Fave Scene Designers? — Page 2

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#26

re: Fave Scene Designers?

Posted: 5/26/07 at 11:14pm

david rockwell......his sets are so so cartoony and fun!!!!

"I mean, sitting side by side with another man watching Patti LuPone play Rose in GYPSY on Broadway is essentially the equivalent of having hardcore sex." -Wanna Be A Foster. "Say 'Goody.' Say 'Bubbi.'" ... "That's it. Exactly as if it were 'Goody.' Now I know you're gonna sing 'Goody' this time, but nevertheless..."

#27

re: Fave Scene Designers?

Posted: 5/26/07 at 11:14pm

Wasn't a big fan of Louizos' set for Curtains. I enjoyed the backstage area but it just got tiresome. Actually that's not her fault. The book required too much time in the backstage area. She did do a good job with the saloon in "That-a-way", which, if you look into your "101 Greatest Broadway Musicals" book, you'll see pays slight homage to Destry Rides Again.

"Sing the words, Patti!!!!" Stephen Sondheim to Patti LuPone.

#28

re: Fave Scene Designers?

Posted: 5/26/07 at 11:15pm

As much as I love Rockwell's cartoony, fun sets, I'd love to see him take on a more serious show.

#29

re: Fave Scene Designers?

Posted: 5/26/07 at 11:17pm

^ Same. Though I think he has a great eye for playing illusions with dimension.

"Sing the words, Patti!!!!" Stephen Sondheim to Patti LuPone.

#30

re: Fave Scene Designers?

Posted: 5/26/07 at 11:26pm

I loved Louizo's set for High Fidelity, and being from Boston, I love the fact that she took plastic molds of the Colonial Theatre's proscenium to recreate the arch for CURTAINS. There was an article on her in the Boston Globe a while back; I'll try to find it.

#31

re: Fave Scene Designers?

Posted: 5/26/07 at 11:28pm

^true, but hairspray isnt a serious show? i can see legally blonde as not being a serious show, but hairspray, i think, is pretty serious. theres a lot behind that cartoony set : )
and he did do the set for phantom of the opera in vegas, and that set looks AMAZING!!
http://www.rockwellgroup.com/

#32

re: Fave Scene Designers?

Posted: 5/26/07 at 11:32pm

Uh, please tell me you were joking about Hairspray being a serious show.

I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.

#33

re: Fave Scene Designers?

Posted: 5/26/07 at 11:35pm

please tell me the definition of a serious show.

#34

re: Fave Scene Designers?

Posted: 5/26/07 at 11:35pm

Considering his avatar, no he's not kidding. And, no, Hairspray is NOT a serious show. The one semi-not really-sort of-but don't kid yourself serious moment lasts for all of two minutes. "I Know Where I've Been" is the closest the entire show EVER gets to being "serious".

"Sing the words, Patti!!!!" Stephen Sondheim to Patti LuPone.

#35

re: Fave Scene Designers?

Posted: 5/26/07 at 11:39pm

Examples of more serious shows:
West Side Story
Gypsy
Light in the Piazza
Follies
Sunday in the Park with George
Les Miserables
Fiddler on the Roof
Passion
Grey Gardens
and many more

"Sing the words, Patti!!!!" Stephen Sondheim to Patti LuPone.

#36

re: Fave Scene Designers?

Posted: 5/26/07 at 11:39pm

serious- of, showing, or characterized by deep thought
of grave or somber disposition

I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.

#37

re: Fave Scene Designers?

Posted: 5/26/07 at 11:43pm

In other words, not a show where integration, stereotypes, and racism are solved with a big brassy musical number.

"Sing the words, Patti!!!!" Stephen Sondheim to Patti LuPone.

#38

re: Fave Scene Designers?

Posted: 5/26/07 at 11:44pm

Aronson was such a genius, the book mentioned showed that his use of collage and color were just amazing.

#39

re: Fave Scene Designers?

Posted: 5/26/07 at 11:50pm

any show can be serious to anyone.
some people believe legally blonde is a serious show...THATS where it gets out of hand...

#40

re: Fave Scene Designers?

Posted: 5/26/07 at 11:52pm

Name me one person that thinks Legally Blonde is serious.

And do you honestly think Hairspray is a serious show?

I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.

#41

re: Fave Scene Designers?

Posted: 5/26/07 at 11:55pm

John Lee Beatty - if only for his valentine of a boathouse in Tallys Folley - it was amazing.

