Film Lens
ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway is a documentary that focuses on the production of four Broadway musicals during the 2003-2004 season. Directed by Dori Berinstein, the film captures approximately 600 hours of footage, detailing the pre-production, openings, publicity, and reviews of the musicals Wicked, Taboo, Caroline, or Change, and Avenue Q. The narrative culminates with the 2004 Tony Awards, where Avenue Q won Best Musical, defeating Wicked and Caroline, or Change.
The film features interviews with notable theatre critics and includes discussions about the musicals and predictions for the Tony Award winners. It premiered at the 2005 Tribeca Film Festival and was released commercially in 2007. The film received critical acclaim, holding an 89% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and winning the Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary at the 2006 Florida Film Festival.
Why Watch
- •See interviews with Broadway stars like Idina Menzel and Alan Cumming.
- •Find out how Avenue Q triumphed at the Tony Awards.
- •Meet critics discussing their predictions for the Tony Awards.
Did You Know
•The film premiered at the 2005 Tribeca Film Festival.
•Avenue Q won Best Musical at the 2004 Tony Awards over Wicked and Caroline, or Change.
•The film was named one of the top 5 films of 2006 by the IDA.
Perfect For
Broadway enthusiastsTheatre criticsMusical theatre fans