Opening

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—— Alyce Kills May 24

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Coming Soon

—— After Earth May 31
—— Now You See Me May 31
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ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway (2005)

tomatometer

88

Average Rating: 7.4/10
Reviews Counted: 52
Fresh: 46 | Rotten: 6

Made with obvious care and attention, Showbusiness is an entertaining, insightful look into Broadway.

85

Average Rating: 7.2/10
Critic Reviews: 20
Fresh: 17 | Rotten: 3

Made with obvious care and attention, Showbusiness is an entertaining, insightful look into Broadway.

audience

77

liked it
Average Rating: 3.8/5
User Ratings: 1,790

My Rating

Movie Info

The documentary ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway journeys behind the scenes of four Broadway productions mounted during the 2003-4 theatrical season that ultimately garnered nominations for Best Musical: Wicked, the Rosie O'Donnell/Boy George collaboration Taboo, Tony Kushner's Caroline, or Change and the iconoclastic puppet review Avenue Q. The film provides a glimpse into each stage of the theatrical process for these productions - from auditions to staging to rehearsals to previews to

Oct 16, 2007

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All Critics (53) | Top Critics (21) | Fresh (48) | Rotten (6) | DVD (3)

For the Broadway babies out there, ShowBusiness will make you want to schedule a trip to the Great White Way.

July 12, 2007 Full Review Source: Time Out
Time Out
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Bright lights, big drama. A delectable trip down Broadway.

June 30, 2007 Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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This is an entertaining visit to a strange planet.

June 29, 2007 Full Review Source: Seattle Times
Seattle Times
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It is filled with neurotic people in greasepaint, some charming, most amusing, and by the time you've spent an hour and a half with them, you're more than invested in their lives and cares.

June 21, 2007 Full Review Source: Washington Post
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Along the way, the film includes insightful observations about the creative process.

June 8, 2007 Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
Top Critic IconTop Critic

In the end, I wish Berenstein had devoted her filmmaking to two musicals instead of four, thus affording even more screen time to each show's creative process (the audition process, the choreography, early rehearsals and such).

June 8, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Anyone who thinks show biz is glamorous and easy should watch this film.

April 11, 2008 Full Review Source: Film Threat
Film Threat

It whets your appetite for the stage; it certainly made me want to watch every one of these plays.

November 5, 2007 Full Review Source: TheMovieChicks.com

For those who believe there's no business like show business, this documentary will be a singular sensation.

October 2, 2007 Full Review Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

This sounds like the sort of thing that could bore to tears anyone not enamored of the musical theater, but in fact it's a compelling, often amusing look backstage.

August 31, 2007 Full Review Source: Oregonian
Oregonian

Thanks to Berinstein's celebratory but lucid documentary, now have a better sense of what it takes to make it on Broadway.

August 30, 2007 Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine
Boxoffice Magazine

It's a rosy and warty look at what makes the big shows happen, and what makes them tick. I hope you'll see it, even if you're not 'into' musical theatre -- it's really well done.

August 20, 2007 Full Review Source: Cinerina

Berinstein's film captures all the hopes, thrills and heartache of an endeavor in which every night is a high-wire act.

August 10, 2007
Kansas City Star

ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway is a tasty bonbon for theater buffs that has many fascinating backstage details.

July 21, 2007 Full Review Source: culturevulture.net
culturevulture.net

It's incredibly prescient of Berinstein to know where to be and get in there...It's a rosy and warty look at what makes the big shows happen, and what makes them tick. I hope you'll see it, even if you're not "into" musical theatre.

July 5, 2007 Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews
rec.arts.movies.reviews

By keeping the theme squarely on the process and the toll it takes on the players, Berinstein gives viewers a captivating look behind the scenes.

June 30, 2007 Full Review Source: Entertainment Insiders
Entertainment Insiders

The star-struck [Dori] Berinstein squanders her opportunity to ask some tough questions about the state of, and prospects for, the American musical.

June 28, 2007 Full Review Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Showbusiness: The Road to Broadway is essentially a valentine to a profession that filmmaker Dori Berinstein loves and admires.

June 27, 2007
KPBS.org

A fascinating document about the constant tussle between the show and the business of showbiz.

June 23, 2007 Full Review Source: San Diego Metropolitan
San Diego Metropolitan

Show Business misses lots of fascinating stuff.

June 21, 2007 Full Review Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press
St. Paul Pioneer Press

Audience Reviews for ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway

[font=Century Gothic]"Show Business: The Road to Broadway" is a blithely entertaining documentary about the 2003-2004 Broadway season focusing on four musicals - Wicked, Avenue Q, Taboo and Caroline, or Change, from the plays' conception to the 2004 Tony Awards with an amazing amount of backstage access. However, I do wish there had been some information for the uninitiated on such topics as applause which is heard after all plays and the TKTS booth at Times Square which offers half-price tickets to select Broadway shows on the day of performance.[/font]
[font=Century Gothic][/font]
[font=Century Gothic]In general, the documentary is concerned with what makes a Broadway play a success in this day and age when the critic of the New York Times no longer has the power of life and death.(By the way, no reputable critic should comment on the possible appeal of a play, just on how good it is. And critics vote on the Tony Awards.) The short answer is: who knows? As somebody mentions, producers invest in a show out of love. If they wanted a better investment on their money, then they should go to Atlantic City and play roulette instead. Some plays might have a cult following but that is not enough. What usually does not work is a big name which can actually work against a show.(By the way, is it just me or does Tony Kushner writing a musical just seem odd?) My best guess would be to find an idea that appeals to people who do not traditionally go to the theatre. For example, I generally do not like musicals but I think I would find Avenue Q or Wicked appealing. [/font]
June 4, 2008
Harlequin68
Walter M.

Super Reviewer

Pretty cool.
November 28, 2008
SunilJawahir

Super Reviewer

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