NBPT Docu Fest to screen ‘Bathtubs Over Broadway’

NEWBURYPORT — The Newburyport Documentary Film Festival is presenting the inaugural screening of the NBPT Docu Fest Series on Friday, Feb. 23, to celebrate its 20th anniversary, welcoming back an award-winning audience favorite that opened the 2018 festival, “Bathtubs Over Broadway.”

Sponsored by Dyno Records and hosted by the Firehouse Center for the Arts, One Market Square, Newburyport, the event will begin with a 6 p.m. reception and will be followed by the 7 p.m. screening. 

While gathering material for a segment on “The Late Show With David Letterman,” comedy writer Steve Young stumbled onto a few vintage records that would change his life forever.

Bizarre cast recordings marked “internal use only” revealed elaborate Broadway-style musicals about some of the most recognizable corporations in America: General Electric, McDonald’s, Ford, DuPont, Xerox.

Directed by Dava Whisenant, “Bathtubs Over Broadway,” follows Young on his quest to find all he can about this hidden world. Along the way, Steve forms unlikely friendships and discovers that this discarded musical genre starring tractors and bathtubs was bigger than Broadway. Featuring David Letterman, Chita Rivera, Martin Short, Jello Biafra, Florence Henderson, and more.

Following the screening, there will be a Q&A with Young and a live performance of a favorite corporate show tune and screening of a bonus vintage clip.

Ticket prices are $15/$12 for seniors/students. To purchase tickets online, visit the Firehouse website: (www.firehouse.org), visit the Firehouse box office in person or call 978.462.7366.

Be sure to mark your 2024 calendars for the Newburyport Documentary Film Festival taking place Sept, 20-22, and visit the website: www.nbptdocufest.org.