Broadways Lost Treasures Collection (Broadways Lost Treasures 1-3 & The Best of the Tony Awards - The Plays)

Product Details

The second and third volumes feature newer, fully staged performances that are almost indistinguishable from an actual show, including scenes from splashy, high-energy revivals such as Anything Goes (Patti LuPone and company performing the title tune) and Guys and Dolls (the fabulous "Sit Down You're Rockin' the Boat"), and new shows such as Grand Hotel (Michael Jeter and Brent Barrett in a gloriously exuberant "Take a Glass Together"), Les Miserables ("One Day More"), La Cage aux Folles (George Hearn solo and with a chorus line in drag in "I Am What I Am"), Ragtime (the opening number), and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Kristin Chenoweth's "My New Philosophy"). The new generation of splashy dance-oriented musicals are also represented by the likes of the 42nd Street revival (the title tune and "We're in the Money"), Fosse ("Sing, Sing, Sing"), and Crazy for You ("I Can't Be Bothered Now").

The Best of the Tony Awards: The Plays features 19 of the dramatic and comedy excerpts showcased on the Tony Awards telecasts between 1969 and 2001. From 1969 are James Earl Jones and Jane Alexander in The Great White Hope and Art Carney in Lovers, and other performances include Maggie Smith and Margaret Tyzack in Lettice and Lovage (1990), John Lithgow and B.D. Wong in M. Butterfly (1988), Joan Allen and Peter Friedman in The Heidi Chronicles (1988), and Joe Mantegna and Ron Silver in Speed-the-Plow (1988). The performances aren't specifically organized by date or performer, but the collection concludes with four excerpts from August Wilson works followed by three Shakespearean works. The excerpts are brief, lasting 2-3 minutes each, and even though each segment is introduced by a narrator, this format clearly works better for musicals than it does for plays. Regardless, it remains a rare chance to see stage performances that for the most part are not available on home video. Collectors who already own the three musical volumes, however, will have to weigh how badly they want The Plays when they consider mostly duplicating their purchase with the Broadway's Lost Treasures Collection. --David Horiuchi

Product Reviews

(5 stars) - An Absolute Must
An absolute must for Musical Theater buffs. All of the nominated shows of the past several decades are represented by their best numbers, done by the original cast. One can only wish they could be in High Definition with full surround sound. Still a "must have" if you're Broadway theater fan.

(5 stars) - Broadway Lost Treasures is great
All three tapes are great but the first one is my favorite. The dance Michael Jetters did, which we saw on broadway,, shows what a talent he was. TV should have had him dance. We also saw the great talent of Jerry Orback. His Law and Order character did not do him justice even though he was very good.

It was fun to hear the songs being performed by the Broadway people and see some wonderful actors when they were young even though they are still as talended if not more so.

(4 stars) - Broadway's Lost Treasures
This DVD package is exactly what I have been looking for. Nothing can compare to it.

(3 stars) - Broadway's Lost Treasures - OK not Great
Don't buy this DVD if you are looking for high video quality images. If you are interested in the basics of legendary or at least well known Broadway performers in the roles they made famous or became famous because of, buy it.

(4 stars) - Good but....some quality is lacking!
I would still purchase this item due to the vintage appeal I have and my love for the musical. However, many segments are of poor quality or low definition. I have a ceiling mount projection screen/surround sound basement theater. I was greatly disappointed in the visual quality of the Ethel Merman segment.

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