Broadway's Lost Treasures

Starring:Wanda Richert, Steven Hack, Angela Lansbury, Mandy Patinkin, Nana Visitor, Tommy Tune, Gwen Verdon, Carol Channing, Richard Kiley, Patricia Morison, Joel Grey, Zero Mostel, Betty Buckley, Julie Andrews, John Raitt, Yul Brynner, Jerry Orbach, Andrea McArdle, Vivian Blaine, Chita Rivera
Director: Chris Cohen
Studio: Acorn Media
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Broadway's Lost Treasures delivers what the title promises: 21 historic performances of great moments in American musical theater televised on the Tony Awards between 1967 and 1986. (Five were not included when the program was broadcast on PBS in 2003.) Unlike some other arts, theater has rarely been well-documented, so it's a treat to see these numbers performed by the original artists rather than experience them through audio recordings or tepid movie adaptations. Sure, sound and picture quality are only adequate, some of the numbers are minimally staged and some appear to be lip-synched, and some of the performances that do have excellent film counterparts (Yul Brynner in The King and I, Robert Preston in The Music Man, Joel Grey in Cabaret) seem rather lackluster here. But those are minor drawbacks compared to the chance to see Gwen Verdon and Chita Rivera perform "All That Jazz" and "Nowadays" from Chicago, or John Raitt, a stage legend who's woefully underrepresented on film, singing The Pajama Game's "Hey There." The most electrifying excerpt is from Evita, anchored by the powerhouse trio of Patti LuPone, Mandy Patinkin, and Bob Gunton, the most surprising is Julie Andrews singing "Send in the Clowns" (she wasn't in the cast of A Little Night Music), and the most touching is a 12-year-old Andrea McArdle breaking hearts in Annie's "Tomorrow." An indispensable record of a quintessential American art form. --David Horiuchi
Description
Joel Grey, Carol Channing, John Raitt, Patti LuPone, Yul Brynner, Zero Mostel--these greats are among the original-cast performers featured in this unique filmed compendium of Broadway showstoppers. Seen only once in their original Tony Award® telecasts (1967-1986), these 22 knock-out performances come with new introductions by some of the featured performers, including Angela Lansbury, Jerry Orbach, and Chita Rivera. BONUS: Both DVD and VHS formats feature five extra performances not seen on PBS!

Program includes: BROADWAY DIVAS
Vivian Blaine, "Adelaide's Lament," Guys and Dolls
Patti LuPone, "A New Argentina," Evita
Angela Lansbury, "Worst Pies in London," Sweeney Todd
Carol Channing, "Before the Parade Passes By," Hello, Dolly!
Julie Andrews, "Send in the Clowns," A Little Night Music

LEADING MEN
Zero Mostel, "If I Were a Rich Man," Fiddler on the Roof
Yul Brynner, "Shall We Dance," The King and I
John Raitt, "Hey There," The Pajama Game
Robert Preston, "Trouble," The Music Man
Paul Lynde, "Kids," Bye Bye Birdie

DANCIN'
Joel Grey, "Willkommen," Cabaret
Tommy Tune, Twiggy, "Chasin' the Clouds Away," My One and Only
Gwen Verdon, Chita Rivera, "All That Jazz," "Nowadays," Chicago
Jerry Orbach, "Lullaby of Broadway," 42nd Street

RECORD BREAKERS
Andrea McArdle, cast, "Tomorrow," Annie
Cast, "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile," Annie
Betty Buckley and cast, "Jellicle Songs," "Memory," Cats

Amazon.com

The Broadway's Lost Treasures Collection consists of the three volumes previously released on DVD plus a never-before-available fourth disc, The Best of the Tony Awards: The Plays. The first three discs deliver what the title promises: historic performances of great moments in American musical theater televised on the Tony Awards starting in the 1960s and into the new millennium. Unlike some other arts, theater has rarely been well-documented, so it's a treat to see these numbers performed by the original artists rather than experience them through audio recordings or tepid movie adaptations. Sure, sound and picture quality are only adequate, some of the numbers are minimally staged and some appear to be lip-synched, and some of the performances that do have excellent film counterparts seem rather lackluster here. But those are minor drawbacks compared to the chance to see Gwen Verdon performing "All That Jazz" and "Nowadays" from Chicago and "Whatever Lola Wants" from Damn Yankees; John Raitt singing The Pajama Game's "Hey There"; Alfred Drake singing Kiss Me Kate's "Where Is the Life That Late I Led"); a 33-year-old Jerry Orbach performing Promises, Promises' "She Likes Basketball"; and 12-year-old Andrea McArdle breaking hearts in Annie's "Tomorrow."

