- Joined
- Mar 23, 2012
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- Real Name
- EricJ
Except, of course, for the 90's "American Playhouse" series getting the rights to the later Stephen Sondheim musicals, resulting in the original Bernadette Peters INTO THE WOODS, the Mandy Patinkin SUNDAY/GEORGE and PASSION going to DVD. (Unfortunately, DVD only, as video.)PODER said:As to the One Showing Only of musicals on PBS:
Some have come from Broadway or Lincoln Center (LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, the latest SOUTH PACIFIC). Some have come from The
Papermill Playhouse in New Jersey (CRAZY FOR YOU, a SHOWBOAT revival, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC). But, with rare exceptions, PBS
only had the rights for One Showing.
Sadly, I remember Showtime in the 80's being one of the meccas for getting current Broadway onto cable (eg. the original "Pirates of Penzance", "Sweeney Todd" and "Master Harold & the Boys"), until they tried that stunt of a live as-it-happens airing of "Sophisticated Ladies", and the Unions hadn't stopped picketing since.
Pay-Per-View seems to have only recently revived the practice years later, even if we only got (yeesh!) MEMPHIS. Still, it's better than getting a movie version.