Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You! The Stars of SHE LOVES ME Get Ready for the Big Screen

A few weeks ago, BroadwayWorld shared the news that Fathom Events has teamed with theatre streaming service, BroadwayHD, to bring the critically acclaimed Roundabout Theatre Company production of SHE LOVES ME to cinemas nationwide on Thursday, December 1, 2016.

Earlier this month, BroadwayHD had an advanced screening of the final film in New York City, and BroadwayWorld had a chance to talk to some of the stars of the production, as well as the producers behind BroadwayHD, about how they felt about the finished product.

When he saw himself on screen for the first time, Nicholas Barasch said that it... "was pretty bizarre. Sometimes I would look at my face and be like: 'Is that really what my face looks like?' But it was fun and to kind of combine mediums was pretty great."

Zachary Levi had more of a comical take on it. "Me watching myself do it is a little out of body," he said. "Particularly the curtain call, because I'm no longer George, I'm me at that point. So, I think, 'Is this like a weird home movie that's shot really, really well?'"

Laura Benanti seemed to loved the final product. "It was so exciting," she exclaimed. "I sort of hate watching myself but I sort of loved watching the actual, beautiful show and everybody's performances. I'm so happy that this iconic musical is preserved. They really did such an incredible job putting this together. It looks amazing and you really feel like you're in the theatre. I don't know how they did it, but they made you feel like you're sitting in the house, watching the show."

Fathom Events and BroadwayHD will partner to bring select domestic (Broadway/Off-Broadway) and international (London's West End) theatre performances to U.S. cinemas. The partnership is expected to bring a diverse lineup of productions to cinemas each year, giving moviegoers an up-close and personal front-row experience.

This partnership is a new way to get audiences across the world to experience Broadway, from wherever they are, and the stars know that. "People have been bootlegging musicals and putting them on Youtube for a long time," stated Benanti, "and that's not how they're meant to be seen. Although, I do know that for some people that's the only way that they get to see a musical, so I understand the value of it. This, for me, is so perfect, because it is a collaboration between theatre and film. They filmed in such a way that the intention and the spirit of our show comes through in such a beautiful way. So, the idea that people who are unable to come to New York City are going to be seeing a musical, especially this particular musical, is so heartwarming. And what I hope is that this will inspire them to go to their local theatre or to see a tour when it comes through. Some people aren't even able to leave their homes, and they deserve joy, too."

So, what's the next step for BroadwayHD? Producer Bonnie Comley stated that BroadwayHD is ever expanding. "Just like any internet entertainment website," she explained, "we're adding content all of the time. So, every time you come, you notice that there's something added, there's something else there. We're licensing from other producers and we're shooting more ourselves. We're also talking to people who actually develop that and put that into their contracts as they're going to think about what their season is, coming up."

Fellow Producer, and Bonnie's partner in BroadwayHD, Stewart Lane, teased about what the future of the website would look like. "We're expanding our platform so it's our own website, it's in cinema, and we're talking to colleges and universities as well as the military. We want everyone to have access to this kind of entertainment."

Tickets for SHE LOVES ME can be purchased either online by visiting www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices. Fans throughout the U.S. will be able to enjoy the event in nearly 500 select movie theaters. For a complete list of theater locations visit the Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change).

Photo Credit: Getty Images for BroadwayHD