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

Description

A comprehensive collection of great performances captured on film as part of the annual Tony Award® broadcasts. Broadway royalty and Tony® winners, including Lauren Bacall, Bebe Neuwirth, Robert Goulet, and Harvey Fierstein, serve as hosts and share their own Broadway and Tony® memories.

Produced as PBS specials, Broadway's Lost Treasures I, II, & III feature legendary stars—including Patti LuPone, Nell Carter, Jerry Orbach, Gwen Verdon, Ethel Merman, Kristin Chenoweth, Angela Lansbury, Joel Grey, and many more—performing musical numbers from legendary shows—including Anything Goes, Man of La Mancha, Guys and Dolls, Ain't Misbehavin', Chicago, Fosse, Miss Saigon, Crazy for You, and many many more.

The Best of the Tony® Awards-The Plays features acting greats, such as James Earl Jones, Maggie Smith, Annette Benning, Kevin Kline, and Morgan Freeman, performing key scenes from 19 celebrated plays, including The Great White Hope, The Heidi Chronicles, Fences, Hamlet, and Long Day's Journey Into Night.

For theatre lovers, it doesn't get any better than this!

Customer Reviews:

Classic Broadway Shows.......2007-03-30

Almost every show on this DVD is a favorite of mine and has been for many years. It's great to have these true treasures at your beck and call through this DVD. Some of these talented performers will never be seen again. I am very, very happy with this DVD. beti schwartz

Broadway Stars.......2007-03-20

Broadway stars abound in these DVDs. There is a wonderful variety of clips and the narrations and interviews are good, as well. Such talent! Gregory Hines, Robert Goulet, Richard Kiley, Julie Andrews, and more and more to knock you off your feet. Don't pass this up!

Almost Perfect.......2007-02-27

I saw this on PBS and immediately decided to buy myself a copy!
While these excerpts are not from the broadway shows themselves, they are from the Tony Awards and are therefore, 'live.' And it's just wonderful to experience the level of 'energy' that great actors project when performing live on a stage.

There are a couple of songs that I don't particularly care for myself (Worst Pies in London), but most are wonderful, and the performances, while not 100% flawless (this WAS filmed live) are almost all engaging.

A few comments:
Yul Brenner manages to project more energy just standing there in the background than his co-star singing her heart out in "Shall We Dance." She is, alas, a fairly indifferent actress, and is overwhelmed by her enormous dress!

Lip-synced or no, Robert Preston in "Music Man" is wonderful. As is Joel Grey's fabulous MC in "Caberet." Again, it's all about energy.

I'd honestly never even heard of Patti Lapone before I saw this show, but she blew me away with her powerful voice. (Evita.)

"All that Jazz" and "Nowadays" from "Chicago" is, alas, much too short,but delightful.

The most unintentionally funny bit -- Twiggy looking either utterly bored or utterly terrified (but completely out of character, regardless) as she struggles with a simple dance routine in "Kicking the Clouds Away," (From "My One and Only.") She must have not realized that the camera had her in close up ...

Recommend this 100%

Finally some good music!.......2007-01-24

I loved this collection especially because there will really never again be a group of such talented performers and writers. The people nowadays just don't have the talent!

Met my expectations.......2007-01-16

I saw part of the Broadway's Lost Treasure Collection during a Public TV Fundraiser. I ordered it for myself and sent a second collection to a friend for a Christmas gift. The collection is well worth the money.

