Favorite Curtains (/First-Impression Sets)?

[Joshua Rosenthal]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 1:30am

I know this thread exists, however it is a bit dated considering that there have been many shows since then. Likewise, this is a fun way to look back on theatre so far in a simple aspect I feel is overlooked often: the first impression. The curtain or set one sees upon ever wrong the theatre. So whats your favorite theatre curtain/first-impression set? I have many, however I LOVE the curtain for Hairspray, Legally Blonde, Escape to Margaritaville, etc. I cant seem to upload photos just now so I will try later, however you will probably get better quality pics on Google anyhow lol. BONUS POINTS of you can describe or even have a photo/video from an older show and/or short-lived show.

[Mr. Wormwood]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 1:36am

The preshow look for Moulin Rouge is probably the most stunning I've ever seen. The show is alright but the atmosphere created from the second you walk in is incredible.

Others that quickly come to mind are Matilda, Something Rotten (love the show curtain), and the Once on this Island Revival

[blaxx]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 1:54am

Mr. Wormwood said: "The preshow look for Moulin Rouge is probably the most stunning I've ever seen. The show is alright but the atmosphere created from the second you walk in is incredible.
 

You need to see more, love. An incredibly atmosphere when walking in? Cats at the Winter Garden. That detail would put Moulin Rouge to shame.

 

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 10:18am

The original production of Rent, more because it was one of the first times a Broadway show had a completely exposed look (no wings, stage crew and fly rails visible, all lighting instruments visible, a set that seemingly extended all the way to the back of the brick wall of the theatre (it didn't, but appeared that way), etc.).  Nowadays it wouldn't seem anything out of the ordinary, but 25 years ago, it was a very new concept and I remember walking into the theatre thinking "are we supposed to be coming in yet?" as it seemed so strange that a more traditional stage wasn't set yet.

More recently, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson with the sculptures, lights, dead animals hanging over the audience; A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder with their two-stage concept; and August: Osage County with its somewhat skeletal, almost toy-house like look.

[Fordham2015]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 10:34am

Kevin Kline's Present Laughter revival had the most luxuriously appointed apartment I'd ever seen- it got applause when the curtain went up.

On the other end of the spectrum, Gary's mountain of corpses elicited gasps (and Santo Loquasto should've won the Tony for set design).

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 10:50am

The "underwater" transformation of the Palace for Spongebob was spectaular, and it set the mood of the show perfectly.



 

[Mr. Wormwood]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 10:59am

blaxx said: "Mr. Wormwood said: "The preshow look for Moulin Rouge is probably the most stunning I've ever seen. The show is alright but the atmosphere created from the second you walk in is incredible.


You need to see more, love. An incredibly atmosphere when walking in? Cats at the Winter Garden. That detail would put Moulin Rouge to shame.

"

Oh OK, I'll rush right down to the Winter Garden when the pandemic is over to see that....

I've seen PLENTY of shows. No, I didn't see Cats but of the many I've seen, Moulin Rouge was the most impressive pre-show look. Not the most impressive show, mind you.

[Amalia Balash2]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 11:42am

Wicked!! I'm most likely biased (it was the first show I ever saw, so it holds a very special place in my heart), but I LOVE the curtain! And though it was simple, Anastasia's curtain had a lovely level of whimsy and charm without being too much

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 11:42am

Not the Winter Garden. Vienna, actually.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 2:43pm

The first two that came to mind for me were The Great Comet and Moulin Rouge.  Thinking back longer, the first one that comes to mind is Candide in 1973, which involved re-designing the entire Broadway Theatre.   I have tried but can't recall anything hitting me the way those did.

Re Tier 2, i.e., really outstanding but simply not in the same league as MR, Candide and Great Comet, I think of the original Sweeney Todd and Follies sets, In The Heights, Grind (the set was phenomenal, the show was atrociously bad), Dracula, and the Harold Prince Show Boat.  Interestingly, other than Show Boat, most of the other opening sets really were (virtually) the only set the show employed.  All the money went into one 'wow' vision.

I hated CATS so much that I can't even remember being particularly impressed with that set.

