The streaming service Netflix have barely missed a trick over the past few years in positioning themselves as giants of the entertainment industry.
It’s understandable then that they’ve taken note of the 74% increase in viewers the Disney+ channel enjoyed as a result of them broadcasting the West End and Broadway musical, HAMILTON.
But Netflix are still mavericks at heart so instead of filming and showing a current commercial theatre hit they’re going one better and broadcasting what they consider will be a future box office smash.
As reported in the New York Times -
“With Broadway still shuttered, Netflix is doing for the theater community what it and other streaming services have done for the movie business: airing content that can’t be seen where it was initially intended. On Wednesday, the Los Gatos-based company announced that it will stream a specially filmed version of “Diana: A Musical,” a new show about the British princess, ahead of its debut on Broadway.”
This unlikely musical began previews on March 2 at the Longacre Theater with a cast including Jeanna de Waal as Diana, Roe Hartrampf as Prince Charles, Erin Davie as Camilla Parker Bowles and Judy Kaye as Queen Elizabeth. The opening was scheduled for March 31 but the premiere was shut down because of Covid-19.
The musical’s official website says the show will be “Coming to Netflix in Early 2021.” And apparently the plan is to record it, without an audience at the Longacre next month featuring the original Broadway cast.
I must confess the death of Princess Diana may prove too raw a subject matter to Brits who remember it but the pedigree of the writing team is first class so they might well pull it off without it feeling either distasteful or disrespectful.
The show is directed by Christopher Ashley, the head of La Jolla Playhouse, and features book, music and lyrics by Joe DiPietro and David Bryan. The team previously won the 2010 Best Musical Tony Award for MEMPHIS.
The lead producers, Beth Williams, Frank Marshall and the Araca Group, said in a joint statement. “Though there is no substitute for the live theater, we are honored to be a part of the quality entertainment that Netflix provides its subscribers worldwide.”
Next on the slate for Netflix will be Ryan Murphy’s film adaptation of the hilarious Broadway musical THE PROM, starring Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, Andrew Rannells and Keegan-Michael Key.
I've got so used to heartbreaking news of theatres closing or laying off their staff that it's a very pleasant surprise to hear of a major venue that's actually planning performances for this autumn.