Broadway shows are becoming embarrassingly cheap-looking — Page 2

mememe said: "Anyone would think we’ve been through a global pandemic, and new production budgets reflect this."

And yet they are charging astronomical prices to pretty much anything. I get it. Many don’t care about sets. But fyi, many do, and many do not follow theatre as close as we do and will be extremely disappointed when they find out they paid $299 to see Jessica Chastain sitting in a chair on a bare stage for an entire show.

There was a time when new Broadway shows would open with gigantic sets and critics would knock the new musical for being "soul-less" and "Just about the design". Or "Pretty to look at but not much else going on". It seems to me that Broadway shows shy away from the "Garish big sets" these days because they get knocked for them sometimes.



The article is accurate though. You don't see big sets anymore and with how expensive tickets are these days, you expect to see your money onstage.



Some shows really have gone the cheap route. Recent ones off the top of my head are: Frozen, Camelot, Sweeney Todd, Funny Girl, Charlie and the Chocolate factory ( the sets in London were fantastic. The sets we got on Broadway were awful.)

Updated On: 3/22/23 at 11:19 PM

Dolly80 said: "American set design, particularly on Broadway is often cheap looking, whether there is lots of scenery or not. - hello Pretty woman, Tootsie, anything by David Rockwell generally.


I do think that questioning high ticket prices when there is no set like Into the woods is completely valid, and it’s blatantly obvious that these shows that look cheap but have expensive tickets are just lining producers pockets.


how can you equate paying the same for Moulin Rouge as Into the Woods?"



Into the Woods boasted an incredible roster of Broadway stars and a wonderful orchestra. Comparing it to Moulin Rouge, which admittedly has a beautiful set and some great talent, as well, is apples and oranges. I was thrilled to pay for Into the Woods several times and will always remember it as the experience of a lifetime.

Why do people on here keep falling for the vitriol of the fascist press?

Someone in a Tree2 said: "Though I'm not a great fan of David Rockwell's set designs, even I have to concede that his designs for SHE LOVES ME, ON THE 20TH CENTURY and THE NORMAL HEART were in fact superb."

Adding his delightful turntable for that great Roundabout YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU revival to that list.

Agreed. Pi is a brilliant example of great design, but only what’s needed to perfectly serve the piece.