Bravo, the film and arts television network will kick off a special "Broadway on Bravo" festival on Monday, Nov. 5 with the American television premiere of Victor/Victoria starring Julie Andrews. The fest will also feature profiles and interviews with numerous Broadway big shots.
Victor/Victoria will play on Monday the 5th starring the original Broadway cast including Julie Andrews, Tony Roberts, Michael Nouri and Rachel York. The performance was taped at the Marquis Theatre in 1996.
Movie adaptations of musicals will also be shown, including Camelot starring Richard Harris and Vanessa Redgrave on Nov. 6, Hello, Dolly! starring Barbra Streisand, Walter Matthau and Michael Crawford on Nov. 7, The Music Man starring Robert Preston and Shirley Jones on Nov. 8 and Gypsy starring Natalie Wood, Rosalind Russell and Karl Malden on Nov. 9.
There will also be profiles and special episodes of "Inside the Actor's Studio" with Kevin Kline on Nov. 7, Julie Taymor on Nov. 9, and Nathan Lane on Nov. 10.
This 15th annual festival on Bravo is particularly important due to the difficult time for Broadway in the wake of Sep. 11. Bravo executive vice president/general manager Ed Carroll said in a statement, "In light of recent events, we understand that Broadway and the arts are more important than ever as a means of reflecting, reacting and responding. These artists have all volunteered their time to remind us that Broadway is alive and well at a time when we truly need it ... The show really does go on." To show support for the theatre community, Bravo has produced PSAs featuring some of the biggest stars on Broadway to run during the festival. Among those participating are John Leguizamo (Sexaholix), Robert Sean Leonard and Rebecca Luker (The Music Man), Patrick Wilson and John Ellison Conlee with composer/lyricist David Yazbeck (The Full Monty), Meredith Patterson and David Elder (42nd Street) as well as cast members from Rent and Contact.
"Broadway on Bravo" brings Broadway to an average audience of 60 million households a year, compared to the audience of 11.9 million people that attended actual Broadway productions last year. For more information check out www.bravotv.com/broadway.
— By Steve Luber
