises Off, 9 to 5 The Musical, Hadestown, and Mrs Doubtfire.
The Stage2View catalogue currently only contains 9 titles (all of which are already available on BroadwayHD), however the catalogue is expected to grow once theatres re-open for business. Current titles include 42nd Street, Kinky Boots, From Here to Eternity: The Musical, An American in Paris, The Wind in the Willows: The Musical, Hetty Feather, Ruthless! The Musical, and The Toxic Avenger.
stream.theatre is the British division of Broadway on Demand. Launched in September 2020, the company aims to be provide an accessible platform for streaming theatre content. Current titles include NAMT’s 32nd Annual Festival of New Musicals, Falling Stars, The Last Five Years, two concerts filmed live at St Paul’s Church A West End Christmas and We Need a Little Christmas, and E15 Jazz Sessions recorded live from Stratford Circus Arts Centre.
It’s not a platform (yet), but Sony have announced they now have a 50% ownership of Seaview, the theatre company behind the Broadway productions Slave Play and Sea Wall/A Life. Between the two companies, upcoming stage productions include Sing Street, a musical adaptation of the film that was scheduled to open on Broadway just after the shutdown, and Lempicka, a new musical directed by Rachel Chavkin about the life of artist Tamara de Lempicka. I have a pretty good feeling that Sony will be jumping into the streaming market before too long.
What platforms are you using to watch filmed live theatre? Since the beginning of the pandemic, I've been keeping a running list of where to find streams. Visit Filmed Live Musicals to learn more.
- Published on
This week on the podcast, I chat Tony nominated composer Paul Gordon.
Topics include Jane Eyre, Daddy Long Legs, how union rules impact artists, the differences between subscription and pay-per-view models, why filming musicals is important, and making theatre more accessible, sustainable, and fair.
Paul Gordon was nominated for a 2001 Tony Award for composing the music and lyrics to the musical Jane Eyre. He won the 2015 Jeff Award for Best New Work for his book, music and lyrics for Sense and Sensibility, commissioned by Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. His critically acclaimed stage musicals, EMMA and PRIDE AND PREJUDICE are available to stream on Amazon Prime. He is the recipient of the 2009 Ovation Award for his music and lyrics to Daddy Long Legs which has had productions all over the world, including Off-Broadway, where it was nominated for 2 Drama Desk Awards, an Off-Broadway Alliance Award and 3 Outer Critic Circle awards. Daddy Long Legs was also the first off-Broadway musical to be livestreamed. No One Called Ahead was filmed and released in June of 2019. Knight’s Tale, written with John Caird, opened at the Imperial Theatre in Tokyo in 2018 while the concert version debuted in 2020 with the Tokyo Philharmonic. His other shows include: Being Earnest, Estella Scrooge: A Christmas Carol with a Twist, Analog and Vinyl, Stellar Atmospheres, The Front, Juliet and Romeo, Sleepy Hollow, The Circle and The Sportswriter. In his former life, Paul was a pop songwriter and wrote several number one hits.
Learn more about Paul Gordon at www.paul-gordon.weebly.com/ and follow him on Twitter.
Topics include Jane Eyre, Daddy Long Legs, how union rules impact artists, the differences between subscription and pay-per-view models, why filming musicals is important, and making theatre more accessible, sustainable, and fair.
Paul Gordon was nominated for a 2001 Tony Award for composing the music and lyrics to the musical Jane Eyre. He won the 2015 Jeff Award for Best New Work for his book, music and lyrics for Sense and Sensibility, commissioned by Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. His critically acclaimed stage musicals, EMMA and PRIDE AND PREJUDICE are available to stream on Amazon Prime. He is the recipient of the 2009 Ovation Award for his music and lyrics to Daddy Long Legs which has had productions all over the world, including Off-Broadway, where it was nominated for 2 Drama Desk Awards, an Off-Broadway Alliance Award and 3 Outer Critic Circle awards. Daddy Long Legs was also the first off-Broadway musical to be livestreamed. No One Called Ahead was filmed and released in June of 2019. Knight’s Tale, written with John Caird, opened at the Imperial Theatre in Tokyo in 2018 while the concert version debuted in 2020 with the Tokyo Philharmonic. His other shows include: Being Earnest, Estella Scrooge: A Christmas Carol with a Twist, Analog and Vinyl, Stellar Atmospheres, The Front, Juliet and Romeo, Sleepy Hollow, The Circle and The Sportswriter. In his former life, Paul was a pop songwriter and wrote several number one hits.
Learn more about Paul Gordon at www.paul-gordon.weebly.com/ and follow him on Twitter.
- Published on
In episode 10 of the Filmed Live Musicals podcast, I chat with Broadway dancer and associate choreographer Barry Busby! We talk about Starlight Express, being a swing, the work of an associate choreographer, creating the incredible jump rope number in Holiday Inn, and more!
Barry Busby is a Texas native, MFA graduate from the University of Oklahoma, and has lived in NYC for over 11 years where he just recently closed the 11-time Tony nominated production of Tootsie. He has been the Associate choreographer to Denis Jones for over 8 years and together they have collaborated on Broadway, all over the country, and internationally on over 40 productions. His Broadway credits include: Honeymoon in Vegas, Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn, Sunset Boulevard starring Glenn Close, and Tootsie. Regionally he has worked at some of North America‘s most prominent theatres including: The MUNY, Goodspeed, Papermill Playhouse, The Kennedy Center, Dallas Theatre Center, TUTS, The Alley Theatre,and Williamstown Theatre Festival. In 2014 and 2016 he was featured on the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and most recently in the 73rd annual Tony Awards hosted by James Corden. When his schedule allows, Barry travels the world teaching master classes to the next generation of musical theatre hopefuls.
Holiday Inn is currently available to stream on BroadwayHD and on PBS Passport!
Learn more about Barry at www.barrybusby.com and follow him on Instagram!
Barry Busby is a Texas native, MFA graduate from the University of Oklahoma, and has lived in NYC for over 11 years where he just recently closed the 11-time Tony nominated production of Tootsie. He has been the Associate choreographer to Denis Jones for over 8 years and together they have collaborated on Broadway, all over the country, and internationally on over 40 productions. His Broadway credits include: Honeymoon in Vegas, Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn, Sunset Boulevard starring Glenn Close, and Tootsie. Regionally he has worked at some of North America‘s most prominent theatres including: The MUNY, Goodspeed, Papermill Playhouse, The Kennedy Center, Dallas Theatre Center, TUTS, The Alley Theatre,and Williamstown Theatre Festival. In 2014 and 2016 he was featured on the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and most recently in the 73rd annual Tony Awards hosted by James Corden. When his schedule allows, Barry travels the world teaching master classes to the next generation of musical theatre hopefuls.
Holiday Inn is currently available to stream on BroadwayHD and on PBS Passport!
Learn more about Barry at www.barrybusby.com and follow him on Instagram!
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