The Last Play at Shea (2010)

Directors:

Paul Crowder
Jon Small

Writer:

Mark Monroe

Genre:

Documentary | Music

Plot:

A documentary feature chronicling the history of two New York icons and the journey that brought them together for the last musical performance at Shea Stadium. |

Cast

Alec Baldwin	...	Narrator (voice)
Dan Barry	...	Himself
Tony Bennett	...	Himself
Garth Brooks	...	Himself
Roger Daltrey	...	Himself
Pete Flynn	...	Himself
Don Henley	...	Himself
Keith Hernandez	...	Himself
Billy Joel	...	Himself
Paul McCartney	...	Himself
Mike Piazza	...	Himself
Tom Seaver	...	Himself
Darryl Strawberry	...	Himself
Steven Tyler	...	Himself

Directed by
Paul Crowder
Jon Small		(concert footage)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Mark Monroe

Produced by
Sarah Anthony	....	associate producer
Alexander Yves Brunner	....	co-executive producer
Steve Cohen	....	producer
Todd Kamelhar	....	executive producer
Don Lepore	....	co-producer
Nigel Sinclair	....	producer
Shelby Werwa	....	co-producer
Greg Whiteley	....	executive producer
Glen Zipper	....	executive producer

Original Music by
David Rosenthal

Cinematography by
Roderick A. Santiano		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Paul Crowder
Mike Nichols

Makeup Department
Joe Bull	....	makeup artist
Tony Priani	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Jesse Craine	....	production manager (live concert footage)
Alexandra De La Vega	....	production supervisor
Michele Farinola	....	executive in charge of production
Mike Nichols	....	post-production supervisor
Josh Richards	....	production manager

Sound Department
Darren Barnett	....	sound re-recording mixer
Darren Barnett	....	supervising sound editor
Michael Bergman	....	location sound
Mike Nichols	....	post audio supervisor
Mike Nichols	....	sound editor
Patrick Owen	....	sound recordist: UK
Tara Paul	....	sound effects editor
Joel Singer	....	recording engineer
Andrew Twite	....	sound recordist
Joshua Wilkinson	....	production sound mixer

Visual Effects by
Nick Knudson	....	digital effects artist
Mike Nichols	....	digital compositor

Camera and Electrical Department
Tom Beck	....	lighting director
Marc Bloomgarden	....	camera operator
Eric R. Boyer	....	remote camera technician
Bob Calandro	....	grip
Michael Clevenger	....	camera operator
Rick Compeau	....	remote head grip
Ted Erne	....	remote camera specialist
James Gordon Cooper	....	key grip
Steven Joyce	....	videotape operator
Mark Molesworth	....	camera operator
Ron Travisano	....	remote camera specialist

Editorial Department
Mike Nichols	....	24fps conversion
Mike Nichols	....	colorist
Mike Nichols	....	on-line editor
Adam Ridley	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Jill Meyers	....	music clearances
Jay Vicari	....	music mixed by
Drew Bayers	....	music coordinator (uncredited)

Other crew
Harry Eagle	....	production assistant: uk
Michele Farinola	....	executive in charge of production
Adam Leibowitz	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Diamond Docs (in association with)
• Maritime Motion Pictures
• Music Mix Mobile
• Spitfire Pictures

Distributors

• D&E Entertainment (2010) (USA) (theatrical)
• Newmarket Films (2010) (USA) (theatrical)

Other Companies

• Atlantic Cine Equipment  tracking systems, camera towers, remote heads
• Awesome and Modest  animation
• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Shea Stadium - 12301 Roosevelt Avenue, Flushing Meadows Park, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Diamond Docs

Movie Connections:

Features "Great Performances: Billy Joel: Live at Shea Stadium (#39.12)" (2011)

Not Your Typical 'Concert Film' But Marvelous

Last Play at Shea, The (2010)

**** (out of 4)

Exceptional documentary about the final two shows that Billy Joel performed at the famous Shea Stadium. If you're expecting your typical concert film then you're going to be disappointed because what here is so much more than just that. In fact, I'd say that the concert at Shea actually gets the least amount of running time but that's okay because the documentary works so extremely well that you got to respect what the filmmakers were going for. The film not only shows the final two shows but we get a complete history of Shea Stadium from its construction to the other famous musical acts that played there and we even cover the Mets' history at the stadium. Other events like 9/11 are covered later in the picture as well. The documentary also serves as a reminder of the career of Joel and it was a very interesting idea show what the musician and the stadium were doing year by year. I found this to be an incredibly original way to show something because we've really got three different moves rolled into one and each of them work extremely well. Being a non-New Yorker it was interesting to see the history of Shea and how it was considered a "dumb" because of where it was originally built. It was also great learning about Joel who opens up about several issues including his marriages, going broke, his drinking and the fact that he's gone so long without writing new material. The concert footage is also extremely good with Joel going all out and deliver fine versions of many classics including New York State of Mind, Piano Man and Only the Good Die Young. As well as this footage we also get countless bits and pieces from earlier in Joel's career. Finally, the documentary also shines the light on perhaps the most famous event at Shea and that was The Beatles concert. Not only do we get clips from that night but the film closes out with Paul McCartney joining Joel on stage for a couple songs. All in all, THE LAST PLAY AT SHEA isn't exactly what you'd expect it to be but that's what makes it so special.