tel e vis leD review Broadway bares all PBS's six-hour documentary on the Great White Way is more than just another op'nin', another show By Michael Giltz
Broadway: The Amelican cowriter-director-producer Michael ABBA's Mamma Mia! and Billy Joel's Musical. Produced and directed by Kantor dutifully covers the high Movin' Out, while movie and TV stars Michael Kantor. Written by Kantor and points-if he doesn't speak to stars like pop in only for a visit. Laurence Ma.~lon. PBS. October 19-21, Carol Channing, Harvey Fierstein, Nothing here is revelatory, but 9 p.M.-ll P.M. Eastel11 (check local listings) Ethel Mennan, Nathan Lane, Stephen Broadway gets the job done. If noth Sondheim, Fred Ebb, Al Jolson, Tom ing else, its makers have certainly un t six hours, the new PBS docu my Tune, Chita Rivera, Joel Grey, and earthed a treasure trove of footage. mentary Broadway: The countless others, you can be certain (One complaint: Kantor should have American Musical is far too you'll see clips of them perfonuing. Air identified exactly what we're looking short. You realize this especial ing October 19-21, it's hosted by Julie at, since it's not always clear-re ly in the last hour, which tries Andrews (reason enough to tune in for hearsal footage? Opening night? A to gallop through 1980--2004, with nods some), and Kantor does a good job of Tony Awards perfonnance? A TV spe to the AIDS crisis, the showmanship of showing how Broadway led and reflect cial? Who knows?) Still, anyone who producer Cameron Mackintosh, the rise ed popular culture from the Ziegfeld cares about the Fabulous Invalid will of corporate backers like Disney, the Follies through the early '70s. be happy to hear that its songs (like "I passing of Jonathan Larson, 9/11, the That relevance fades away in the Could Have Danced All Night") and its megasuccess of Andrew Uoyd Webber, last two episodes, of course, since stories are as thrilling as ever. • Wicked, Hairspray, La Cage aux Folles, Broadway no longer churns out popu and a little show called The Producers. lar tunes that dominate the radio or Giltz is a regular contributor to Still, it's one of the most in-depth stars who tower over the culture. Now several periodicals, including the looks at Broadway ever attempted, and hit songs come to Broadway via New York Post.
THE ADVOCATE 1611 OCTOBER 26, 2004