Camelot, Tonys-The Plays and Wallis & Edward Released 5/1

On May 1, Acorn Media will release the home video debut of Lerner and Loewe's Camelot, the Tony-nominated revival, mounted for Broadway in the early 1980s at New York's historic Winter Garden Theatre and filmed for television by HBO.

"Experience Camelot as Lerner and Loewe envisioned it—live on a Broadway stage. Legendary actor Richard Harris, who reprises the role he played to great acclaim in the 1967 movie version, stars in one of Broadway's wittiest, most literate musicals, filled with memorable tunes," as press materials state.  "Idealistic King Arthur (Harris) longs to create a perfectly principled kingdom, but sees his dream undone by a tragic love triangle involving Queen Guenevere (Meg Bussert) and his best friend Lancelot (Richard Muenz). In this thoroughly engaging production, the medieval monarch's vision—a place where "violence is not strength, and compassion is not weakness"—speaks to our time and for all time.  As staged for television, the production maintains the immediacy of a live performance while making the most of close-ups to capture every nuance of the performances."

The DVD's special features include production notes by Meg Bussert, original Broadway Playbill (DVD-ROM), and bios of Lerner and Loewe and Richard Harris.  The sales price is $29.99.

In addition, the company will release "The Best of the Tony Awards: The Plays" on May 1st.  The program is part of Acorn's bestselling Broadway's "Lost Treasures Collection," not previously available separately.

"Four-time Tony-winning actor and playwright Harvey Fierstein is host for a compilation of amazing dramatic performances from the archives of the Tony Award broadcasts. Legendary stars perform key scenes from 19 legendary shows, performances seen only once in their original telecast."

The performances include:

Morgan Freeman, As You Like It
Len Cariou, Long Day's Journey Into Night
Kevin Kline, Hamlet
Ed Hall, Delroy Lindo, Mel Winkler, Joe Turner's Come and Gone
Viola Davis, Brian Stokes Mitchell, King Hedley II
James Earl Jones, Courtney B. Vance, Fences
Charles S. Dutton, Rocky Carroll, S. Epatha Merkerson, The Piano Lesson
Philip Bosco, Victor Garber, Lend Me a Tenor
Joe Mantegna, Ron Silver, Speed-the-Plow
Michele Lee, Linda Lavin, Tony Roberts, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife
Joan Allen, Peter Friedman, The Heidi Chronicles
Art Carney, Anna Manahan, Lovers
Robert Klein, Jane Alexander, Madeline Kahn, Sisters Rosensweig
Annette Benning, Timothy Daly, Coastal Disturbances
Robert Prosky, Sam Waterston, A Walk in the Woods
John Lithgow, B. D. Wong, M. Butterfly
Maggie Smith, Margaret Tyzack, Lettice and Lovage
Gary Sinise, Tim Sampson, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
James Earl Jones, Jane Alexander, The Great White Hope 

As a bonus extra, there is original Playbill cover art for the featured plays.

May 1st will also mark the home video debut of "Wallis & Edward," a new take on the royal love affair that changed history.

"In perhaps the U.K.'s first sympathetic portrayal of Wallis Simpson, the American divorcée for whom King Edward VIII abdicated the throne, Joely Richardson ("Nip/Tuck"), turns in a tour de force performance. Stunning in an array of period costumes, she embodies the fashionable and vivacious social climber who, as this drama suggests, was more vulnerable than scheming. Stephen Campbell Moore (Bright Young Things) turns in an equally uncanny performance as the dashing young prince who becomes besotted with her, and then as king must choose between his heart and his country," state press notes.

"Wallis & Edward" aired on BBC America in February 2007 and co-stars award-winning actress Miriam Margolyes (The Age of Innocence, Ladies in Lavender) and Margaret Tyzack (The Forsyte Saga, Match Point).

DVD special features include an interview with writer Sarah Williams, production notes, production photo gallery, historical photo gallery, and cast filmographies.  It is approximately 94 minutes, with the SRP set at $24.99.

Headquartered in suburban Washington, D.C., Acorn Media distributes distinctive home video releases to the North American market with a special focus on the best of British television. Acorn's DVD sets are available from select retailers, catalog companies, and direct from Acorn Media at (888) 870-8047 or www.acornonline.com.