ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway

Play trailer

ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway

PG

Released Apr 25, 2005

1h 42m

Documentary

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

53 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Filmmaker Dori Berinstein charts the evolution of four Broadway shows from inception to Tony Awards during the 2003-2004 season: "Wicked," "Taboo," "Avenue Q" and "Caroline, or Change." Featured cast members and producers include Idina Menzel, Rosie O'Donnell, Boy George, Alan Cumming and Euan Morton.

Critics Consensus

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

Read Critics Reviews

Jason Clark

Entertainment Weekly

Theater fans will give it a standing ovation; others may be moved only to polite applause.

Rated: B

Nov 5, 2018

Full Review

Bob Mondello

NPR

There's loads of talent on display (from puppets to Boy George), plus plenty of dish about them all.

Nov 5, 2018

Full Review

Joe Williams

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

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

Oct 2, 2007

Full Review

Dave White

Movies.com

It's really people who don't see much theater - like me - who'll come away having actually seen something new here.

Rated: 4.5/5

Nov 5, 2018

Full Review

Phil Hall

Film Threat

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

Rated: 3/5

Apr 11, 2008

Full Review

Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone

TheMovieChicks.com

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

Rated: 3.5/5

Nov 5, 2007

Full Review

Read all reviews

Audience Member

A documentary that looks at competition and dedication.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/25/19

Full Review

Audience Member

I LOVE Avenue Q and I'm going to see Wicked soon so I was very interested in 2 of the 4 shows and so I really enjoyed this film. I found the cut-ins with the critics very interesting and almost wish there was more of that. More of everything really...

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

Full Review

Audience Member

very interesting movie about the road to a hit musical. I do wish it would have been more drama heavy with the backstage drama with Taboo and how different the San Francisco Wicked was then the final production

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

LOVED IT LOVED IT LOVED IT

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

greg c

For any Broadway fan, this documentary was so enlightening to see what goes on behind the curtain. I never knew Wicked had mixed reviews going from San Fran to NYC. I was also blown away how ironic it was you had John Lahr giving a so-so review on it. I loved seeing Carol Burnett, Kathleen Turner and Jerry Orbach as audience members of these shows and not the ones performing. Definitely worth watching this, even to relive the premiere of these shows.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I loved this documentary! If you are a fan of any of these musicals this is something to watch. This also really does show the behind the scenes of a Broadway play and what it takes to make it happen.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Dori Berinstein

Director

Alissa Anderegg

Actor

Kristen Anderson-Lopez

Actor

Boy George

Actor

Carol Channing

Actor

Kristin Chenoweth

Actor

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Mad Hot Ballroom

84%

83%

Mad Hot Ballroom

Watchlist

My Date With Drew

71%

57%

My Date With Drew

Watchlist

Trudell

31%

76%

Trudell

Watchlist

Wordplay

94%

80%

Wordplay

Watchlist

Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey

95%

87%

Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Critical Consensus: "28 Weeks" Is Bloody Good, "Georgia" Doesn’t Rule, "Ex" is Axed, Guess "Delta" Tomatometer!

View more photos

Synopsis

Filmmaker Dori Berinstein charts the evolution of four Broadway shows from inception to Tony Awards during the 2003-2004 season: "Wicked," "Taboo," "Avenue Q" and "Caroline, or Change." Featured cast members and producers include Idina Menzel, Rosie O'Donnell, Boy George, Alan Cumming and Euan Morton.

Director: Dori Berinstein
Producer: Dori Berinstein
Screenwriter: Dori Berinstein, Richard Hankin
Production Co: Dramatic Forces
Rating: PG (Language|Some Sexual References)
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 25, 2005, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 20, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $151.8K
Runtime: 1h 42m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital