ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway: Synopsis

"I just think there are enough neurotics who want to work in the theater, and, hopefully, they get their shot."
-- William Goldman in "SHOW Business"

Over the course of one Broadway musical season, "ShowBusiness" follows the four high-profile productions that would eventually become Tony nominees for Best Musical: a big-noise musical named "Wicked," the Rosie O'Donnell/Boy George collaboration, "Taboo," the much-anticipated Tony Kushner musical, "Caroline, or Change," and an irreverent puppet show named "Avenue Q."

From casting to staging, from previews to red-carpeted opening nights, from the announcement of Tony nominations to the suspense filled Tony Awards, "ShowBusiness" provides a never-before-seen look at the inner workings of Broadway musicals. Allowed unprecedented backstage access, director Dori Berinstein casts a camera's eye on rehearsals, backstage highs and lows, and the mysterious and wondrous creative process.

Featuring a star-studded array of Broadway icons as well as ambitious new faces, "SHOW Business" is a feature-length documentary that examines the annual influx of ambitious, star-crossed hopefuls, scrambling for the high-board to make their big leap into everlasting limelight. It could be any season, because this phenomenon continues as faithfully and ritualistically as swallows' return to Capistrano. This one just happens to be 2003 - 2004.