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posted by Fnord666 on Tuesday June 11 2019, @06:58PM   Printer-friendly
from the kinda-defeats-the-purpose dept.

Submitted via IRC for Bytram

Meet the Netflix for Broadway shows

What if you could stream the Tony Awards' big winners like Hadestown as easily as you fire up Netflix?

Enter BroadwayHD. Founded by a husband-and-wife team with a combined 83 years of experience in the Broadway business, the niche service is like Netflix for theater. It offers a library of plays and musicals to stream on demand for a $9-a-month subscription. These aren't those out-of-focus iPhone recordings of your nephew's fifth-grade talent show. BroadwayHD specializes in live captures of high-end theatrical productions with HD or 4K cameras and the same audio that feeds into a theater's soundboard.

BroadwayHD doesn't have any of Sunday's Tony-winning productions like Hadestown, The Ferryman or Oklahoma. For now, it takes whatever it can get, which means most of its shows have ended their live runs. But the fact that BroadwayHD exists at all is a feat. Until three years ago, no service like it had ever ventured online.

One of the main reasons: For people who worship theater, including many who make it, live tapings skirt uncomfortably close to sacrilege.

"[Some] people sign up to do live theater because it's live. Your memory of it is right there, right then, and you leave with your experience," said Sydney Beers, general manager of the Roundabout Theatre Company in New York, which set a Guinness World Record with BroadwayHD for the first livestream of a Broadway show. "For some people, they feel strongly that you're not meant to be able to go and rent and watch again."


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  • (Score: 3, Interesting) by hemocyanin on Tuesday June 11 2019, @07:29PM (8 children)

    by hemocyanin (186) on Tuesday June 11 2019, @07:29PM (#854329) Journal

    "[Some] people sign up to do live theater because it's live. ...

    First off, I hate musicals and don't go to live theater. But I also don't go to the movie theater because it's a hassle (parking, lines, someone else's schedule), there's always some putz talking or baby crying, and you pay through the nose for those annoyances. For people who do like theatrical productions, I'm willing to bet that there is a large enough percentage who don't like the theater experience itself, to make BroadwayHD work.

    • (Score: 3, Insightful) by Phoenix666 on Tuesday June 11 2019, @07:42PM (1 child)

      by Phoenix666 (552) on Tuesday June 11 2019, @07:42PM (#854341) Journal

      haha took the words right outta my mouth.

      also, it's fucking expensive.

      on the other hand, live theater is a different experience that doesn't translate to TV. it's special because it's not ubiquitous the way binge-watching something on streaming is. being surrounded physically by other humans experiencing the same show carries a sense of immediacy and verve to an event. i hate crowds but i have to admit there's something to sharing something with them that no other medium can capture. maybe VR someday can, but even then i sorta doubt it.

      --
      Washington DC delenda est.
      • (Score: 2) by All Your Lawn Are Belong To Us on Tuesday June 11 2019, @10:34PM

        by All Your Lawn Are Belong To Us (6553) on Tuesday June 11 2019, @10:34PM (#854412) Journal

        Movies? When I go to the movies the tickets are $3.99. I'm smart enough to do matinees and if I don't need a tub of oil with popcorn floating in it or soft drinks, and I can usually slip my own candy in my pocket and put a water bottle in my coat.

        But I've watched many good plays/operas on PBS' Great Performances. You're right, it's not the same thing as being there live, just that WGBH/PBS does a good job with it.

        --
        This sig for rent.
    • (Score: 2) by Snow on Tuesday June 11 2019, @07:46PM

      by Snow (1601) on Tuesday June 11 2019, @07:46PM (#854342) Journal

      When I go to see live theatre, it's because someone has given me tickets. I hate it for the same reason -- it's a hassle. Half the time the show is decent, and 1/2 the time it's terrible.

      Last time I got tickets, I was like 10 minutes late arriving and the doors were closed. Oh no! I guess we'll have to get drinks and appies instead.

