Dreamcoat. And he’s now convinced they led to his career as a Broadway performer. But they may also have had something to do with his appearance on television as a contestant on “American Idol,” because the “live performances” he saw as a child were not on a stage—they were on his TV screen.
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After deliberating with myself about the recording and live streaming of Broadway shows, I ultimately think the pros outweigh the cons. In my opinion, the primary benefit of posting or streaming Broadway shows is accessibility. There are many people in the country and world who don’t have the opportunity, the resources, or even the physical ability to travel to New York to see live Broadway theatre. Some people may not even have access to theatre at all. Streaming a show will give many people access to the wonders of Broadway even if they can’t afford the price of a ticket to a show or don’t have the physical capability of seeing a show. Even if there is a pay-per-view fee or a subscription involved, such as Netflix, this can be a much more affordable option. All that being said, nothing can truly capture the grandeur of theatre. Part of the experience off seeing a show is being in the theatre, in the atmosphere created by the soundscape and the lights and the physical set, that just cannot be recreated in a video. However, I do believe that having the opportunity to see a Broadway show recorded is better than never experiencing Broadway in any capacity.
It was made clear from the countless ads during the Emmys that streaming services are taking over the entertainment industry. Media is more easily accessible to those at home when streaming sites are used. Movies and TVs have taken full advantage of it, so it is surprising that theatre recordings have not. Now, I am worried that the use of the recordings on streaming sites could lead to less people showing up at the theatre. But at the same time, I have faith that the general public understands the true magic of a live performance. It’s not something that can be accomplished by television and movies. Streaming sites can also provide easy access to theatre for those who can’t afford it and can spread interest in it in a cheaper way. The benefits of theater and streaming sites demonstrate that the theatre community should make more of an effort to take advantage of this new method to enjoy entertainment.
To tell the truth, I have watched many Broadway and other musicals online, which were probably uploaded illegally. As a student who dreams to work in the theatre industry, I felt a sense of guilt against not paying respect to Those Who Make, however, I had no choice but to do so, living abroad where it is almost impossible to access Broadway. And I expect that I am not the only one from the number of views those videos had. One reason I support the idea of the recording and live streaming of Broadway shows is that it allows people like me to enjoy the shows legally. To materialize a business where there is a demand is one way to prevent producing criminals. Now, certainly there are pros and cons of an issue. It would save people who are willing to pay, but at the same time, it would also increase the number of people who would enjoy the shows illegally, because there is always a risk in illegal downloads in uploading videos online.
This article is one that really speaks to me. As someone who began working in theatre in middle school, the only time I spent in the presence of a production was one I was working on. Not by choice, however. There’s no easy way to put it: theatre is expensive. For me, it has been prohibitively so. The expansion of recorded productions is one that allows greater access for people who may be in a similar situation as me. Engaging with the best of this desired career path in any form is a way to learn. It will be very interesting to see how any kind of distribution of these professionally recorded productions will roll out in the years to come. Will there be a demand for them in the way there is for other recorded media? The audio play distribution is also very interesting because it allows people to partially engage with high quality performances without being in the same room. This does forgo the element of presence and physical performance, but it can be better than nothing.
I think that there is something so electric about theatre, whether you're present in the theater or you are watching it on your TV. The actors are still performing differently than they would for the camera, and the tech is still appreciated. I love watching Newsies on Netflix or the occasional airing of one of the various Les Miserables productions on TV. Recording theatrical productions (when warranted, of course) preserves the production more than it hinders it. I know that there's secrecy that looms around live theatre; there's a special connection between everyone who's in that room where it happens (pun un-intended I swear). But, also, not everyone can fly to New York or drop money in the triple digits on tickets. Accessibility to theatre is uber important because people get to see how special live theatre really is, especially when it's a high-budget production such as those on Broadway. I love watching Newsies on Netflix because it is very well done, including the cinematography. It is engaging, and it offers more perspectives than the one you'd have while sitting in the same seat in the theater (probably behind a super tall person, too). If anything, it enhances the work. Lastly, with more accessibility to theatre, more people can support these shows the same way they support Hollywood productions. With that increased support, more money is brought to the industry and the stigma surrounding those who try to make a living off of this particular art form is decreased. Think about when Hamilton was in the media's spotlight (again, didn't intend that pun). There were promotional pictures, clips of musical numbers, performances on talk shows. More people flocked to get a glimpse of the show because accessibility was increased (to a certain limit, of course. Actually getting tickets was a pain). But, regardless, theatre's presence in the media grew, and so did its support. How lovely.
I've never liked the argument that theatre should not be filmed, because it's meant to be experienced live, and the connotation that many people who say that put on it. The fact is, there is so often people dreaming of seeing a Broadway show who don't have the means to do so. While filming a musical doesn't do it justice, it allows people of all classes and background to experience theatre in some way. There will always be people out there seeing shows on Broadway hopefully, whether it's being streamed or not. I think that streaming theatre may actually help with ticket sales because more people will be able to experience how complex and beautiful the art form is and ewant to see other shows live. Or maybe it won't. either way, I think it is a confusing topic because while I think no one should be shamed for needing to see a Broadway show on a streaming service, people with the money to go to a Broadway show shouldn't be able to watch from home.
This will always be a big debate in the theatre world and I am sure this is only going to get worse. With the rise of streaming services, the need to quick access to movies and such is in high demand. How in theatre should we be doing this? Me personally I think more shows should be professionally filmed. While I do not know the costs associated with it I think it can be a great way to get your show out there in the world. I do not see many people not going to see your show because they have watched on tv. If anything they probably only watched it because it was so accessible. While I understand that there is nothing like being in a theatre and being a part of the action, I think this is a good tool for productions. I know there is one Broadway streaming service so im interested to see how that grows over time.
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