Streaming Theater
November 15, 2013 10:39 AM Subscribe
I just learned that today is the premiere of "Waiting for Godot" with Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart in New York at the Cort Theatre. I am a Beckett-Fan as well as Stewart/McKellen-Fan, but since I live in Europe, is there any possibility that I can watch the performance? Will it be recorded? I couldn't find recordings for past plays at that theatre,so I guess the chances are slim. Any ideas?
Additionally, you could watch out for it on "Great Performances" on PBS (will possibly be available to stream on pbs.org, their player might be country-specific, though). They obviously don't do every play ever, but this seems like a notable enough NYC theatre event that they might.
This particular thing seems to have gotten enough media hype that I'd be surprised if it wasn't eventually available to the general public in some form. No idea when, how, or whether it will be terribly accessible to folks outside the US.
Looking at the "Team" page on the twoplaysinrep link, it looks like Berkley Rep is involved in some way. It might be worth getting in touch with them to see if there are plans for a DVD, PBS broadcast, or anything like that. They may be able to point you in the direction of who would be able to answer a question like that. (The Cort Theater is just a theater venue.)
posted by Sara C. at 10:58 AM on November 15, 2013
This particular thing seems to have gotten enough media hype that I'd be surprised if it wasn't eventually available to the general public in some form. No idea when, how, or whether it will be terribly accessible to folks outside the US.
Looking at the "Team" page on the twoplaysinrep link, it looks like Berkley Rep is involved in some way. It might be worth getting in touch with them to see if there are plans for a DVD, PBS broadcast, or anything like that. They may be able to point you in the direction of who would be able to answer a question like that. (The Cort Theater is just a theater venue.)
posted by Sara C. at 10:58 AM on November 15, 2013
Best answer: Unfortunately, the USA's Actors' Equity union rules differ in places from the UK's Actors' equity rules. And one of those places seems to be concerning recordings of shows - I know that the UK often has recordings of shows that people can stream or watch later, but that is forbidden by the USA Actors' Equity. The only exception seems to be an archival recording that gets placed in a video collection kept by the Performing Arts branch of New York's public library; it's accessible to the public, but you have to go watch it AT that library.
So if you're looking for something like what the National Theater or the RSC does, it's doubtful. However, what people say about the special nature of this show is true, and it's indeed possible some deal could be worked out - but that would be a special deal Berkeley Rep or the Roundabout would have to make with Equity. I'm not aware of anything in the works, but there IS a chance.
The Lincoln Center recording roomthreeseventeen is talking about is the archive for the library, and again, is only accessible if you physically go to the library and watch it there.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:30 AM on November 15, 2013
So if you're looking for something like what the National Theater or the RSC does, it's doubtful. However, what people say about the special nature of this show is true, and it's indeed possible some deal could be worked out - but that would be a special deal Berkeley Rep or the Roundabout would have to make with Equity. I'm not aware of anything in the works, but there IS a chance.
The Lincoln Center recording roomthreeseventeen is talking about is the archive for the library, and again, is only accessible if you physically go to the library and watch it there.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:30 AM on November 15, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:45 AM on November 15, 2013