Wayback Wednesday! Vintage Videos of Hairspray, Brooklyn & More From the Broadway.com Vaults
For 14 years, Broadway.com has been on the scene for some of the most important events in theater history: We’ve seen Broadway hopefuls become legends, unknown musicals become Tony-winning smash hits and so much more. Every Wednesday in January, we’re opening the Broadway.com vaults to take a little trip down memory lane. This week, we’re dusting off vintage videos of Hairspray, Altar Boyz, Brooklyn, The Elephant Man and Sweet Smell of Success. Stay tuned for more rare clips next Wayback Wednesday!
Hairspray Rehearsal, 2002
Before it took Broadway by storm, Hairspray was just an in-the-works musical hoping to hit it big. This rehearsal video features a fresh-faced Marissa Jaret Winokur and Harvey Fierstein before they—and the now-iconic musical—swept the Tony Awards!
Altar Boyz Opening Night, 2005
God put the rhythm in us thanks to a boy band of five churchgoing studmuffins: The Altar Boyz. Before they were Broadway big-shots, On the Twentieth Century star Andy Karl and Honeymoon in Vegas’ David Josephsberg rocked earrings and muscle tanks in this vintage opening night video. You're welcome.
Brooklyn Rehearsal, 2004
Once upon a time, before a one-bedroom in Williamsburg was $1,700 a month, there was a musical called Brooklyn, where Broadway divas had belt-offs in dresses made of trash bags and bubble wrap. See fierce favorites Eden Espinosa, Karen Olivo and Ramona Keller make fireworks in an early rehearsal.
The Elephant Man Opening Night, 2002
Back when Bradley Cooper (the star of the current Broadway production of The Elephant Man) was still earning his stripes at The Actors Studio, Billy Crudup earned raves for his portrayal of disfigured 19th-century Englishman John Merrick alongside Kate Burton and Rupert Graves. Relive the star-studded opening night!
Sweet Smell of Success Opening Night, 2002
Ooo, what's that we smell? It's the undeniable star power of Kelli O'Hara as she originates her first leading role on Broadway! This gritty musical adaptation starring John Lithgow, Brian D'Arcy James, O'Hara and Jack Noseworthy played just over 100 performances, but it lives on in this opening night video from the vaults.