After the success of the live stream in the spring, the visionary minds at BroadwayHD, in partnership with Fathom Events, are bringing She Loves Me to movie theaters across the nation on December 1. Whether you caught the show during its Broadway run or not, the experience of watching the classic musical on the big screen proves truly incomparable. The Tony-winning set by David Rockwell comes to breathtaking life, while the performances by Laura Benanti, Zachary Levi, Jane Krakowski (that split!) and the rest of the company are truly the stuff dreams are made of. To celebrate the occasion we spoke to BroadwayHD co-founders Bonnie Comley and Stewart F. Lane.
Congrats on the success of the live stream during the summer. What did you learn about the audience from that experience?
Bonnie Comley + Stewart F. Lane: Thank you! The She Loves Me live stream was an incredible production that was historic for the Broadway community – it was the first Broadway production ever to be live streamed. We learned that our audience appreciated the ultimate theater experience – a great cast, timeless story, and great production value! Furthermore, the overwhelming amount of viewers proves that there is an appetite for the magic of Broadway to be accessible to those who can't always make it to New York City which aligns with our mission of extending the reach of Broadway on a national and international level.
How was the international reaction? And what do you think it says about how Broadway goes beyond NYC?
B + S: The international reaction to She Loves Me was amazing! We had viewers from approximately 60 countries tune into the live stream. Many fans couldn't make it to NYC before this exhilarating Broadway production shut its doors. We were so happy to see that we are in fact extending the reach of Broadway to theater lovers everywhere. The notes of gratitude we received from viewers were incredibly heartwarming, and we are excited to continue to bring them more live streamed productions on a regular basis throughout the remainder of 2016 and 2017.
Did you find there was an "ideal" tech setup to watch the film? Did you enjoy it more on your TV than on your iPad for instance?
B + S: We found our subscribers liked to watch the live stream on many devices, whether it was their laptop or iPad. To further enhance the viewing experience, we recently launched apps for Roku, Apple TV, iPhone, and iPad, so our subscribers have many viewing options based on their various needs and preferences.
Did you find yourselves falling in love with parts of the show you hadn't noticed much when you saw it onstage?
B + S: She Loves Me is a show that you can watch over and over and over. Theater companies will see this production and decide they need to add it to their season. It will encourage more stage productions of She Loves Me. It is just a great musical. We keep watching it over and over, and the cast is so talented. We loved Jane Krakowski's high kicks and splits, Zachary Levi's dancing and cartwheels, and Laura Benanti's ice cream melted off her spoon and landed in her lap, and she cried even harder - flawless performances!
Will the version shown in theaters be the same you used during the live stream?
B + S: The version coming to theaters on December 1 is the same production that was live streamed a few months back but has been remastered for optimal viewing on the big screen.
What excites you the most about associating with Fathom Events?
B + S: We’re most excited about our partnership with Fathom Events because it brings a diverse lineup of productions to cinemas nationwide each year, giving moviegoers and theater lovers an up-close and personal front-row experience which in turn allows us to extend the reach of Broadway nationally.
Is 3D something you've thought about for the future of theatrical screenings?
B + S: We're always looking for new mediums, filming a production in 3D would be a fantastic way to enhance the theater experience.
The show takes place during the holidays, what's on your Broadway wishlist this year?
B + S: Family, family, family!
What other shows are in the works for live streaming or theatrical distribution?
B + S: We are constantly looking for opportunities for future live streams to add to our growing on-demand library of more than 160 productions. This year alone we captured live performances of She Loves Me, The Woodsman, Old Hats, and Buried Child. There will be exciting new shows coming in the next few months so stay tuned!
For tickets and more information click here. To subscribe to BroadwayHD visit their official site.
