Best Scene Changes

The 1996 revival of "Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" in the opening number. I think it was all done mainly with lighting but it was impressive never the less the timing of it the change and the speed of the actors.

The curtain raises to reveal a dark and tragic setting with actors all in black standing and kneeling on the stage. Really just something you'd see in a dark Greek tragedy. The curtain comes down and 3 second later... like not an exaggeration it is LITERALLY 3 seconds... the curtain raises back up to reveal the the set totally transformed into a bright and colorful comedy setting. And the fact that the actors on the stage were able to get off THAT fast is what really blows my mind. They must have made a MAD dash for the wings to make the tight timing. I'm not SAYING you can find footage of it on the net if you look with the right search words on youtube... buuuut.... the Whoopi version shows the scene change best

The first show that comes to my mind is the production of 1984 at The Hudson Theatre a few years ago. Most of the show is performed within what appears to be a small, dingy interior space. As the story nears its climax and it is revealed that Big Brother has been watching Winston and Julia all along, the set literally flies apart - all of the walls grow much taller and move up and back, and all surfaces become bright white with extremely bright lighting as the protagonists find themselves inside the Ministry of Love. The change is both blinding and shocking.

Updated On: 6/3/20 at 08:08 AM

Rocky musical when the Boxing ring enters the front orchestra area.

King and I revival at Lincoln Center where this huge ship just enters the stage and goes over the orchestra!

There was a thread about this not too long ago:

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1118802#

americanboy99 said: "YERMA at the Armory- when the lights came up and there was suddenly a full living room, and Billie Piper was holding that baby... So good."

If anyone wants the magic spoiled this article does a pretty good job explaining it: https://www.surfacemag.com/articles/simon-stone-talks-yerma-set-design/

I wish there was a video that showed it happening in night vision.

Even though I didn't care for the show, I will aways be amazed by the nursery from Mary Poppins.

I absolutely hated the 2001 Follies revival, in part because everything leading up to Loveland was so sparse and dreary, however that did make the transition into the follies that much more emphatic, when suddenly this lavish set appears and transports you to a different world. Still didn't make up for the first act and a half, but at least that particular transition was effective.

Broadway61004 said: "I absolutely hated the 2001 Follies revival, in part because everything leading up to Loveland was so sparse and dreary, however that did make the transition into the follies that much more emphatic, when suddenly this lavish set appears and transports you to a different world. Still didn't make up for the first act and a half, but at least that particular transition was effective."



All time best scene change: Original Broadway FOLLIES - Change into Loveland. Jaw Dropping



Also: Original Broadway PACIFIC OVERTURES - When the boat appears and spreads out like a Fan.



Original A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC - when the amazing Birch Trees part and we see the mansion.



ASPECTS OF LOVE - when the mountains appear



PHANTOM - the grotto reveal

IDK if it's technically a scene change, but the wall lifting up halfway through the most recent Three Tall Women revival was such a brilliant way to indicate the shift that's just occurred, and it was also a totally bizarre optical illusion.

It may be obvious, but I will always think of the moment the barricade appears in Les Mis. As spectacular as it is from a mechanical point of view - with the set rotating from vertical to horizontal while moving across the stage - it's how the moment's used that's important.

The stage is dark and empty except for Eponine. Right before she runs off, the two hulking pieces of the set start moving in from either side, looming over her so you can see the scale. It's the ramshackle Paris set, made of wheels and stairs and planks of wood, only now it's turning onto its side to become the barricade. The orchestra is blasting ominous music, but when the barricade has been built across the centre of the stage, the music changes to the hopeful 'Red and Black' theme, and the students run on and plant their red flag.

(And now I'm talking as if it's still used in current productions, when it's been replaced with the static and literal touring set. Damn.)

Updated On: 6/3/20 at 05:35 PM

I thought the Act changes in the Roundabout's TIME AND THE CONWAYS were very memorable. Set by Neil Patel.