Broadway's Lost Treasures III - The Best of the Tony Awards

Average customer rating:

A good volume 3
It's ok.
The Broadway add-on
Lost treasures? Some aren't even 5 years old!
highs and lows

Broadway's Lost Treasures III - The Best of the Tony Awards
Starring: Tommy Tune , and Julie Andrews
Manufacturer: Acorn Media
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Broadway's Lost Treasures II
Broadway's Lost Treasures Collection (Broadway's Lost Treasures 1-3 & The Best of the Tony Awards - The Plays)
Broadway - The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There
Liza with a "Z" - A Concert for Television (Collector's Edition)
Once Upon a Mattress

ASIN: B000ARXFBE
Release Date: 2005-09-27

Amazon.com

The third volume of Broadway's Lost Treasures continues to mine historic stage performances from the vaults of the Tony Award telecasts. For fans who are used to experiencing musicals only through audio recordings, the benefits are two-fold. First, you can see great stars performing classic songs on stage, including Alfred Drake (Kiss Me Kate's "Where Is the Life That Late I Led"), Gwen Verdon and Ray Walston (Damn Yankees' "Whatever Lola Wants"), and a 33-year-old Jerry Orbach (Promises, Promises' "She Likes Basketball"). Second, you can see more recent, fully staged performances of numbers from shows that you may not have seen on Broadway or on tour, including the opening number of Ragtime, Kristin Chenoweth (You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown's "My New Philosophy"), and especially the new generation of splashy dance-oriented musicals such as the 42nd Street revival (the title tune and "We're in the Money"), Fosse ("Sing, Sing, Sing"), Black and Blue ("T'ain't Nobody's Business if I Do"), and Crazy for You ("I Can't Be Bothered Now," though it would have been nice to see one of the bigger numbers like "Slap That Bass" or "I Got Rhythm"). As with previous Treasures, the older performances tend to be minimally staged, one notable exception being the relatively obscure How Now, Dow Jones (1968) getting a set, costumes, and choreography.

Two other performances don't have quite the sizzle they could have. Julie Andrews performs three songs from her Lerner & Loewe canon (My Fair Lady's "Wouldn't It Be Loverly" and "I Could Have Danced All Night" and the title song from Camelot), but they're not vintage; they're from the 1991 awards. (The cover art showing a young Andrews is thus misleading.) Ethel Merman also performs a medley of three touchstone songs (Girl Crazy's "I Got Rhythm," Call Me Madam's "You're Just in Love," and Gypsy's "Everything's Coming Up Roses"), but in 1978, almost two decades after her last great role in Gypsy. But any Merman footage is rare, and this was before Andrews's infamous vocal troubles, so it's still enjoyable, even stirring, to see these distinctive and distinguished artists. Really, any disappointment with the Broadway's Lost Treasures series is only quibbling, as fans are lucky to have this footage available at all. --David Horiuchi

Description

Broadway royalty and Tony-winners Tommy Tune, Carol Channing, Robert Goulet, and Harvey Fierstein are your hosts for this third compilation of great musical performances from the archives of the Tony Award® broadcasts. Legendary stars from legendary shows strut their stuff in 23 performances that have become part of Broadway history.

Customer Reviews:

A good volume 3.......2006-11-15

I now have all 3 volumes of this particular set, and like the other ones, it has its' ups and downs. Ups?? Definitely "My New Philosophy" by Kristin Chenowith from the revival of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown"; Jonathan Pryce doing "The American Dream" from "Miss Saigon"; the late (and most definitely great) Jerry Orbach doing "She Likes Basketball" from "Promises, Promises" (so that is what he looked like in 1968), Zero Mostel doing "Comedy Tonight" from "Forum". The downs?? Desi Arnaz's song was much too short, Roert Goulet singing "The Happy Time" (is that the best they could find for him?)

But the best part is that for the younger Broadway fans is that this volume, like the others, lets them see the greats of Broadway at their best. And it reminds the rest of us just how much fun it was to watch the Tony Awards then.

It's ok........2006-07-31

I only bought this one for the song by Jerry Orbach. The first 2 DVDs were better.

The Broadway add-on.......2006-07-18

If you own Broadway Treasures II, it might be a good idea to round out your collection with Part III. This DVD is not as good as Broadways's Golden Era and Broadway Treasures II, but it's worth the purchase price to have the full collection.

Lost treasures? Some aren't even 5 years old!.......2006-06-07

This rather chaotic collection of broadcasts from the Tony Awards is -- by far -- the weakest of the three.

