Posted: 7/21/16 at 12:16pm
I am looking at photos online but I would like to get some insight from BWW posters - how does the current scenic design for CATS@Neil Simon differ from the Original Broadway production at the Winter Garden Theatre?
Posted: 7/21/16 at 12:33pm
Could you post the pictures? I'm curious as well.
Posted: 7/21/16 at 8:57pm
Though I have no inside info, you should know that John Napier, who designed the sets and costumes for the original West End and NY productions back in the early 80's, is also designing the Bway revival. I suspect the environmental wrap-around set that filled the old Winter Garden will be rethought, but doubt they'll radically rethink the basic onstage scheme. Curious to see photos as well.
Updated On: 7/21/16 at 08:57 PM
Posted: 7/21/16 at 8:59pm
Apparently the revival is the 70th version of Napier's design.
Posted: 7/21/16 at 9:01pm
Was the inflatable set his design too?
Posted: 7/21/16 at 9:33pm
I saw the revival the other night, my first time seeing any production of Cats, and from what I could tell, the set looked pretty identical to the video of the original and every picture I've seen.
The only things that seemed updated were Mistoffelees' jacket and another cat's costume during his number, which lit up with bright LEDs that changed colors in coordination with the string lights that extended from the proscenium all the way to the back of the house and also rapidly changed colors.
Natasha Katz's lighting is gorgeous and includes a lot of almost video-like projections on the deck.
Posted: 7/21/16 at 11:10pm
Macavity, here's the photo I found of the Winter Garden Theatre set. It seems like it's designed to be "in-the-round". I wonder if they basically tore apart the theatre since the proscenium is missing..
Posted: 7/21/16 at 11:13pm
broadwayguy91 said: "Macavity, here's the photo I found of the Winter Garden Theatre set. It seems like it's designed to be "in-the-round". I wonder if they basically tore apart the theatre since the proscenium is missing..
Neil Simon (taken from the CATS previews thread):
"
EDIT: link to source for the WG set photo: http://www.musicals.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=78522
Interesting to note that apparently many foreign productions ditched the John Napier set and used different setttings such as an abandoned amusement park etc.
Updated On: 7/21/16 at 11:13 PM
Posted: 7/21/16 at 11:16pm
Ah, very interesting...
Posted: 7/22/16 at 3:20am
I was watching the Wiz the other day (the other Diana Ross version) and I was thinking. damn, the set design for that abandoned playground (The first location in "Oz" that Dorothy encounters) would be great for CATS.
Updated On: 7/22/16 at 03:20 AM
Posted: 7/22/16 at 3:36am
Call_me_jorge said: "Was the inflatable set his design too?
"
Pretty much yeah.
They did rip out the Winter Garden's proscenium I think. The original London design, in a theatre that had been a soundstage for tv shows for years was even more immersive and less proscenium like and of course had the audience seats on a turn table that moved into position during the overture. While it was a big theatre people have also said it felt more intimate
Posted: 7/22/16 at 8:55am
The were given permission to gut the interior of the Winter Garden for the original Cats on the condition that they put a bond down of several million dollars to renovate the interior to its 1920s glamour when the production closed.
Posted: 7/22/16 at 8:56am
I've heard about the turntable before and am not sure how it works. Is there a video out there or a better picture of the theatre that gives us an idea of how this works? I've googled it a lot and have been unable to find anything maybe someone else has better luck then me
Posted: 7/22/16 at 9:19am
The London turntable was very odd indeed, and really didnt contribute to the show at all, was just a 'wow' factor back then and something to do in the overture. There is an interesting note in the programs that state that late comers will not be admitted when the auditorium is in motion, lol.
But basically the stage aswell as about the first 5 rows or so were on this turntable, so when you sat in the regular seats you were seeing the set from the back which was very off putting because you were basically looking at the back end of the car and the tyre which seemd to block your view of the stage totally (depending on where you sat. I cant remember if it took the entire overture to rotate or not, there was also that weird circle of lights that started down on stage and rose up to the roof, another pointless thing that at the time was cool to see. When I went backstage I was told of a night when the revolve would not work and they had to hold the show for about an hour to rotate it manually.
