Favorite Broadway "pre-set"- Page 2

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 1:53pm

How did I miss the eight foot tall vagina? I'm tempted to go see the show again just for that.

[Weez]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 1:56pm

Well, the recent West End revival of 'Equus' will be making its way over to Broadway next year apparently, so I'm going to say that.

Nothin' quite as marvellous as strolling into a theatre and seeing those glorious cage-like horse heads glinting wickedly at you from the walls onstage. ^_^

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 2:00pm

yeah i kinda meant not the curtians of shows, more of the set that is visible when you walk in (but we can make an exception for wicked:)

[KQuill]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 2:26pm

Tack on another Phantom vote; looove Maria Bjornson

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 2:28pm

Agree with "Grey Gardens." That house is so great to walk into.

Despite all of its problems, I loved walking into the "Fiddler" revival. The show looked so cool with all the lanterns and everything.

Also, CMU's "Sideshow" with all the freaks lined up in front of the audience with their backs to us. (Yeah, I went there again...)

[Dancin Thru Life]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 2:31pm

LINK beat me to it...

Love the show or hate it, there's no denying that the rocking ship and changing Captain's Log before TARZAN was pretty awesome!

The ship was so real looking and when combined with the sound and fog effects, it was hard to look away!

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 2:38pm

the first 5 minutes of tarzan was no doubt worth the price of my student ticket!

yeah maria bjornson (RIP) is a Goddess of Scenic Design (and her costumes aint to shappy neither)

[waddledee524]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 3:18pm

I loved walking into the theatre for Spelling Bee because they did such a good job making it look exactly like an elementary school. It was so comprehensive and detailed.

[Christina Cooper]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 3:36pm

I love the Rent stage.. It's just right there in front of you.. never changing.. I just think it's pretty cool... And if u sit close enough you can see the actors and backstage guys on the side of the stage.. The enviroment is fun..

[Justin D]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 4:01pm

I forgot about Fiddler, that was nice to look at, and play with the plastic leaves that blew out into the auditorium.

and from what i have heard, lord of the rings has a stunning pre-set environment.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 4:10pm

As great as the show is, "Jersey Boys" has a ridiculously unattractive pre-set to anyone grading on aesthetics alone. Bleh.

[tourboi]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 4:27pm

As random as it is...I really loved the pre-set for the Livent/RUG tour of JOSEPH (Donny Osmond). You walk in and theres a black scrim down, and only a bit of stage showing, on which you have the Narrator's chair center, and the Dreamcoat on a hanger stage right.

So simple, and yet it's stayed with me. Dunno why.

[Coolness_]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 4:48pm

Taboo

[Jon]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 7:36pm

I'm surprised no one has mentioned URINETOWN. There were searchlights moving back and forth across the stage and audience. Every so often, a policeman would patrol the stage. And there was the sound - a mixture of hissing steam, dripping water, clanging metal - all with an echo effect - suggesting a factory/waterworks.

Then, when it was show time, a policeman crossed from stage left to stage right, leading a "prisoner". He opened the door of what looked like a holding cell, and threw the prisoner in. The lights came on in the "cell", and it was the musician's area. The "prisoner" was the conductor/pianist, who sat down and began the overture.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 9:24pm

The WORST pre-set I've seen, though not on Broadway, was definitely for Cirque du Soleil's "KA" in Las Vegas. There were bursts of fire coming out of the sunken stage, and, sitting in the front on a hot day, I could feel a great deal of heat every time fire came up. That made the environment very dry, hot, and extremely uncomfortable. On top of that, there were acrobats dressed as heathens/barbarians screaming in jibberish and leaping all over the audience, and occasionally "interacting with" (ie scaring) them. A horrible preface to beyond disappointing show.

[outdamnwench]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 11:54pm

Technically speaking, your pre-set is exactly where all props, sets, costumes, even actors are to begin each performance. However, it usually refers to which set pieces are on stage before a performance, weather there is a curtain or not.

The curtain and proscenium are not considered pre-set as they are technically not a set piece or prop at all but a part of the theatre, unless it is actually used in a performance (i.e Wicked).

Although, for the purpose of this thread, I would say Wicked is my favorite "pre-show" set. I love how it really sets the tone of the show really well and gives an artistic and thematic preview to the show and really sets a tone that stays throughout the show.

[Broadwaywest2]

Posted: 6/30/07 at 9:01pm

Mine would have to be the set to gypsy, just the barestage with the ghost light turned on, totally set the mood.

[The_Jackal2]

Posted: 6/30/07 at 9:14pm

I really like Spelling Bee's pre-set. I know it might not be the most exciting, but it really set the scene well. I saw it on tour, and there was a poster hanging in the lobby that is actually in one of my class rooms, which I thought was really funny.
I know it's technically off-Broadway, but I have to say I really liked Altar Boyz, just because, once again, it really did make you feel like you were at a concert.
Also, if we're allowing Wicked, I'd say that too, just because it's cool and magical and I about had a breakdown from sheer excitment when I walked into the theatre to see the show the first time :)

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 6/30/07 at 9:19pm

The Lieutenant of Inishmoore

The Boy From Oz

[jv92]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 12:53am

I've never heard the term pre-set used. Isn't this technically the same thing as a show curtain?

[broadwayboy1017]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 1:09am

Legally Blonde. So pretty!

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 1:11am

I think 'pre-set' means when there is no curtain and you see the set before the show. i.e Rent

[TapTapTapioca]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 3:52am

Grey Gardens

[Julian2]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 3:56am

Grey Gardens.

[My Oh My]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 4:08am

The Phantom of the Opera's is amazing. It really sets the mood right from the very start. I love the way the lights beam down behind the dropped curtains onstage and the theatrical smoke under them. It's magical.

Updated On: 7/1/07 at 04:08 AM