Just throw some chairs up on stage!!
Just throw some chairs up on stage!!
#1Just throw some chairs up on stage!!
Posted: 6/10/11 at 10:46am
So i ran across this article, and it made me think about a debate i had with Bjh2114, and others who alluded to Boritt just buying some chairs and throwing it up on the stage for Scottsboro.
For me the minimalistic setting was perfect. And deserving of its nomination. Proves that there is still room for ingenuity, and thought, as opposed to just throwing money into flash and glam sets. 
https://www.cultureid.com/content/beowulf-boritt-on-the-scottsboro-boys-theatre-and-
#2Just throw some chairs up on stage!!
Posted: 6/10/11 at 11:21amLook what a jumble of chairs did for Grand Hotel!
#2Just throw some chairs up on stage!!
Posted: 6/10/11 at 12:31pmi didnt get to see grand hotel. are there clips of the chair work in that one posted?
#3Just throw some chairs up on stage!!
Posted: 6/10/11 at 12:33pmI agree. The award is for Best Scenic Design, not Most Scenic Design.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
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#5Just throw some chairs up on stage!!
Posted: 6/10/11 at 1:41pm
thank you for posting this. I agree that the award is for BEST Scenic Design, not Most Elaborate. The set for SB perfectly served the purpose of the piece, and I think that it absolutely deserves the nomination. In fact, I wouldn't be at all upset if Mr. Borrit won.
jimmycurry01
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/05
#6Just throw some chairs up on stage!!
Posted: 6/10/11 at 1:42pmSometimes the simplest scenic design is the best. The question that should always be asked is "How does the design serve the production?" Big flashy set designs can be fun but they are far from necessary to have a fantastic production.
#7Just throw some chairs up on stage!!
Posted: 6/10/11 at 2:56pm
trentsketch
did the chairs interlock and such? stack? how were they used. thx for the pic!
and im glad to know im not alone on the whole idea behind scenic design.
#8Just throw some chairs up on stage!!
Posted: 6/10/11 at 4:32pm
julesboogie, I couldn't tell you how they were used for sure as I didn't see the production. I do know the show used a lot of representational sets. This video shows a metal bar being used to represent the hotel's bar during a big song and dance number. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2w9HRWsafs
And this video shows that there are a whole bunch of chairs placed on the sides of the stage. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJ4MCkaT2Jg
This commercial for the show has a brief moment at the end where you can see a stack of chairs placed to represent a column of some sort, so I guess they moved them to form various sets. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=582yXM9oB1A
Broadway61004
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/14/11
#9Just throw some chairs up on stage!!
Posted: 6/10/11 at 6:17pmI agree that the award should be for Best Scenic Design not most elaborate Scenic Design. In this particular instance, though, I feel like what made the design effective was how the chairs were used onstage, which falls into Susan Stroman's work and her well-deserved Best Director nomination. To me at least it was more the use of the chairs than the chairs themselves, therefore I personally find Boritt a little undeserving of the recognition for it.
#10Just throw some chairs up on stage!!
Posted: 6/10/11 at 6:26pmThe chairs interlocked, stacked, and were constantly reassembled to recreate the locations. I think it worked fine. I love the skewed arches that light up and the sheer brown curtain for the court house scenes. For me though it was the brilliant lighting that made this show and allowed the set to be so effective.
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
#11Just throw some chairs up on stage!!
Posted: 6/11/11 at 12:34am
Broadway61400
Did you read the article i posted?
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