NEW YORK (Reuters)-Old-
Old Broadway is entering the digital age.
The current round depends on millions.
The dollar's multimedia display has never been like it is now, and after years of being downgraded to a background state, the video is on the rise.
New musicals like "Sondheim on Sondheim" use sophisticated rotating computer screens that flash thousands of still and moving images at the heart of the story telling action.
Works such as "Sondheim" and "everday Rapture" play antics on YouTube.
For example, "Sondheim" includes a montage of people, from celebrities like Barbra Streisand to budding singers, their voices were "American idiots", "Enron" and "Fela" by composer's famous song rock band Green Day!
"Project news broadcasts about war, conflict, corruption and politics boldly produce videos, not just a small part of the set design.
"We are seeing it more and more in many Broadway productions," said video designer Peter Flaherty.
"On Broadway, the complexity of using video is definitely starting to improve.
"Sondheim", it tells the truth
The life story of American composer Stephen sorenheim combines live performances including singers such as Vanessa Williams with archival video clips and the recording interview of sorenheim himself, he can only be seen on the screen at the age of 80.
Flaherty says the composer is by far the biggest "virtual figure" on Broadway ".
He occupies a central stage in a spectacular structure with 54 monitors that will artistically transform into different shapes that interact with the actors.
"It's an expensive design," said Flaherty, noting that days have changed since the video was considered a cheaper alternative to designing props using physical sets.
"Video plays a different role," he said . "
The stage screen of "Sondheim" is run under the stage by a complex computer system at a cost of nearly $ million.
The cost of three video projectors and 43 LCD monitors similar to the "American Idiot (LCD)
In the TV, the TV is fixed.
For the screen of "American Idiot", adapted from Green Day's popular 2004 albums of the same name, flashing more than 600 pictures in the header sequence at the beginning, from the news clips of the former president of the United StatesS.
President George W.
Bush's warning of terrorism reflects the post-9/11 era.
"Sometimes they are used to comment on the story and sometimes they are used to help tell the story," video designer Darrel Maloney said . ".
"Daily ecstasy" uses YouTube in its storyline, including a sequence of the main characters of an interesting actress
Sync her recording on Broadway on YouTube.
But striking a balance between video usage and on-site action is one of the modern challenges
Some say the audience may say it's time to finish the show.
"One of the joys of drama is that you will see this living breathing organism, so the last thing you want to do is to stay away from it," said Maloney.