      Next time just give me a GC for drinks & snacks. Or nothing at all. I would prefer that over theatre tickets.

    • (Score: 2) by takyon on Tuesday June 11 2019, @07:46PM (4 children)

      by takyon (881) <reversethis-{gro ... s} {ta} {noykat}> on Tuesday June 11 2019, @07:46PM (#854343) Journal

      Doing the same play every night is archaic. Do one show, with the best actors, and the best sets, and then distribute the video of that*. I'm pretty sure I've seen a filmed version (not film adaptation) of Into the Woods that was pretty good.

      Some will rail against that, like the e-reader vs. racks of magazines thing. But it will be good enough for most people, and better in some ways. You can also go further by filming the play in VR, and presenting the content in a way that allows you to choose whichever seat in the house you want, and possibly simulate you standing anywhere on or floating above the stage.

      The biggest moneymakers like Lion King, Cats, Wicked, etc. will continue to be shown live on Broadway, but filmed/VR versions can broaden the appeal and make sure the pursuit survives.

      "[Some] people sign up to do live theater because it's live. Your memory of it is right there, right then, and you leave with your experience," said Sydney Beers, general manager of the Roundabout Theatre Company in New York, which set a Guinness World Record with BroadwayHD for the first livestream of a Broadway show. "For some people, they feel strongly that you're not meant to be able to go and rent and watch again."

      Why should others be denied access to this memory?

      *You could also film many versions and have them all available, as long as you have enough data storage.

      --
      [SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
      • (Score: 3, Insightful) by AthanasiusKircher on Tuesday June 11 2019, @08:27PM

        by AthanasiusKircher (5291) on Tuesday June 11 2019, @08:27PM (#854360) Journal

        Doing the same play every night is archaic. Do one show, with the best actors, and the best sets, and then distribute the video of that*[...]

        Some will rail against that, like the e-reader vs. racks of magazines thing. But it will be good enough for most people, and better in some ways.

        I don't have any problem with anyone enjoying whatever they want. If some would prefer to watch videos of recorded theatre, I have no problem with that -- though I'd imagine many would prefer a medium more suitable to such performance (e.g., an actual film adaptation).

        But I do think your argument is a bit overstated. Why do people pay to go to concerts? Can't they just hear their band on a recording? Is it "archaic" to experience a live event in that case too? And why not go further and question -- is it "archaic" to actually attend a sporting event? I mean, you get a better camera angle on the baseball on TV than you ever would at Fenway Park or Yankee Stadium or whatever. Yet for some weird reason, tens of thousands of people line up to attend live sporting events every week in almost every major city.

        Perhaps you don't find the special thrill some people do in a live theatrical performance. Perhaps you don't find it in a live musical performance either. Or perhaps you do but don't think the extra cost or hassle of going to a live event is worth it. But there are also lots of people who do, and don't think live performance is merely "archaic." It's actually qualitatively different as an experience.

      • (Score: 2) by All Your Lawn Are Belong To Us on Tuesday June 11 2019, @10:28PM

        by All Your Lawn Are Belong To Us (6553) on Tuesday June 11 2019, @10:28PM (#854408) Journal

        And don't go to live concerts either. That whole night-after-night business live is downright archaic too. Get the song once on MP3 and don't worry about what you might be missing with the live experience!

        --
        This sig for rent.
      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday June 12 2019, @06:03AM (1 child)

        by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday June 12 2019, @06:03AM (#854534)

        but but how will all of the people see the brand new version of Harry Potter that you absolutely must see because someone changed their skin color and that of their kids to black

  • (Score: 3, Interesting) by ikanreed on Tuesday June 11 2019, @07:31PM (8 children)

    by ikanreed (3164) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday June 11 2019, @07:31PM (#854332) Journal

    Are we still doing silicon valley "Meet the [useful service] of [space where that service makes no sense]" IPOs?

