Sony will launch the new service, called Livespire, on Saturday with the musical "Riding the Metro" (Metro ni Notte) at three theaters in the 109 Cinemas chain operated by Tokyu Recreation. This run will expand to four more 109 Cinemas venues in June.

In June, in cooperation with the Amuse talent shop and the Nelke Planning legit theater company, Sony will also distrib the musical "Frogs” in four theaters in the 109 Cinemas chain.

The musicals are shot using Sony CineAlta HDC-F950 cameras, while Sony subsid Sony PCL handles filming and editing. Sony plans to use the Livespire service to market not only digital content, but its digital hardware, including the Sony-developed system for digital theater projection.

In the 2008 fiscal year, Sony plans to expand the service to at least 10 theaters and film five live events. Only about 100 of Japan's more than 3,000 screens are equipped with digital projection systems. Within three years, however, one third of Japan's theaters are expected to complete the transition to digital.

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