Sunday, March 29, 2015

Dvd/150: BROADWAY: THE AMERICAN MUSICAL (Michael Kantor, 2004, tv)

An unashamedly starry-eyed celebration of that most American of art forms, the Broadway musical.


Produced for PBS, the six episodes are narrated in syrupy style by Julie Andrews and charts the milestone shows of the musical from 1893 to the 2000s: the Ziegfeld Follies, SHOWBOAT, SHUFFLE ALONG, OF THEE I SING, PORGY AND BESS, PAL JOEY, OKLAHOMA!, ON THE TOWN, CAROUSEL, KISS ME KATE, SOUTH PACIFIC, GUYS AND DOLLS, MY FAIR LADY, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, WEST SIDE STORY, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, CABARET, HAIR, COMPANY, A CHORUS LINE, CHICAGO, SWEENEY TODD, THE PRODUCERS, 42ND STREET, CATS, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, THE LION KING, RENT and WICKED.


Packed with interviews from the performers, composers, directors, writers, choreographers and critics who created and witnessed this evolving story, what makes the series really special is the dazzling historical footage of almost every great Broadway star.



Shelf or charity shop?  Singing out (Louise) from the shelf!



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