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The holiday season brings a plethora of newly released theatre-related DVDs of interest. The two biggest titles, I suppose — and sure to be major best sellers — have their roots in television.

High School Musical 2: Extended Edition [Disney] is the sequel to the first "High School Musical," although by this point — given the numerous lucrative offshoots of the original film in concert, in arenas, on stage, on ice and who knows where else — this seems like the fifth or sixth generation already. The new version first aired in August to record-breaking viewership, and the DVD will no doubt further establish the strength of the franchise. An unofficial survey of preteens who happened to be hanging around finds that they like this one even better than the first, which is a considerable recommendation. Not all that surprising, upon reflection; the unfathomable success of "HSM1" no doubt gave Kenny Ortega — the canny director-choreographer responsible for this thing in the first place – a freer hand, a larger budget, and the time to really put on a show. Which is what he has done, in a manner that might turn Busby Berkeley the black & white equivalent of green.

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These spanking-new 2007 productions are joined by no less than 14 films of interest, musical and non-, which have been released in three box sets by Fox.

A six-disc set called MGM Classic Musicals Collection [Fox] could contain any number of titles, couldn't it? We've seen so many similar sounding collections that the umbrella title is just about meaningless. The box in question is rooted in the 1950s and 1960s, with five of the six entries having originated on Broadway. (The sixth, "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," made the reverse trip, and none too happily.) Not all of the films are even from MGM, technically, but let's not be technical about it. This collection is especially strong for Broadway fans, some of whom — alas — might already have two or three of the titles, namely "West Side Story," "Guys and Dolls" and "Fiddler on the Roof." (The extensive bonus features found on the two-DVD sets of these films are, naturally enough, not included in this relatively low-priced set. All six films are in widescreen.)

The fifth and sixth are the least "Hollywood" and might be the most interesting to musical comedy fans. Richard Lester's 1966 version of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" is problematic, yes; but even with its flaws, it brings us Zero Mostel's Pseudolus filmed within four years of the Broadway opening. (Between 1962 and 1968, Zero went from "Forum" to "Fiddler" to the "Forum" film to "The Producers.") Jack Gilford recreates his Hysterium as well, and they are accompanied by the grand Phil Silvers and Buster Keaton. (The young hero, Hero, is played by Michael Crawford.) Finishing the set is Broadway's other long-titled long-run hit, "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying." This adaptation, too, has some flaws; still, the presence of Bobby Morse is enough to make it required viewing. He is accompanied by stage co-star Rudy Vallee and Broadway replacement Michele Lee. Enough of the spirit of the original Broadway production is present to give you an idea of how very good Frank Loesser and Abe Burrows' Pulitzer Prize-winning musical really was. Those who know "How to Succeed" only from the 1995 revival, which seemed determined to wring every bit of humor out of the thing, are urged to take a look at this DVD, which is the closest we shall ever again get to the real thing. Continued...