Dori Berinstein, a three-time Tony-winning Broadway producer, makes her
debut as a feature film director in the full-length documentary,
ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway.And her bias is clear: ShowBusiness is
a homage to the Herculean labors of love and creativity behind the Broadway
musical.
The film follows the conception, labor and delivery of four musicals during
the 2003-2004 Broadway season: Caroline, or Change, Taboo, Avenue Q and
Wicked, all of which were eventually nominated for Tony Awards(r).We are
treated to a rare insider’s look at how these shows were created, financed,
rehearsed, polished, performed and reviewed.And how and why some
productions succeed and some fail—and how that success or failure affects
those involved.
The storybook achievement of Bobby Lopez and Jeff Marx, the composers and
lyricists of Avenue Q, a puppet musical (Sesame Street for adults) could
itself be the plot of a Broadway show.ShowBusiness contains intimate and
comprehensive footage of a four-year journey to their unlikely success.
Starting from the first meeting of potential angel investors, while the two
were working as a temp and an intern, we watch this talented young duo
compose at the piano, we meet their families, we observe the first technical
rehearsal, we see them nervously dressing at home before the Tony Awards,
and we savor with them their win of the coveted “Best Musical” Tony Award.
Unlike Avenue Q, Taboo, composed and written by Boy George, had previously
played on London’s West End.It was brought to Broadway by Rosie
O’Donnell’s personal commitment of $10 Million.Wicked, the story of Oz
from the witches’ perspective, had first opened in San Francisco to mixed
reviews.
The film concentrates on how shows prepare for their Broadway opening.For
example, Wicked’s composer and lyricist, Stephen Schwartz, describes how he
shut down the show so that he could rethink it and develop the characters
more deeply.And it obviously worked, since Wicked is still playing to
sold-out houses.
ShowBusiness also delves into the symbiotic and intermittently malevolent
relationship between the musicals and theater gossip columnists and critics.
It includes several candid lunch conversations among Charles Isherwood
(then, Variety, now with The New York Times), Michael Riedel (The New York
Post), and Jacques le Sourd (Gannett News/The Journal News), among others.
From the first lunch, it is apparent that if there is a villain in this
film, it’s Mark Riedel.In order to sells newspapers, he seeks out conflict
and looks for signs of trouble in these shows.Charles Isherwood quips to
him that “if there isn’t any [conflict] you can create one.”
Early on Riedel disparages Wicked by claiming that he’s heard that it has a
lot of problems. He avers that Avenue Q won’t find an audience.But most of
Riedel’s unwanted attention falls on Rosie O’Donnell and Boy George.He
publishes many derogatory stories about the rumored inadequacies of the show
and personal animosity between Rosie O’Donnell and Boy George.Taboo was
the first of the four productions to close, despite a fanatic and dedicated
audience base.
The film also contains interviews with those on the business side of musical
theater: publicists, theater owners, marketing professionals, and the
composers, as well as astute critics such as Ben Brantley (The New York
Times) and John Lahr (The New Yorker).
John Lahr reveals that Caroline, or Change, which wouldn’t have attracted a
typical Broadway audience, required and received financial support from the
Broadway community.A somber autobiographic piece with book and lyrics by
Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Tony Kushner (Angels in America) and music
by Jeanine Tesori, it explores the relationship between a white Louisiana
family and their black maid in 1963.Despite its acclaim, Caroline, or
Change closed on Broadway a few months after the Tony Awards.However, it
has very successful runs in London and U.S. cities including San Francisco,
Los Angeles and Philadelphia.
The most personal interviews in the film are with the actors.Alan Cumming,
a Tony Award winning Scottish actor who appeared in Taboo (and co-produced
ShowBusiness) and Tonya Pinkins, star of Caroline, or Change, were poignant
and articulate in relating the uncertainties and tribulations of the actor’s
life.Also touching were quick shots of the many other productions that
opened and quickly closed that season.
ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway is a tasty bonbon for theater buffs that
has many fascinating backstage details.Perhaps it tried to take on too
much by exploring four Broadway shows.Had it concentrated on the creation
of one musical, it might have been more insightful.Nevertheless,
ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway portrays well the creativity, hard work,
glamour, devotion, love and money that are the ingredients of a Broadway
show.I could almost imagine Ruby Keeler and Dick Powell tap dancing across
the screen.