Hollywoof Encore: Pro-Shot Broadway Shows

Article in The Guardian US:

John Adams said: "It's a sad commentary that Broadway has become so out of reach for the average Joe. Unfortunately, the article doesn't touch on how elements that are designed for one, specific medium are force fed into another it was not designed for; like forcing a square peg into a round hole."

Yes ProShots have become more common in recent years (as they should tbh), but its not a square peg round hole situation. Its called adaptation comes down to the director's ability to adapt. Filmed stage work been a thing since we had the advent of sound to go along with the moving pictures.

For me personally, I am all for it. It will not discourage me from seeing live shows but if I can see the original cast doing it after the fact, that's awesome. I first saw Hamilton after some of the original cast left and was thrilled to see the proshot. I think the concern that it will hurt a show is overblown. If anything, it might help the show's legacy. Would Into the Woods be the institution it is today without that recording of the original cast? I doubt it.

Updated On: 8/13/26 at 09:52 PM

Voter said: "Mr. Wormwood said: "For me personally, I am all for it. It will not discourage me from seeing live shows but if I can see the original cast doing it after the fact, that's awesome. I first saw Hamilton after some of the original cast left and was thrilled to see the proshot. I think the concern that it will hurt a show is overblown. If anything, it might help the show's legacy. Would Into the Woods be the institution it is today without that recording of the original cast? I doubt it."

I don't think anyone's saying it will hurt a show. Box offices for shows running after their proshots have been released say otherwise. Of course it would help a show's legacy, if it's a good show."

Maybe not in this thread but I have seen that argument before as to why more shows don't release pro-shots in the midst of their run

TheatreFan4 said: "Yes ProShots have become more common in recent years (as they should tbh), but its not a square peg round hole situation. Its called adaptation comes down to the director's ability to adapt. Filmed stage work been a thing since we had the advent of sound to go along with the moving pictures."

Yes, but they are two different mediums and inherently, the director of a ProShot is limited to creating an adaptation that is not meant for the medium they are working in.

Their hands are tied in respect to what they can accomplish in that they are bound to simply create a record of the blocking, lighting, choreography, even sound (to some extent) that was specifically meant to take the fullest advantage of stagecraft meant for an audience in an auditorium. A ProShot has no choice but to fall short when it attempts to masquerade as filmcraft, presented in a movie theater.

I know that I'm often wishing a ProShot had captured the entire stage (e.g., for choreography), or re-blocked an actor. Others, elsewhere have expressed similar issues in regards to how limited in capture a ProShot can be.

I go back to the quote from the article, "it’s hard to tell whether the accessibility of more Broadway shows will diminish the perceived appetite for full-on cinematic adaptations – or be seen as proof-of-concept that it need not take 20 years of audience-building to draw crowds to the multiplex."

As an example, I'd offer either "The Sound of Music" or Spielberg's "West Side Story". A ProShot capture of either of the stage versions does not compare in the slightest way to the "full-on cinematic adaptations" that were made taking full advantage of the medium.

Broadway shows are simply not financially accessible for people like me, but I feel a need to repeat: I do appreciate pro-shots, but I'd hate for them to become the dog's dinner served to those of us who can't afford Broadway.

IMO, screening ProShots in a movie theater, at movie theater prices, isn't something I'd like to see become the norm.

ProShots are for library archives, PBS and YouTube. The cinema is for movies that employ the movie-making skills in "The Sound of Music" and "WSS".

Given the mythical/fantasy aspects of "Hadestown", a real movie, with the right director, could be amazing. Slapping a ProShot up on a cinema screen (and charging movie prices for it) doesn't cut it for me.

Updated On: 8/14/26 at 02:25 AM

John Adams said: "

IMO, screening ProShots in a movie theater, at movie theater prices, isn't something I'd like to see become the norm.

ProShots are for library archives, PBS and YouTube. The cinema is for movies that employ the movie-making skills in "The Sound of Music" and "WSS"."

I don't really understand this. Anything that screens in a movie theater will eventually be on a streaming service or TV, etc. If you don't want to see it in a theater, then wait until you can watch it at home? Pro-shots will not be replacing musical movies like Sound of Music or WSS.

John Adams said: "Mr. Wormwood said: "I don't really understand this. Anything that screens in a movie theater will eventually be on a streaming service or TV, etc. If you don't want to see it in a theater, then wait until you can watch it at home? Pro-shots will not be replacing musical movies like Sound of Music or WSS."

Yes, you're absolutely right re: "If you don't want to see it in a theater, then wait until you can watch it at home?", and that's exactly what I do.

RE: "I don't really understand this", I'm responding to the (2) options posed by the author of the article: "it’s hard to tell whether the accessibility of more Broadway shows will diminish the perceived appetite for full-on cinematic adaptations – or be seen as proof-of-concept that it need not take 20 years of audience-building to draw crowds to the multiplex."

If the author feels that ProShots in cinemas might indicate "diminished appetite for full-on cinematic adaptations" or "proof-of-concept" in regards to ProShots being acceptable in lieu of, my response is a preference for full-on adaptations.

But, my post was in response tothe thoughts TheatreFan4 posted. I think it makes more sense within that context."

Gotcha! I understand now.

I don't think it will change the appetite for full on movie musicals. That has always ebbed and flowed in the last couple decades.