[Wee Thomas2]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 2:45pm

Urinetown has a really good atmosphere setting set/warmup

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 4:18pm

Do any pictures exist of Candide at the Broadway Theatre? How was the theatre redesigned?

[PatrickDC]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 5:58pm

Phantom is fun when you know how the opera house will be restored to its glory during the overture. No curtain per se unless you count the draping on the proscenium and tarp over the chandelier. 
 

And the Vegas Spectacular version was memorable to me with the four separate rings of the chandelier seemingly floating in mid-air over the audience before the start. 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 7:29pm

CATSNYrevival said: "Do any pictures exist of Candide at the Broadway Theatre? How was the theatre redesigned?"

It is almost impossible to describe.  The show was performed sort of in the round (but not really), with the primary stage being very small; there were tiny platforms around the theatre where people would performs select numbers.  Cunegonde sang Glitter and Be Gay from one of those platforms with people sitting literally next to her.  I remember one scene where Candide walked through the audience, excusing himself as people had to move their seats to let him pass. Seats were at multiple levels, and what would have come closest to the 'orchestra' seats were mostly stools.  I remember once sitting in the 'Dangling Section', which were well located, but were not seats.  I assume there was a cushion, but I don't know for sure.  You approached your somewhat elevated space and sat on the floor, where your feet dangled over the sides.  There was a 'bannister' that you could lean on and would prevent you from falling through.  It was incredibly brilliant and probably accounted for the show losing its investment, despite running 700 performances.  I seem to recall that the auditorium only sat 700 people...made me wonder at the time whether they couldn't have accomplished pretty much the same effect at the Circle in the Square and kept costs down, and possible been a financial hit.  Since they would have been able to seat people on the floor, they might have ended up with as many seats as the Broadway.  Nevertheless, the physical production was brilliant, as was Prince's direction.  Its multiple Tony's were well deserved, particularly welcome in a season where the new musicals were pretty miserable.

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 8:06pm

CATSNYrevival said: "Do any pictures exist of Candide at the Broadway Theatre? How was the theatre redesigned?" 



 

 

 

[teatime2]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 8:17pm

https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/search/index?utf8=%E2%9C%93&keywords=candide

Some great photos here!

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 8:18pm

CATSNYrevival said: "Do any pictures exist of Candide at the Broadway Theatre? How was the theatre redesigned?"



 

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 8:48pm

I rather liked the decrepit theater that you walked into for the 2000 Rocky Horror revival, especially when it broke away once Brad and Janet reached the castle

[chewy5000]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 9:13pm

More staging than set, but I very much enjoyed being able to get a drink from the on-stage bar at Once.

[joevitus]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 9:17pm

blaxx said: "Mr. Wormwood said: "The preshow look for Moulin Rouge is probably the most stunning I've ever seen. The show is alright but the atmosphere created from the second you walk in is incredible.


You need to see more, love. An incredibly atmosphere when walking in? Cats at the Winter Garden. That detail would put Moulin Rouge to shame.

"

Saw it there in '86 and don't agree.

[PatrickDC]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 9:17pm

The PIPPIN revival. I had just seen the Tony’s a few weeks prior so I knew it was coming, but the drop to reveal the actors was great.

[MollyJeanneMusic]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 9:23pm

I haven't gotten to see a ton of shows, but my three most recent had great pre-show atmospheres - Hadestown (that set is gorgeous and detailed and just brings you right into the atmosphere so quickly), Dear Evan Hansen (besides the set itself, the social media notification noises coming from the stage totally set the scene), and Oklahoma (by the nature of that set, you are just totally surrounded by it, and the light bouncing off the fringe flags hanging from the top was so cool and reminded me of open mics I've been to - it's the kind of thing where you see pictures of it, think "I want to be within that and surrounded by it," and then you suddenly are and it's so surreal).

[mailhandler777]

Posted: 5/7/20 at 1:40am

Jagged Little Pill for me. Just the exposed blue brick wall. No curtain until Act 2.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 5/7/20 at 5:38am

I liked the curtain and atmosphere for Tarzan. Unfortunately it all went to crap when the curtain rose.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/7/20 at 8:13am

I've always been partial to the first-impression set used for OUR TOWN.