Most impressive special effect- Page 2

[futurewinnerbud]

Posted: 12/27/04 at 1:11am

The Sets and scene chances in Caroline Or Change werew extremly impressive to me. Its almost like scenes seemlessly floated into eachother, especially inbetween Rose Stopnick Can Cook and Long Distance. Then theres the Act 1 closer when the Moon sings "Shine So Bright" and the moon has a huge bean of light coming from her upper left side. SO COOL! It isnt really like "speical effects" but to me that was the most impressive.

Mufasa's Face form the sky in The Lion King was amazing. Lion King was the first professional show I ever saw and to me that was awe-inducing.

[KateMusic]

Posted: 12/27/04 at 1:23am

I loved Audrey II in Little Shop myself

While, not really a special effect, I enjoyed the lighting in Assassins

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/27/04 at 1:25am

Maybethistime - Mistoffeles doesn't disappear into thin air in the stage production of CATS - that was clearly something they digitally did for the movie version.

I can't believe people listed DEFYING GRAVITY as the most impressive special effect...it's the cheapest, worst effect I've ever seen on the professional stage and completely ruins what would otherwise be a great moment in the show. Anyway...

Some of these aren't very amazing "special effects," but more just really amazing things i've seen happen on stage.

1.) The fountain in BOMBAY DREAMS. Yes, I'm well aware that the show was bad, but that scene is undeniably fantastic. The choreographed water spouting out is amazing and 10x better than the London production. If every scene in BOMBAY DREAMS produced the amount of excitement that single song did, the show would be around for a bit longer.

2.) The stage filling with water during "The Grand Canal" in NINE, and then slowly draining as Contini's world is falling apart. Amazingly touching and beautiful to listen to.

3.) Almost every single god damn thing about DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES. If that show had only stuck around long enough for more people to see it, it would have swept the Tonys in the design categories. It was absolutely technically brilliant. I got chills during every scene change.

4.) During TITANIC when the entire stage tilted and everything slid to one side as the boat was sinking. Now even this show has it's rampant haters (which completely baffles me,) even they can't deny that it's pretty amazing to see an entire broadway stage lift and tilt with actors sliding across it as if they were falling off the boat.

5.) Cathy Rigby's flying choreography in PETER PAN. I was in a production of THE WIZARD OF OZ. It was right after DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES had closed, and we got all their flying equipment. All out harnesses were still labled with the DOTV actor's names on them so we had top of the line equipment with first rate "flyers" showing us exactly what we could do with the actors in the air. After seeing how much work it took to get an actress to take off on stage on a bicycle across stage, I can't imagine how long it must have taken them to master Cathy Rigby's flying in PETER PAN. I was in PETER PAN as well and the flying was not easy, so when I saw her production, what she did in the air really blew me away.

As much as I would love to say the chandelier falling in phantom, I can't. It doesn't even fall. It slowly and carefully glides to the stage, unharmed. If you ask me, it's really crappy and very lame.

I know there's more...

Posted: 12/27/04 at 1:29am

I always liked how the freakin stage flipped over in Rocky Horror.

And Beasts Transformation in B&TB is pretty impressive too.

not really an impressive special effect, but visual effect... when the planes fly right at you in Golda's Balcony, my heart was in my throat.

[TheatreRatinBlue]

Posted: 12/27/04 at 1:45am

i like the lighting effects in Wicked.

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 12/27/04 at 1:58am

I've been stunned with amazement for months at the way BOMBAY DREAMS has stayed open so long. what CAN'T they do these days?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/27/04 at 2:14am

What does your post even mean? What can't they do these days? Have they started doing something new...?

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 12/27/04 at 2:17am

"they" wasn't pointed in a specific direction, but more toward the entirety of theatre and, indeed, mankind. to narrow it down a bit, it could be seen to refer to the people in charge of the show to which I made reference, but that just feels so limiting.

Posted: 12/27/04 at 2:17am

hes being sarcastic... that an amazing special effect is how bombay dreams has managed to stay open (meaning wow look at how long a terrible show has lasted, its magical!)

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/27/04 at 2:25am

Maybe I didn't see the humour.

Or maybe there was none. I'm not one to judge, but I agree with what you're saying. They knew the fountain was the only great thing about that show, so they advertised it to death, performed it everywhere, showed it in tv, tried to paly it on the radio, then everyone was sick of it and didn't want to hear it anymore. And people thought "oh look, that one song looks really awesome that show must be so good." Then they go and find that that really IS the only great thing in the show.

