Sophisticated Ladies (1986)

Memorable music and incredible dancing transport you into the Grand Duke's world! Here's the eye popping, foot-stomping, Tony award-winning musical extravaganza that will send you into jazz heaven!

Sophisticated Ladies was one of the first Broadway musicals to be broadcast live on pay-per-view television. The show aired live from Broadway on November 5, 1982.

According to a New York Times article by Tony Schwartz on October 30, 1982, 'Because members of the current Broadway cast could not come to terms with the producers of the live event, only two of them will appear in it next Friday. Phyllis Hyman is the only one of the leads who will participate.'

The broadcast had disappointing viewing figures, with the pay-per-view network reporting that 'among 613,000 of its own pay-television homes, some 62,000 - or about 10 percent - paid $15 each to receive the event. That would mean revenues of less than $1 million.' This was well below the investment of 'over $2 million' in filming the show live.