Product Description

The real drama happens behind the curtain in this fascinating and rare look at four high-profile Broadway musicals (Wicked Taboo Caroline Or Change and Avenue Q) and their fearless journey to the Tony Awards®. Including a star-studded cast this entertaining film takes viewers on an unprecedented behind-the-scenes view of the creative process that captures all the heartbreak and hilarity of trying make it big in Show Business!System Requirements:Run Time: 104 minutes Genre: DOCUMENTARIES/MISC. Rating: PG UPC: 796019805438 Manufacturer No: 80543

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4054 in DVD
• Brand: WELLSPRING/GENIUS
• Released on: 2007-10-16
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 104 minutes

Amazon.com
The playful but intense and vastly informative Show Business: The Road to Broadway is a documentary about four musicals that were contenders for top Tony Awards prizes in the 2004 Broadway season. Following the parallel action between the quartet--"Wicked," "Avenue Q," "Taboo," and "Caroline, or Change"--from concept through casting, rewrites, rehearsals, opening nights and the relative box-office fortunes of each, the film dazzles a viewer by seeming to be everywhere at once. Along the way, one encounters cascades of neuroses and anxieties from the creative community involved in these shows, but there is also tremendous insight shared by the various playwrights, composers, lyricists, producers, directors, and stars who get these productions up and running. There's sundry drama, too, especially concerning the brief run of "Taboo," the financially disastrous musical about Boy George that was largely bankrolled by Rosie O'Donnell and ran into a variety of problems. Excellent fly-on-the-wall moments include a dinner sequence involving a handful of well-known theatre critics, whose tastes vary and who often champion shows no one else seems to like. Everything leads to highlights from the 2004 Tony Awards show, which was full of surprises. A final sequence in which one catches up with the many talents involved says everything about how success and failure is often a mere roll of the cosmic dice. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

A Must See for Theater Fans
I first saw this documentary at a small theater in downtown Chicago... as a musical theater fan, I loved every minute of it.

I was most impressed because it doesn't matter if you remembered that 2003-2004 season, and it doesn't even matter if you cared for any of those 4 shows... the entire adventure from the initial creation of a Broadway show, through the ups and downs, to the Tony Awards and the aftermath... it never got boring, that's what made this documentary better than others I've seen in the past. I don't think many people realize what it takes to put on a Broadway show... people that work in the theater don't always get the recognition/respect they deserve... This documentary did a fine job revealing their hard work, effort, and passion. =)

It was also interesting to see and hear from the critics... yep, the critics we all either love or hate. haha.

AWESOME DVD
I got this DVD for a friend who is NUTS about theatre. I am too, but she's actually wanting, trying and probably going to succeed getting into the business. I figured this was a must have for a eighteen-year old girl who is still excited and going full steam toward achieving her dream.

I wasn't wrong. She loved it. From what I understand, it brought her to tears and gave her goosebumps.

My only complaint is that I wish it was longer. For someone who is active in theatre, knows about the backstage things and wants to see how it's done in the biggest market in the world, SHOW BUSINESS is a must have. A brilliant insight into the things that we don't usually get to see from the best in the world.

Makes me wish I had seen Taboo!
This DVD makes me wish I had seen Taboo on Broadway! It also exposes the critics who only highlighted the supposed "Rosie-Boy George" feud. I remember when Taboo came out that that's all I read about in the press.

Then I watch this DVD and was flabbergasted as to how talented the singers in the show really were! To bad they didn't make a DVD of the show itself!