Wait in the Wings

The Parody that Flipped Disney on its Head...

191K views · 1mo ago · 59:37

In 2013, Team StarKid reached a crossroads. Their musicals were getting bigger, costs were getting higher, and despite millions of views, the company struggled to turn online success into a profitable business. Founders Nick and Matt Lang faced a crossroads. They could continue with the model they always knew or they could try something different.

Topics: Chapter 1: The Crossroads · Chapter 2: Against All Odds · Chapter 3: Whole New World

How a Marriott Destroyed 5 Broadway Theaters

42K views · 3mo ago · 53:35

In March 1982, 5 Historic Broadway Theaters were destroyed to make way for a Marriott Hotel. Final Curtain tells the story of the Save the Theaters as they challenged powerful developers, city officials, Broadway producers, and even the United States government. The group waged a years-long battle to save the theaters that defined the heart of the theater district.

How One Man's Anger Created a Masterpiece

13K views · 4mo ago · 25:13

How did Larry Kramer's anger create one of the most important plays ever written? As the AIDS epidemic spread and those in power failed to act, Kramer transformed his outrage into The Normal Heart, a play that forever changed theatre and helped ignite a movement.

Topics: Prologue: The Fall of Gay Bastille · Chapter 1: There Will Always Be Enemies · Chapter 2: Don't Lose That Anger · Chapter 3: Act Up

Going for Broke: The Story of Allegiance the Musical

28K views · 5mo ago · 2:17:40

Allegiance was a story that almost never got told. Born from a deeply personal chapter of American history, the musical faced years of uncertainty, rewrites, rejections, and the constant question of whether audiences were ready to see a musical about the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War 2.

Topics: Chapter 1: Gaman · Chapter 2: Trial by Fire · Chapter 3: The Paper Flower

The Not-So-Tall-Tale of Annie Oakley

26K views · 8mo ago · 33:10

What was the real story behind the woman who inspired Irving Berlin’s 1946 musical? In this new Wait in the Wings documentary, we dive into the true life of Annie Oakley, the record-breaking performer whose real story is far more ambitious and surprising than her Broadway show. Through archival research and an interview with leading Annie Oakley biographer Shirl Kasper, let's separate the fact from fiction and explore how history turned Annie into a modern-day myth.

The 'Wicked' Lore of the Time Dragon

85K views · 11mo ago · 41:29

A key feature in Gregory Maguire's novel "Wicked", The Clock of the Time Dragon was always designed to be a spectacle. But taking it off the page from the stage for the musical required a special type of magic. This is a story about time, about looking at things differently, and about how a group of creatives attempted to bring a giant mechanical dragon to life.

ABBA and The Cold War: The History of CHESS the Musical [CC]

157K views · 1y ago · 1:54:47

In the early 1980s, CHESS was poised to be the next big thing. It was a collaboration between two of the world’s most famous pop icons, a renowned lyricist, and a legendary director. A musical about a championship chess match set against the backdrop of the Cold War, CHESS had all the right pieces for success.

Topics: Chapter 1 The Three Knights · Chapter 2 The Exchange · Chapter 3: The Endgame

The Puppet that Ate Off-Broadway: Little Shop of Audrey II [CC]

103K views · 1y ago · 1:00:54

This is the story of the chaos, collaboration, and innovation that went into creating one of the most iconic puppets in theatre history — as told by those who lived it. Standing Room Patrons Ann Marie Wilson anna Anne Dekker Anon!

Topics: Dream Me! · Chapter 1: Setting the Stage · Chapter 2: The Pods · Chapter 3: Bigger Than Hula Hoops