Boulder International Film Festival: On Broadway

In the late 1960s, Times Square was, as John Lithgow puts it, “a rathole, with wall-to-wall junkies and hustlers.” There were loads of empty Broadway theaters, and attendance plunged by 50 percent in just four years, reaching an all-time low in 1972. What turned it around? For anyone who loves theater, this 50-year history of Broadway is a joy, packed with legendary stars and performances. Key players—Helen Mirren, Christine Baranski, August Wilson, James Corden, Alec Baldwin, John Lithgow, Viola Davis, Hugh Jackman and Ian McKellen—take us behind the scenes of Broadway’s most groundbreaking shows, from “A Chorus Line” to “Hamilton.” The film includes performances by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Patti Lupone, Bernadette Peters, James Earl Jones and Mandy Patinkin.​ On with the show!