AIN'T WE PROUD to know we're able to watch some of the best filmed performances of Broadway in the comfort of our own homes during this rough time. Most recently, Playbill has officially launched their all new PLAYBILL PLAYBACK series (a brand new series in which old and recent favorite musicals are streamed on their website). For their first episode, get ready to WELCOME HOME the boys of the Donny Nova Band as they stream the fully captured performance of the Tony Award winning SWING-SENSATIONAL hit Bandstand with the original cast.
It will be available to watch on Playbill.com from now till April 17th, 2020. The price to watch it is $6.99 with proceeds going directly to The Actors Fund. Once the payment is proceed, viewers will be able to watch it for only 3 days.
For anyone who may not know of BANDSTAND, it's set in 1945 at the end of World War II. The story centers on veteran and musical prodigy "Donny Novitski" (played by Corey Cott) and a group of friends coming home and struggling with going back to their normal lives due to the lingering effects of the war (including post-traumatic stress and survivor's guilt). After hearing of a radio contest in honor of the troops, the friends along with widower "Julia Trojan" (played by Tony nominee Laura Osnes) form a swing band and try to make it to the top. The musical features an original score and book by Richard Oberacker and Robert Taylor. Notable songs include JUST LIKE IT WAS BEFORE, DONNY NOVITSKI, LOVE WILL COME AND FIND ME AGAIN, NOBODY, and WELCOME HOME. It became the first Broadway musical 6 Certified by the organization Got Your 6 (which gets military veterans portrayed more accurately in Entertainment).
BANDSTAND originally had a development lab in 2014 before having it's world premiere at New Jersey's Paper Mill Playhouse the following year. It officially arrived on Broadway in April 2017 playing the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre running for 24 previews and 166 regular performances. Under the direction and choreography by Tony Award winner Andy Blankenbuehler, the cast was led by….
Corey Cott as war vet, musical prodigy, and pianist "Donny Novitski",
2 time Tony nominee Laura Osnes as widower and vocalist "Julia Trojan",
Tony winner Beth Leavel as Julia's mother herself "Mrs. June Adams",
James Nathan Hopkins as war vet along with saxophone and clarinet player "Jimmy Campbell",
Brandon J. Ellis as war vet along with bassist "Davy Zlatic",
Alex Bender (later Joey Pero who was injured before rehearsals began and didn't join the Broadway cast till June 2017) as war vet along with trumpeter "Nick Radel",
Geoff Packard as war vet along with trombonist "Wayne Wright",
and Joe Carroll as war vet along with drummer "Johnny Simpson".
The original Broadway production was nominated for 2 Tony Awards that same year winning only 1 for Best Choreography (for Andy Blankenbuehler's unbelievable swinging moves).
Prior before its Broadway closing was when this show was filmed. Following its closure, this filmed performance was released for 2 engagements in Movie Theaters both in June and November of 2018.
BANDSTAND embarked on its 1st (and Non-Equity) National Tour this past Fall 2019. It was still touring before the production was abruptly shut down due to the current COVID-19 crisis.
Along with its life after Broadway, Samuel French Inc. secured the rights to the show. You can expect to see the show being performed in schools along with community and regional theaters everywhere.
How amazing is this?
Stream the Broadway Musical – Bandstand
Stream the Broadway Musical – Bandstand
Love our posts? Click here to follow us on Facebook!
Wanna Book a Tour? Click here!