Firstly, how can a somewhat confusing collection of snippets from the 2002 revival of Into the Woods be a lost treasure only a few years later? If you wanted to include something from the show, why not use the original production, instead?

All in all, almost half of the performances are less than 15 years old. Some of which deserve to be included in this series (such as the haunting opening number from Ragtime or Chita Revera's "Where You Are" from Kiss of the Spider Woman), but perhaps in later editions.

There are some performances that are ... curious ... selections, at best. Such as an incomprehensible medly fomr Rose Marie, which hasn't played on Broadway since the 1920s. Then again, it was introduced by Robert Goulet, who performed in it. (Something that gives me the giggles is that a troup of male-voiced Canadian Mounties have got bosoms and lipstick, showing that it was obviously lip-synched.) Another example would be the production number "Step to the Rear" from How Now, Dow Jones. This seems to be included only because Tommy Tune was in the chorus (and it was introduced by Tommy Tune).

Then again, the clips taken from the 1971 Tony broadcast (to honor previous Tony-winning musicals) are disappointingly short (like Gwen Verdon performing "Whatever Lola Wants" from Damn Yankees) because of the time they originally played. Watching Zero Mostel in a toga over his tux performing a shortened "Comedy Tonight" was wonderful, even if it did seem like a tease because of its brevity.

Other gems include contrasting Ethel Merman's and Angela Lansbury's versions of "Everything's Coming Up Roses" from Gypsy and the late Jerry Orbach's "She Likes Basketball" from Promises, Promises.

All in all, this is a welcome edition to the library of a hardcore Broadway musical fan. For the general public, though, I highly recommend the first two volumes of this series instead.

highs and lows.......2006-05-01

This DVD has some very ho-hum material, so unmemorable that I can't recall what I want to say about it. I agree with other reviewers that the lip-synched Angela Lansbury is quite lame. However, can we talk about why I bought it?

The 42nd street number is everything you expect from broadway--the ultimate huge tap number.

Debbie Allen's performance of "America" is quite satisfying.

I cried tears of nostalgia listening to Julie Andrew reprise Camelot and My Fair Lady.

The Fosse Number (Sing, Sing Sing)is so very, very Fosse.

After viewing the title number from Ragtime, I will now have to move heaven and earth to see the show.

But....this DVD is worth owning for the soul-stirring performance of Michel Bell singing "Ol' Man River" in Showboat. Bass voices are not known for their clarity, but this guy is simply amazing. The beauty and passion of this performance is overwhelming. The harmony of the cast is gorgeous.

BTW, I saw him perform it live on stage in the musical. When the number ended, no one clapped for a span of few seconds. All that could be heard in the Fabulous Fox were sniffles---coming from all the audience members who were moved to tears. True story.

Average customer rating:

Lost Treasures found
Broadway history
Treasures is a perfect title for this DVD!
Good Material, Poorly Put Together
There's No Business Like Show Business - Part 2

Broadway's Lost Treasures II
Starring: Patti LuPone , Angela Lansbury , Juliet Prowse , Regina Ahlgren , and Colm Wilkinson
Director: Chris Cohen
Manufacturer: Acorn Media
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Broadway's Lost Treasures III - The Best of the Tony Awards
Broadway's Lost Treasures Collection (Broadway's Lost Treasures 1-3 & The Best of the Tony Awards - The Plays)
Broadway - The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There
My Favorite Broadway - The Leading Ladies
Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series)

ASIN: B0002TSZN8
Release Date: 2004-10-26

Amazon.com

The follow-up to the original Broadway's Lost Treasures delivers more of the same--historic performances of great moments in American musical theater televised on the Tony Awards--but is a step up in terms of sheer entertainment value. The first volume included only performances before 1987, and while they had bigger stars (Yul Brynner, Robert Preston), some of them were lip-synced and considerably less polished than their feature-film equivalents. Broadway's Lost Treasures II features newer 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"), and Jelly's Last Jam (Gregory Hines tapping "That's How You Jazz"). There are classic performances too, including Angela Lansbury and Bea Arthur's 1987 reunion of "Bosom Buddies" (Mame), Richard Kiley's "The Impossible Dream" (Man of La Mancha), Jerry Orbach's "All I Care About" (Chicago), and (in the DVD's bonus content) Katharine Hepburn in a 15-minute part-dramatic, part-musical scene from Coco. Fans were disappointed when performances from Dreamgirls and A Chorus Line were pulled from the first program due to rights issues, and those still aren't included here, but one can always hope they might appear in a future volume. --David Horiuchi