    • (Score: 2) by Snow on Tuesday June 11 2019, @07:51PM (1 child)

      by Snow (1601) on Tuesday June 11 2019, @07:51PM (#854345) Journal

      Make the Tinder of Broadway. Find matches that will take your wife to the theatre so you don't have to!

    • (Score: 2) by takyon on Tuesday June 11 2019, @08:05PM (1 child)

      by takyon (881) <reversethis-{gro ... s} {ta} {noykat}> on Tuesday June 11 2019, @08:05PM (#854354) Journal

      As long as unicorn hunters and IPOs are bringing in those barrels of cash, absolutely.

      --
      [SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
      • (Score: 2) by ikanreed on Tuesday June 11 2019, @08:10PM

        by ikanreed (3164) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday June 11 2019, @08:10PM (#854355) Journal

        i.e. as long as the fed cuts rates every time the bubble's close to popping.

        Oh man are we in for a hell of a recession this time. I don't know when it's coming, but it's hard not to see the wall-writing.

    • (Score: 2) by All Your Lawn Are Belong To Us on Tuesday June 11 2019, @10:36PM

      by All Your Lawn Are Belong To Us (6553) on Tuesday June 11 2019, @10:36PM (#854413) Journal

      These will always occur, as they always have everywhere in business. The question is how much frequency of it there is / has another web bubble formed such that when it pops more misery than the usual results?

      --
      This sig for rent.
    • (Score: 2) by istartedi on Tuesday June 11 2019, @11:48PM (1 child)

      by istartedi (123) on Tuesday June 11 2019, @11:48PM (#854439) Journal

      Hmmmm... meet the...

      ...custom slicing of neonatal intensive care.
      ...interior decorating of structural steel.
      ...one-hour dry cleaning of online trading.

      --
      Appended to the end of comments you post. Max: 120 chars.
      • (Score: 2) by ikanreed on Wednesday June 12 2019, @02:38PM

        by ikanreed (3164) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday June 12 2019, @02:38PM (#854662) Journal

        ...custom slicing of neonatal intensive care.

        That's called "surgery"

    • (Score: 2) by FatPhil on Wednesday June 12 2019, @09:06AM

      by FatPhil (863) <pc-soylentNO@SPAMasdf.fi> on Wednesday June 12 2019, @09:06AM (#854579) Homepage
      Given that we've had the National Theatre Live, and the Bolshoi Ballet, in our local cinema for years, I don't even see why this is a "new thing" at all. OK, it's a "broadway show" rather than "theatre" or "ballet", but if you can't see that deep down it's just "shit that goes on on stage", and the precise shit doesn't matter, then you're a few screws loose somewhere.

      And what does "recorded live" try to convey. You can't record something after it's happened, you can only record it whilst it's happening.

      This basically sounds like old tech, and I beg to differ, it's useful old tech, which is why it's persisted in several contexts, with new branding.

      Back in my day (80s/90s), the local taxi company could be used to deliver your kebab or pizza from restaurants that didn't want to employ their own delivery staff. Now we have "deliveroo". It's the same fucking thing, except that deliveroo doesn't also deliver poeple. So it's worse. Yet it's worth billions, and the taxi companies are scratching their heads saying "but we're still here, we can do that, we always have". There are many other examples. (iTunes in the 2000s is just MP3.com from the 1990s, etc.)
      --
      Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
  • (Score: 2) by ilPapa on Tuesday June 11 2019, @08:12PM

    by ilPapa (2366) on Tuesday June 11 2019, @08:12PM (#854356) Journal

    I predict that this Netflix for Broadway musicals will be very popular with Apple users.

    Just saying.

    --
    You are still welcome on my lawn.
  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by NotSanguine on Tuesday June 11 2019, @08:47PM (4 children)

    The traveling shows are never really as good WRT the Broadway casts/production value.

    And even if they do come into NYC, most folks aren't going to want to stand in line at TKTS [tdf.org] not knowing what show they can actually afford to see. The alternative is to pay full price unless you can get a deal (I think I saw something the other day about Hamilton tickets selling for ~US$980.00) on something you're interested in seeing.