#42

re: Fave Scene Designers?

Posted: 5/26/07 at 11:56pm

I love John Lee Beatty's work for plays more than I do for musicals. Footloose? Anyone? Footloose?

"Sing the words, Patti!!!!" Stephen Sondheim to Patti LuPone.

#43

re: Fave Scene Designers?

Posted: 5/26/07 at 11:57pm

Husk have you seen any of Aronson's work on stage? I've seen Fiddler (mid 90s) and Cabaret (well not "live"

) and I think they're still so impressive both for being so influential but also for still being just perfect in and of themselves.

"Was it Don Walker who said nasty stuff about Whistle? I could have sworn it was Herb Greene, the conductor.
By the way, Mr. Greene (or Mr. Walker, this can apply to both men) had no business saying such mean things. Anyone Can Whistle's score was no less accesible than The Music Man's or Most Happy Fella's. For God's sake- Music Man starts off with a number that is through spoken with no orchestration at all! And one of them complained about Simple!?

I would have loved to see Aronson's take on Evita! The set for Prince's production was good, but did nothing for me. The lighting was something though. "

DId the set designer even do another significant show post Evita?

I'm pretty sure it was Walker who said that about Whistle--basically saying that it wasn't until he orchestrated them that you could even hear any melody... Wait I found the picture with the quote and it was Herbert who said it (odd as Sondheim personally requested him for conductor--odder too that it sounds like he was in charge of the instrumentation not the orchestrator, Walker)

re: Fave Scene Designers?

(https://www.finishingthehat.com/acw2 .jpg is also interesting but not relevant

E

#44

re: Fave Scene Designers?

Posted: 5/27/07 at 12:01am

Uh, guys, I think we may be defining "serious" in two different ways. In the sense that the show is (for Broadway) well written, well scored, and well acted, it's a "serious" show -- as opposed to what I've read thus far about XANADU, which seems to be in the "anything but serious" category.

But to the original topic -- Aaronson is definitely top of the list. His JB (and no, that's not JERSEY BOYS) was a spectacular piece of work, as was his CORIOLANUS. (As a side note, I dont believe Aaronson used plexi for the trees but instead a then-new substance called Luan.) The Eckherts were true innovators who appreciated the value of simplicity; it's a shame THE GOLDEN APPLE wasnt built the way it *should* have been, but with the materials we have now, we could have completely captured their vision.

But my tastes nowadays run more towards European designers, who seem ready to run with a concept and make it work, especially in opera. They seem to have an inate sense of how to take a warhorse like CARMEN or TURNADOT and make it completely new.

http://docandraider.com

#45

re: Fave Scene Designers?

Posted: 5/27/07 at 12:07am

I don't think serious applies to (most) comedies. I mean, Hairspray is well-written, but that doesn't make it serious.

I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.

#46

re: Fave Scene Designers?

Posted: 5/27/07 at 12:19am

not serious in the way that les miz is, but serious in that it IS a great productio, with great actors, costumes, songs, and overall design. serious as in it IS for real, not as in it is dramatic and somber....

#47

re: Fave Scene Designers?

Posted: 5/27/07 at 12:23am

WW and I know what you mean, we just don't think you have the right definition of "serious". Hairspray is a well put together, well written show (I'm not the biggest fan of its librettom but I adore the score) and it's fun with a good amount of heart and a bit of wit. It's not serious though.

"Sing the words, Patti!!!!" Stephen Sondheim to Patti LuPone.

#48

re: Fave Scene Designers?

Posted: 5/27/07 at 12:24am

wickedfan said it.

I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.

#49

re: Fave Scene Designers?

Posted: 5/27/07 at 4:21am

I am my favourite set designer! :)

(I am officially a professional working set designer now, so I can say that, hah)

Akiva

#50

re: Fave Scene Designers?

Posted: 5/27/07 at 7:13am

i love me some George Tsypin (He tends to do a lot of opera, but is currently working on LITTLE MERMAID). His sets are all quite epic... He put out an amazing book with some of his work, and I would suggest that everyone to check it out.

Also I'm currently digging Ann Lousizos (of Altar Boyz, Ave Q, Curtains, High Fidelity, In the Heights). I'm not sure what it is, but I like something about them. I watched an interview with her, and she seems liek she would be great to work with.

There are so many more designers that I admire......

fishes,
Graham!

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