As much as people bash BOMBAY DREAMS, I still think it's better than DRACULA and BROOKLYN, and the production itself ( not the show) is far better than LA CRAP AUX FOLLES. It just got a bad wrap. People who claim they hate it and it's garbage really judged it before they saw it, I think. And don't worry, I'm not defending the show, I know it's very bad. Just not as bad as some other things playing right now. that's all.

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 12/27/04 at 2:28am

this effect i have yet to see and only have read described vaguely in a review- but i hear that the black knight in spamelot loses all 4 of his limbs on stage- that should be a sight to see

Posted: 12/27/04 at 2:32am

wow, that sounds so cool! march seems so far off now...

[morosco]

Posted: 12/27/04 at 2:36am

The original production of DREAMGIRLS. There has yet to be a musical where a more delicate and comprehensive use of scenery has been deployed. Brilliant collaboration of everyone involved.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/27/04 at 6:35am

the titanic thing was pretty damn cool. i liked the end of mamma mia, where they use the elevator to raise sophie and sky like it did with grizabella....

[jo]

Posted: 12/27/04 at 8:46am

For sheer emotional impact ( especially if you have witnessed something similar in real life), the barricade in LES MISERABLES being built! This was where they would make their last stand and it looked almost fragile

For sheer beauty ( especially if you have seen it in real life), the set opening up to show blue skies and the outline of the Pyrenees Mountain in ASPECTS OF LOVE

For sheer fun ( especially if you look at it with the eyes of a child) - the sets of CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG ( in London, which presumably will come over for the Broadway production), not to forget the sight of the flying CHITTY

For sheer campiness ( especially if Hugh Jackman's on it) - the staircase in THE BOY FROM OZ

[Oscar Jaffee]

Posted: 12/27/04 at 11:29am

The train sequence during the "Repent" number in 1978's "On the Twentieth Century." Robin Wagner's sets were classic!!!!!!

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 12/27/04 at 11:32am

The mansion "levitating" during scenes of Sunset Boulevard...

[leeinlondon]

Posted: 12/27/04 at 11:56am

Easily Easily Easily the best I have ever seen was in "Mourning Becomes Electra" with helen Mirran at the National Theatre.

The whole stage set was a house veranda and grounds.. in one scene the whole set crashed downwards out of sight to be replaced by a full size deck of a ship from above complete with giant sails... an amazing set change.

Posted: 12/27/04 at 12:00pm

3.) Almost every single god damn thing about DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES. If that show had only stuck around long enough for more people to see it, it would have swept the Tonys in the design categories. It was absolutely technically brilliant. I got chills during every scene change.

I would have to agree on some of those special effects. Don't get me wrong, the show was an absolute disaster. But some of the effects were very cool, although mostly in an "expensive" way. One I really liked was the mirror, where the main male character was dancing with the vampire, and in the back you had a mirror where you could see the main character but no vampire's reflection (it was another actor, dressed like the main male character and mimicking every move). Rather clever.

I think there were a few more effects I found rather impressive in that show... some sort of giant drawbridge comes to mind, or the mirrors of flying ballroom vampires...

[OtherDaryl]

Posted: 12/27/04 at 12:48pm

Michael Bennett Costume Changes - The finale in A Chorus Line, and even more impressive - the multiple costume changes in Dreamgirls - they're onstage in one dress, a glitter curtain drops and they are transformed as they step through. These moments are theatrical magic and take my breath away. Theoni Aldredge is a Goddess!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/27/04 at 12:49pm

The exploding house - An Inspector Calls
The tilting ship - Titanic
The barricade - Les Miserables
The dress that opens by itself - Sunday in the Park
The chair - Sweeney Todd
The train sequence - Whistle Down the Wind
The B&W/color quick-change during You Can Always Count on Me - City of Angels
The stampede - The Lion King
The mirror - 42nd Street
The fountain - Bombay Dreams
The theatre reassembly - Phantom of the Opera
The Giant lite-brite - Hairspray

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 12/27/04 at 1:10pm

I think I'll go with the Stampede from Lion King, The Phantom's lair with the candelabras rising from the floor in Phantom, the Beast's transformation from Beauty and the Beast and Amneris pool from Aida.

Take care

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 12/27/04 at 1:24pm

not an effect persey but douglas sills' costume changes in little shop of horrors, particularly during the meek shall inherit

[Marquise]

Posted: 12/27/04 at 1:29pm

i have to agree with OtherDaryl
dreamgirls was the most cinematic show i've ever seen
it looked like you were watching a movie
bennett, peters, aldredge, musser..everyone involved were GENIUSES

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 12/27/04 at 1:29pm

I agree Bway Matt -

Dracula: when Dracula dissappears into the stage - or floats out of the coffin and just lingers. Well, so many from Dracula come to mind.

oooh, I have to leave...