Recordings of Broadway Plays

[faithzilla]

Where do video recordings of Broadway plays go? In some secret hidden vault?

I've been dying to see videos of plays (Proof in particular) but they appear to have been recorded for posterity (since there's clips for the Tonys) and can't be viewed by the public.

[bobs3]

Lincoln Center Library for the Performing Arts owns the collection. The videos are not available for viewing by the general public nor can they be checked out for home viewing.

FROM THE LC LIBRARY WEBSITE: "The Archive is available to theatre professionals, students, or researchers with work or study-related reasons for viewing. Advance appointments are strongly recommended for viewing."

[Jordan Catalano]

Go to Lincoln Center and watch them. It's very easy.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Producers also shoot portions of the show for what is called B-roll. That footage is usually what you see when you see clips on tv, commercials, and other press footage. In addition they are now allowed to shoot an archival copy that can be used by stage management for understudy and put-in rehearsals as a reference, as well as training new stage management staff (subs, replacements, etc). Both B-roll footage and the archival/reference recordings remain in control of the producers/management.

[Kelly2]

There's a myriad of approved reasons to watch videos in the collection, an actress friend of mine claims research for a role. But if you work in the industry in any capacity or are a student, it's very easy to get in.

[faithzilla]

Thank you all! This is very helpful!

[Gothampc]

One of the reasons why the NYPL started filming Broadway shows was so that actors going into the show could have a reference point. Susan Stroman was a strong supporter of this and helped to talk around other theater professionals into letting the library film shows.

[AEA AGMA SM]

But they were filming shows for the NYPL long before Stroman had her first credit as choreographer on Broadway (Crazy for You in 1992). So I'm not sure how much influence she actually had in getting the program started.

As for permission to view the recordings there are some that are more difficult to view than others. I believe that with any Bennet show you need to get approval from his estate, and that is granted after you have applied and received the rights to produce one of his shows.

[morosco]

You should also check out L.A. Theatre Works. They produce audio recordings of classic and contemporary plays. Quite a large collection. I do remember listening to and enjoying their recording of PROOF with Ann Heche. The plays are performed and recorded in front of a live audience.

Some interesting titles there.
L.A. Theatre Works

[bobs3]

"As for permission to view the recordings there are some that are more difficult to view than others. I believe that with any Bennet show you need to get approval from his estate, and that is granted after you have applied and received the rights to produce one of his shows."

I read somewhere that no Neil Simon play has ever been recorded for the archive. He refuses to allow them to be recorded.

[bobs3]

They used to only record shows in black & white with a stationary camera and no audience. Does anyone know if this policy has changed and they now record them in color?

[Jon]

Shows in the Lincoln Center archive are taped with an audience during a regularly scheduled performance, in color, multiple camera. I have been in the audience when they were taping.

[morosco]

I read somewhere that no Neil Simon play has ever been recorded for the archive. He refuses to allow them to be recorded.

I think it was Bob Fosse that didn't allow his shows to be taped for the collection. There are plenty of Neil Simon plays that were filmed during their runs on Broadway (Broadway Bound, Rumors, Lost in Yonkers, etc.).

[Gothampc]

"But they were filming shows for the NYPL long before Stroman had her first credit as choreographer on Broadway (Crazy for You in 1992). So I'm not sure how much influence she actually had in getting the program started."

Sorry I didn't mean to imply that she spearheaded the program. The NYPL has had a long struggle and still continues to struggle to get shows on tape. There are many creative people that won't allow their work to be filmed. Stroman has worked at convincing hesitant artists to commit their work to be filmed. I know of one show where Stroman was on a mission to convince an artist to allow NYPL to film it. I also know that Stroman regularly suggests that actors and dancers go to the Lincoln Center Library to watch her shows for which they are replacements or going on tour.