Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age is the sequel to the feature film documentary Broadway: The Golden Age, which documented American theater in the 30s, 40s and 50s. This second installment of director Rick McKay's Broadway film trilogy continues the story from the legendary Broadway season of 1959 (Gypsy, Raisin in the Sun, Once Upon a Mattress, etc.) through the tumultuous 60s (Hair, Oh, Calcutta, etc.), the revolutionary 70s (Sondheim, A Chorus Line, Chicago, etc.), up to the opening night of David Merrick and Gower Champion's 42nd Street in 1980. Once again, McKay tells the story with in depth, candid, personal interviews with over 100 newly filmed, legendary stars, while incorporating never before seen footage of the original productions, as well as home movies and photos from the stars' own personal collections, bringing to life a lost era in American history. Many of the stars of the film went on to become household names from their subsequent fame in film and television, and talk of the differences in the mediums and how the theater gave them the foundation for their success in front of the camera.

Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age is the sequel to the feature film documentary Broadway: The Golden Age, which documented American theater in the 30s, 40s and 50s. This second installment of director Rick McKay's Broadway film trilogy continues the story from the legendary Broadway season of 1959 (Gypsy, Raisin in the Sun, Once Upon a Mattress, etc.) through the tumultuous 60s (Hair, Oh, Calcutta, etc.), the revolutionary 70s (Sondheim, A Chorus Line, Chicago, etc.), up to the opening night of David Merrick and Gower Champion's 42nd Street in 1980. Once again, McKay tells the story with in depth, candid, personal interviews with over 100 newly filmed, legendary stars, while incorporating never before seen footage of the original productions, as well as home movies and photos from the stars' own personal collections, bringing to life a lost era in American history. Many of the stars of the film went on to become household names from their subsequent fame in film and television, and talk of the differences in the mediums and how the theater gave them the foundation for their success in front of the camera.

A naive young dancer in a Broadway show innocently gets involved in backstage bootlegging and murder.

A naive young dancer in a Broadway show innocently gets involved in backstage bootlegging and murder.

In their own words, and not a moment too soon - 'Broadway' tells the stories of our theatrical legends, how they came to New York, and how they created this legendary century in American theatre. This may be the last chance that these stories may be documented, for unlike film and television, live theatre exists only in the memories of those who were there watching, or more importantly, creating this magic. 'Broadway' tells the stories of these legendary performers, composers and writers while illustrating their tales with amazing, rare, archival performance footage and these legends' own home movies and photos.

In their own words, and not a moment too soon - 'Broadway' tells the stories of our theatrical legends, how they came to New York, and how they created this legendary century in American theatre. This may be the last chance that these stories may be documented, for unlike film and television, live theatre exists only in the memories of those who were there watching, or more importantly, creating this magic. 'Broadway' tells the stories of these legendary performers, composers and writers while illustrating their tales with amazing, rare, archival performance footage and these legends' own home movies and photos.

Once upon a time in the USA, Broadway and Business had a baby: the Corporate Musical. This is the story of one of Capitalism's strangest creations and the comedy writer obsessed with rescuing this hidden world from obscurity. With David Letterman, Martin Short, Susan Stroman, Jello Biafra and more.

“The Americans invented jazz to make up for death, the star to recover from women. To comfort themselves faced with the night, they invented Broadway. Every evening in downtown New York, an artificial day begins. Its purpose is to advertise the shows, vaunt the products, and the inventors of these adverts would be quite astonished to discover that the most fascinating spectacle, the most precious object, is the street transfigured by their signage. This day has its own inhabitants, its shadows, its mirages, its ceremonies. It also has its own sun…” (Chris Marker) 　　“The first film I’ve seen in which colour is absolutely necessary.” (Orson Welles)

Once upon a time in the USA, Broadway and Business had a baby: the Corporate Musical. This is the story of one of Capitalism's strangest creations and the comedy writer obsessed with rescuing this hidden world from obscurity. With David Letterman, Martin Short, Susan Stroman, Jello Biafra and more.

“The Americans invented jazz to make up for death, the star to recover from women. To comfort themselves faced with the night, they invented Broadway. Every evening in downtown New York, an artificial day begins. Its purpose is to advertise the shows, vaunt the products, and the inventors of these adverts would be quite astonished to discover that the most fascinating spectacle, the most precious object, is the street transfigured by their signage. This day has its own inhabitants, its shadows, its mirages, its ceremonies. It also has its own sun…” (Chris Marker) 　　“The first film I’ve seen in which colour is absolutely necessary.” (Orson Welles)