Description

The annual Tony Award® broadcast provides the only filmed record of Broadway's best for audiences to experience as if they were front-row-center on opening night. This second compilation of great musical moments from the Tonys® features another dazzling array of stars and performances. Hosts Lauren Bacall, Bebe Neuwirth, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Jerry Orbach introduce these 18 one-of-a-kind performances and share their personal Broadway and Tony® memories.
"Praise be to the theatre gods. . . for what was `lost' is found." —Atlanta Journal-Constitution on the first Broadway's Lost Treasures.

THE LEADS
Patti LuPone, Anything Goes
Angela Lansbury, Beatrice Arthur, Mame
Robert Morse, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Jane Lapotaire, Piaf
Richard Kiley, Man of La Mancha

ALL SINGING, ALL DANCING
Nell Carter, cast, Ain't Misbehavin'
Michael Jeter, Brent Barrett, Grand Hotel
Gregory Hines, Jelly's Last Jam
Walter Bobbie, Nathan Lane, Guys and Dolls

REVIVALS AND RECORD BREAKERS
George Hearn, cast, La Cage aux Folles
Cast, Les Misérables
Shirley Verrett, cast, Carousel
Jerry Orbach, Chicago

BONUS PERFORMANCES
Katharine Hepburn, Coco
Robert Lindsay, Me and My Girl
Tom Bosley, Fiorello!
Kathi Moss, cast, Nine
Bill Hutton, cast, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

BONUS EXTRAS
Five additional performances not seen on the PBS broadcast
Historical information about the original Broadway productions
PLAYBILL cover art

Customer Reviews:

Lost Treasures found.......2007-05-07

Provides a rare opportunity to see a Broadway performance as seen from the perspective of a theatre audience. Priceless.

Broadway history.......2006-07-18

If you're interested in the history of Broadway musicals, this DVD is a good start. However, it just covers the top-selling shows and does not delve too deeply.

Treasures is a perfect title for this DVD!.......2006-02-01

As a musical theatre lover I've seen a lot of footage from various tony's & concerts, but this was delightful! The wide range of preformances and preformers are just great! I'd get this based only on the fact that it has Patti LuPone doing Anthing Goes on it! :) Also, the selections from Jelly's Last Jam & Chicago are just great! Enjoy! (and if you haven't seen the first Lost treasures DVD, treat yourself to that!)

Good Material, Poorly Put Together.......2005-12-23

When I first found the Broadway Lost Treasure Serier on Amazon, I nearly jumped up and down in my seat. Any Broadway clips that I can get a hold of I definitly must get. I bought Broadway Lost Treasure I and Broadway Lost Treasures II together. I must say the performances were very good, just because you can't call broadway bad. The way the performances were put together, however, was boring and gave off cheaply made vibes. Dont get me wrong the hosts were fantastic(Jerry Orbach,Angela Lansbery.etc)some of my favorite people, but I wanted I little bit more background information on the shows and things like that.

Overall, I encourage purchasing Broadway Lost Treasures II(and the first one),if you keep an open mind. If you dont know alot about broadway, then this will bore you to tears. This is not what you should purchase if you want to learn more about broadway. If you are more interested in learning more about broadway, rather than just seeing performances, then I would buy "Broadway: The American Musical" (which can be found on Amazon).

There's No Business Like Show Business - Part 2.......2005-09-09

If you love the Broadway theatre you will love this DVD.
Carol Weinshenker, New York

Average customer rating:

Classic Broadway Shows
Broadway Stars
Almost Perfect
Finally some good music!
Met my expectations

Broadway's Lost Treasures
Starring: Wanda Richert , Steven Hack , Angela Lansbury , Mandy Patinkin , and Nana Visitor
Director: Chris Cohen
Manufacturer: Acorn Media
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Broadway's Lost Treasures II
Broadway's Lost Treasures III - The Best of the Tony Awards
Broadway - The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There
Liza with a "Z" - A Concert for Television (Collector's Edition)
My Favorite Broadway - The Leading Ladies

ASIN: B0000BZNDK
Release Date: 2003-10-28

Amazon.com

Broadway's Lost Treasures delivers what the title promises: 21 historic performances of great moments in American musical theater televised on the Tony Awards between 1967 and 1986. (Five were not included when the program was broadcast on PBS in 2003.) Unlike some other arts, theater has rarely been well-documented, so it's a treat to see these numbers performed by the original artists rather than experience them through audio recordings or tepid movie adaptations. Sure, sound and picture quality are only adequate, some of the numbers are minimally staged and some appear to be lip-synched, and some of the performances that do have excellent film counterparts (Yul Brynner in The King and I, Robert Preston in The Music Man, Joel Grey in Cabaret) seem rather lackluster here. But those are minor drawbacks compared to the chance to see Gwen Verdon and Chita Rivera perform "All That Jazz" and "Nowadays" from Chicago, or John Raitt, a stage legend who's woefully underrepresented on film, singing The Pajama Game's "Hey There." The most electrifying excerpt is from Evita, anchored by the powerhouse trio of Patti LuPone, Mandy Patinkin, and Bob Gunton, the most surprising is Julie Andrews singing "Send in the Clowns" (she wasn't in the cast of A Little Night Music), and the most touching is a 12-year-old Andrea McArdle breaking hearts in Annie's "Tomorrow." An indispensable record of a quintessential American art form. --David Horiuchi

Description

Joel Grey, Carol Channing, John Raitt, Patti LuPone, Yul Brynner, Zero Mostel--these greats are among the original-cast performers featured in this unique filmed compendium of Broadway showstoppers. Seen only once in their original Tony Award® telecasts (1967-1986), these 22 knock-out performances come with new introductions by some of the featured performers, including Angela Lansbury, Jerry Orbach, and Chita Rivera. BONUS: Both DVD and VHS formats feature five extra performances not seen on PBS!

Program includes: BROADWAY DIVAS
Vivian Blaine, "Adelaide's Lament," Guys and Dolls
Patti LuPone, "A New Argentina," Evita
Angela Lansbury, "Worst Pies in London," Sweeney Todd
Carol Channing, "Before the Parade Passes By," Hello, Dolly!
Julie Andrews, "Send in the Clowns," A Little Night Music

LEADING MEN
Zero Mostel, "If I Were a Rich Man," Fiddler on the Roof
Yul Brynner, "Shall We Dance," The King and I
John Raitt, "Hey There," The Pajama Game
Robert Preston, "Trouble," The Music Man
Paul Lynde, "Kids," Bye Bye Birdie

DANCIN'
Joel Grey, "Willkommen," Cabaret
Tommy Tune, Twiggy, "Chasin' the Clouds Away," My One and Only
Gwen Verdon, Chita Rivera, "All That Jazz," "Nowadays," Chicago
Jerry Orbach, "Lullaby of Broadway," 42nd Street

RECORD BREAKERS
Andrea McArdle, cast, "Tomorrow," Annie
Cast, "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile," Annie
Betty Buckley and cast, "Jellicle Songs," "Memory," Cats

BONUS PERFORMANCES! Both DVD and VHS formats include five additional performances not seen on the PBS pledge-special broadcasts.
Ann Miller, Mickey Rooney, "McHugh Medley," Sugar Babies
Patti LuPone, "Buenos Aires," Evita
Barbara Harris, "Movie Star Gorgeous," The Apple Tree
Bonnie Franklin, "Applause," Applause
Dorothy Loudon and cast, "Easy Street," "Tomorrow" (reprise), Annie

Customer Reviews:

Classic Broadway Shows.......2007-03-30

Broadway Stars.......2007-03-20

Almost Perfect.......2007-02-27

Finally some good music!.......2007-01-24

I loved this collection especially because there will really never again be a group of such talented performers and writers. The people nowadays just don't have the talent!

Met my expectations.......2007-01-16

DVD:

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