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ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway

Generally favorable reviews
Based on 14 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 8 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie >
Movie Info
Genre(s): Documentary
Written by:
Dori Berinstein
Richard Hankin
Directed by: Dori Berinstein
Release Date:
Theatrical: May 11, 2007
Running Time: 102 minutes, Color
Origin: USA
Summary
RATING: PG for language and some sexual references
Starring Kristin Chenoweth, Alan Cumming, Boy George, Tony Kushner, John Lithgow, Idina Menzel, Rosie O'Donnell, and Tonya Pinkins
ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway is a feature-length documentary that examines the annual influx of ambitious, star-crossed hopefuls, scrambling for the high-board to make their big leap into everlasting limelight. (Regent Releasing)
Also On The Web: Internet Movie Database View The Trailer Official Studio Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
New York Daily News Jack Mathews
What stands out, not surprisingly, is the work and passion that goes into the shows. But seeing all this from the inside creates an extraordinary level of empathy for those involved.
Read Full Review >The Onion (A.V. Club) Noel Murray
ShowBusiness is a smart, highly entertaining piece of cinema-reportage, but it never quite rises to the level of penetrating insight or emotional catharsis.
Read Full Review >Village Voice Matt Singer
Producer/director Dori Berinstein knows her way around a Broadway show -- she's produced 11 of them, including her latest, Legally Blonde -- and her insider status no doubt helped secure behind-the-scenes access as she tracks one season in the life of four musicals, and explains the unusual level of intimacy between interviewer and subjects.
Read Full Review >TV Guide Robin Snook
It's riveting to watch the shows' respective creators work, clash, whine, celebrate and commiserate as the season and their stories unfold.
Read Full Review >Christian Science Monitor Peter Rainer
Following the shows from rehearsals to Tony Awards night, she gets behind the scenes and does a good job conveying the incessant anxieties and glee of the talents involved.
Read Full Review >Chicago Tribune Chris Jones
Much of this strikingly human, rapidly paced and laudably well-rounded film is fascinating.
Read Full Review >San Francisco Chronicle Mick LaSalle
Captures the flavor of putting on a show on Broadway.
Read Full Review >Boston Globe Ty Burr
The film's slick and entertaining, an obvious must-see for musical hounds.
Read Full Review >Washington Post Philip Kennicott
ShowBusiness is not so clever nor so entertaining as the popular musical "A Chorus Line," which plied this territory more than 30 years ago, but it does go deeper into the mechanics of the business.
Read Full Review >Wall Street Journal Joe Morgenstern
Along the way Dori Berinstein's cameras catch gallant theater people doing what they've done since Sophocles was a pup: rehearsing, revising, worrying, learning, stretching, struggling to bump things up from good to wonderful and constantly, fervently hoping.
Read Full Review >Chicago Reader Albert Williams
Thrilling rehearsal and performance footage of Idina Menzel in "Wicked," Tonya Pinkins in "Caroline," and Euan Morton in "Taboo" is juxtaposed with thoughtful, funny, and revealing interviews with writers, directors, producers, publicists, and critics.
Read Full Review >Los Angeles Times Charkes McNulty
The film is a love letter to theater and the people who make it.
Read Full Review >The New York Times Matt Zoller Seitz
ShowBusiness is packed with telling details that the director, Dori Berinstein, was lucky to catch on camera.
Read Full Review >New York Post Lou Lumenick
You'll have to look elsewhere than this love letter to the Great White Way to explain why "Wicked" and "Avenue Q" became huge hits, and why "Caroline, or Change" joined "Taboo" as a costly flop.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this movie is 9.7 (out of 10) based on 8 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Jason R. gave it a9:
Great idea to follow so many shows, though it did mean that it didn't get as involved enough in each of the shows separately as I would have liked. Bill S. is right... should have been a series. Even if you haven't seen any of the shows, I'd still recommend it. You'll want to see them afterwards! (unfortunately for me - and all of us I suppose - the two I haven't seen are the ones no longer running).
Stephanie R. gave it a10:
Really loved this doc. It felt like a feature. What a great ride and fantastic characters I really cared about. And funny too! A rock solid 10.
Emily R. gave it a10:
I strongly recommend this film! It's not just for theater lovers. It's the best doc I've seen in years. And funny too!!
Lee S. gave it a10:
Brilliant! I saw it with people who don't love theatre and they loved this film!! What a ride. And so funny. Can't wait for the DVD>
Bill S. gave it a9:
I like musicals, so this was really wonderful. My only complaint - keeping it from a 10 - is that it didn't go as deeply as I wanted it to, because of time. What a great series this would have been.