    So if you like theater and don't mind shows that have ended their runs (I imagine that will be the primary catalog for this service), especially if you don't live near NYC (and can't/don't want to spend money on a hotel/plane fare/etc.), this might be an acceptable alternative. It certainly won't be the same, but I suppose it's better than nothing at all.

    --
    No, no, you're not thinking; you're just being logical. --Niels Bohr
    • (Score: 2) by krishnoid on Tuesday June 11 2019, @10:27PM (3 children)

      by krishnoid (1156) on Tuesday June 11 2019, @10:27PM (#854407)

      Like, you know, poorer people [huffpost.com] and perhaps people internationally, and, well, poorer people internationally. Plus, this could open the door to capturing and displaying 360-degree camera shots for people getting interested in theater who would otherwise not have access to such things.

      • (Score: 2) by NotSanguine on Tuesday June 11 2019, @11:31PM (2 children)

        Absolutely.

        I couldn't agree more. I was unaware of the program in the article you linked. It's a great idea. Thanks for posting it!

        You know, I think both the program that the HuffPost [huffpost.com] mentions, as well as the service that's the subject of TFA will be wonderful "For Folks Who Don't Live Near Broadway" and/or those who "can't/don't want to spend money on a hotel/plane fare/etc."

        --
        No, no, you're not thinking; you're just being logical. --Niels Bohr
        • (Score: 3, Interesting) by krishnoid on Tuesday June 11 2019, @11:52PM (1 child)

          by krishnoid (1156) on Tuesday June 11 2019, @11:52PM (#854441)

          Another couple of points to consider when it comes to entertainment media -- US-ians (anime fans aside) don't tend to consume a lot of foreign media, but since English is a more global language, many/most other countries in the world can appreciate our live theater more than we may be able to appreciate their offerings. In addition, free- and low-cost access can sometimes act as a 'gateway drug' for those interested, leading to wider adoption of an art form and, if we're lucky, insidious cultural infiltration.

          Who knows? We may see Bollywood versions of "My Fair Lady" or "Oklahoma" before too long (ok, actual LOL there).

          • (Score: 3, Interesting) by FatPhil on Wednesday June 12 2019, @09:14AM

            by FatPhil (863) <pc-soylentNO@SPAMasdf.fi> on Wednesday June 12 2019, @09:14AM (#854581) Homepage
            Shows don't have to be crazily expensive. We're going to see an version of West Side Story live at our National Theatre in a couple of weeks, and tickets are between 25e and 45e. For a proper night out, that's not so bad, I'll spend that on stuff I piss out only hours later most weekends. I'll even, perhaps, not wear scuffed jeans, tatty trainers, and a stained t-shirt for that night out - all fancy like - on the assumption I can find some clothing not matching that description. People need to learn to ignore hype, and the 4-digit ticket prices that go along with it.
            --
            Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
  • (Score: 2) by progo on Tuesday June 11 2019, @09:19PM (2 children)

    by progo (6356) on Tuesday June 11 2019, @09:19PM (#854383) Homepage

    Summary contains no broader context or commentary. I don't think Soylent was paid, but this is clearly a paid ad on Cnet.com.

    • (Score: 2) by hemocyanin on Tuesday June 11 2019, @09:39PM

      by hemocyanin (186) on Tuesday June 11 2019, @09:39PM (#854391) Journal

      Have you never been lazy and simply cite a link and excerpt a few paragraphs? I've done that.

    • (Score: 2) by FatPhil on Wednesday June 12 2019, @09:17AM

      by FatPhil (863) <pc-soylentNO@SPAMasdf.fi> on Wednesday June 12 2019, @09:17AM (#854582) Homepage
      Yeah, but it's hard to learn about new entrants in the tech market if no articles are published about new entrants in the tech market.

      My criticism of it is that it's not actually anything particularly new, it's just another niche of a family of concepts all very similar.
      --
      Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
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