We’re Waiting for the Movie

Say you’re the nation’s richest man and you run the world’s most influential software firm. How do you top that?

You star in your own Broadway musical, of course. Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates took to the stage of the Gershwin Theatre on Tuesday to launch Windows for Workgroups, a new version of his company’s highly successful Windows software.

While not a real musical, the $1-million promotional effort featured professional dancers and an original score. Microsoft is famous for lavish product announcements--it hired a cruise ship last year for one--but this was its most elaborate ever.

In addition to several thousand reporters, customers and analysts in the theater, 40,000 customers elsewhere saw the show through satellite linkups.

The new version of Windows allows personal computers to be connected so users can send each other messages, share files and printers, work together on projects and schedule meetings.