[Vertigo50]

I remember a college professor telling me that there is a place in New York (probably Music Theatre International) where you can go and sit in a room and watch videos of Broadway productions. In other words, they have archive videos of lots of different shows that have not been released to the public, but are viewable if you are a director researching a show, or a producer, etc.

Has anyone ever heard of this, or know anything about it?

More details if you have them, please. Who is allowed to view these? Where is it located, etc.?

[Sweeney Hyde]

I believe that there are a few both at the NYC public library as well as the Lincoln Center...I think you have to be an equity member to view any of them but I'm not sure...

[Salome]

you do not have to be an equity member. all you need is a library card for the nypl and lincoln center i'm not sure what you need. but you do not need to be equity.

[Vertigo50]

Thank you so much Sweeney. You got me started and I found exactly what I've been looking for. I thought I would come back and post more info for anyone who is interested in this.

It's part of the Billy Rose Theatre Collection at New York Public Library.

Specifically, it's the Theatre on Film and Tape Archive (TOFT). They've
been videotaping live theatre for years and years.
http://www.nypl.org/research/lpa/the/the.specfea.html

What's amazing about this, is they have an archive of the original cast of Sweeney Todd with Len Cariou. They have archives of the Lincoln Center Sondheim series. They have virtually every Broadway production since the initiative was started.
Here's an example:
Sweeney Todd

You can find these by searching here:
TOFT Link

What's unclear is who can view these. Obviously, you can only view them in the library, but it says "Restricted to qualified researchers." I don't know what qualifies you as a researcher.

If anyone is in New York and wants to try it and report back to us, here is a link for how to view things:
http://www.nypl.org/research/lpa/the/the.usarch.html
Look under the heading for Theatre on Film and Tape.

I'd love to hear if someone can find out the qualifications for this. The next time I'm in New York I might have to go do some "research".

Thanks again to Sweeney for helping me get started on this.

[Vertigo50]

I didn't want to put this in my informational thread above, but I just wanted to rant a bit about something.

On the site for the TOFT archive they write, "These projects ensure that todays performances will be tomorrows legacy, available to future generations for study and enjoyment."

That's all well and good, but when it comes to very old musicals, I would consider myself "future generations". Why aren't some of these tapes made available to purchase, or at least copies made available at other libraries?

I can understand when a show is still on Broadway not wanting to make it available to someone that wants to watch it for free instead of paying the ticket price, but once a show is more than 10 years old, why aren't these tapes made available to the public? Also performances like the Kennedy Center Sondheim Series. Those were very limited runs that will not be repeated, and most of those shows are not being performed often.

It just frustrates me that there are so many schools and libraries and even Broadway fans that would love to have some of these videos in their collection, but don't have the chance. There are so few good recordings of Broadway shows available.

This is one of the reasons Broadway is losing popularity, the fact that anyone can re-watch a film any time they want to, but as much as you like a Broadway show, you can only see it live. Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying recordings are the same thing as seeing it in person, but do you know how many people have gotten hooked on theatre by watching the Sweeney Todd video, or the Into the Woods video? It offers people who wouldn't otherwise have the chance to experience these shows the chance to see them, maybe not in their truest form, but close.

I just really hope that some day they actually make good on their promise to make these "available to future generations for study and enjoyment."

Rant over.