The wintergarden had parts taken out (not sure if the actual proscenium was removed entirely though. The boxes were as they were not sold (I dont think) and they had some on stage seats aswell. They said they ripped a hole in the roof for Grizabella's exit but Im not sure exactly where, seems from watching the add that the heaviside lift was infront or at the proscenium so maybe she went through a hole in the arch just before the dome. I dont know why she couldnt have just gone up into the flies.
I think too they painted the whole auditorium black, but not 100% sure. The stage also comes out further into the orchestra and those few seats were reconfigured to be more in the round.
So basically the wintergarden version was wider than the current version
Posted: 7/22/16 at 9:28am
Thanks for explaining that odd concept! It seems as if it was very interesting and cool for its time. For the lights rising from the stage they have it in this current production as well. In regards to the winter garden theatre, from what I remember from when I was five they built the junkyard around the boxes and I believe I remember reading or watching a video when they said they ripped a hole in the roof to fit her grand exit but I can't remember were I read/watched it.
Posted: 7/22/16 at 11:34am
Here are some pics from the Original London run
Grizabella's somewhat diminished ascent mechanism. When used as a traditional proscenium theatre, the proscenium goes roughly where that division of seats are in the balcony
Updated On: 7/22/16 at 11:34 AM
Posted: 7/22/16 at 11:38am
the 'door' on the backdrop is where Tugger makes his entrance
these first 4 rows are the section that rotates
orchestra 'pit' stage right
Updated On: 7/22/16 at 11:38 AM
Posted: 7/22/16 at 11:42am
view of the house. at the top of the show the stage is reversed so those sitting in the middle of that bank of seats would be looking at the back of the car trunk/tire
Updated On: 7/22/16 at 11:42 AM
Posted: 7/22/16 at 12:04pm
I know for the Winter Garden set, the fire wall (at the proscenium line) was bisected by the track that carried the giant tyre base, and a telescoping ramp/ stair unit extended down from the theater ceiling to meet the tire mid-orchestra.
Posted: 7/22/16 at 12:04pm
It should also be noted that the original London production played at The New London Theatre. A theatre that has a thrust stage rather than a porcineum which the Winter Garden has. Therefor, adjustments had to be made. If you're looking for a recent visual comparison, take a look at War Horse when it was on Broadway vs the tour.
Posted: 7/22/16 at 12:23pm
those pictures are INCREDIBLE. Thanks so much for posting. Any photos like that exist of the original broadway version?
Posted: 7/22/16 at 1:41pm
there is a photo in that cats book i have of the broadway model, will have to scan it if i can
Posted: 7/22/16 at 3:05pm
Natasha Katz's lighting is gorgeous and includes a lot of almost video-like projections on the deck.
I also thought the lighting was amazing and the floor projections we're really cool. There's a projection designer listed in the playbill so I bet it wasn't all just plain lighting and was a lot of video projections. Really cool usage!
Posted: 7/22/16 at 3:28pm
Those photos are great but I do not understand how it worked... Did the seats and stage rotate? Where was the set and the four rows that rotated at pre show? I can't picture how it worked or where everything was at start of show.
Posted: 7/22/16 at 3:47pm
EvanK said: "Those photos are great but I do not understand how it worked... Did the seats and stage rotate? Where was the set and the four rows that rotated at pre show? I can't picture how it worked or where everything was at start of show.
"
From how I remember it (more than 20 years ago), the rotation wasn't anywhere close to a full circle, more like maybe from 8 o'clock to 6 o'clock max (if that makes sense). Teheran set was therefore only slightly turned in to where it would be for the full show. I sat in front row left, in the block not directly at the aisle to the stage. Was just a little trick, but forgettable compared to the real show.
