Site-specific stagings
Site-specific stagings
LindaSmyth
Chorus Member Joined: 7/24/14
#1Site-specific stagings
Posted: 1/5/17 at 11:04am
Following the example of the upcoming production of Sweeney Todd, which is set in a pie shop (even if said pie shop is being recreated for its NY run), can you think of any musicals that could also be staged in venues other than a standard theatre?
In the case of Sweeney, I think that the size of the cast and the chamber quality of the piece really make it work.
#2Site-specific stagings
Posted: 1/5/17 at 12:14pm
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee was initially staged in a high school cafeteria.
ggersten
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/06
#3Site-specific stagings
Posted: 1/5/17 at 1:09pm
I saw High Fidelity staged in a commercial space designed to look like a record shop.
The recent Georgia staging of Miss Saigon outside which had an actual live helicopter taking off and landing.
#4Site-specific stagings
Posted: 1/6/17 at 8:42am
Probably been done before, but I've always wanted to stage Into the Woods in an modest amphitheater surrounded by trees...and have the natural light serve as the "lighting cues."
Less ambitiously, how about Nine set in an old movie house? Or Anything Goes in concert on the Staten Island Ferry? Hehe...it is my hometown, after all.
Alex Kulak2
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/11/16
#5Site-specific stagings
Posted: 1/6/17 at 1:32pm
Murder Ballad was originally performed in a bar. My friend had the idea to stage LaChiusa's Wild Party in a living room.
brettcx5
Chorus Member Joined: 2/7/16
#6Site-specific stagings
Posted: 1/6/17 at 1:43pm
Ado Annie D'Ysquith said: "Probably been done before, but I've always wanted to stage Into the Woods in an modest amphitheater surrounded by trees...and have the natural light serve as the "lighting cues."
Less ambitiously, how about Nine set in an old movie house? Or Anything Goes in concert on the Staten Island Ferry? Hehe...it is my hometown, after all.
"Into the Woods was done in an amphitheater surrounded by trees at the Public Theater a few years ago...
#7Site-specific stagings
Posted: 1/6/17 at 2:25pm
The 1973 film of Jesus Christ Superstar was sort of this, given it was filmed in Israel reasonably close to where everything took place, and had that whole "play within a play" vibe.
Broadway Legend
joined: 5/1/05
Blocked: After Eight, suestorm, david_fick, emlodik, lovebwy, Dave28282, joevitus, BorisTomashevsky, Seb28
#8Site-specific stagings
Posted: 1/6/17 at 3:29pm
Oh, fie on me...I always seem to forget that the Public Theater does those things outdoors.
belrowley
Understudy Joined: 5/14/16
#9Site-specific stagings
Posted: 1/6/17 at 3:50pm
I just saw the Irish Rep's production of The Dead, which was staged at the Irish Historical Society's beautiful townhouse and served a recreation of the meal from the story. I'd love to see the musical version staged similarly.
#10Site-specific stagings
Posted: 1/6/17 at 3:58pm
I sadly didn't see it, but BoxCar Theater in SF did an immersive Little Shop of Horrors. The theater is in a less than desirable neighborhood, and the goal was for the cast and the audiemce to go out into the actual nearby street for Skid Row. I'm sure that had to have a few memorable reactions from the actual junkies and homeless...
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
mpd4165
Leading Actor Joined: 8/6/09
#13Site-specific stagings
Posted: 1/6/17 at 4:28pm
Lysistrata Jones was initially staged in NY in an actual Gymnasium...
#14Site-specific stagings
Posted: 1/6/17 at 5:04pm
RippedMan said: "Where/when was Spelling Bee?"
If you mean the cafeteria I mentioned earlier, I don't recall, but they talked about the various development workshops/stages on the new Broadway Backstory podcast about that show.
Alex Kulak2
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/11/16
#15Site-specific stagings
Posted: 1/6/17 at 5:21pm
mpd4165 says: "I directed bare in a church sanctuary."
how the hell'd you get the church to let you do that? Did they know the content of the show?
#16Site-specific stagings
Posted: 1/6/17 at 6:08pm
I would love to see Hamilton staged on the actual site or as close as possible where Hamilton was shot
broadwayguy91
Broadway Star Joined: 12/23/15
#17Site-specific stagings
Posted: 1/6/17 at 9:12pm
Alex Kulak2 said: "mpd4165 says: "I directed bare in a church sanctuary."
how the hell'd you get the church to let you do that? Did they know the content of the show?
"
they may be a LGBT-friendly church, and a non-Catholic one
LindaSmyth
Chorus Member Joined: 7/24/14
#18Site-specific stagings
Posted: 1/6/17 at 9:13pm
I would love to see some of your ideas fully realized!
Someone also mentioned the possibility of "Follies" staged in an actually abandoned theatre.
#19Site-specific stagings
Posted: 1/6/17 at 9:47pm
I've always found this sort of thing a bit too gimmicky for my taste, but a friend of mine has this pretty neat idea of how to do a production of The Drowsy Chaperone in a New York studio apartment and I am deeply intrigued in seeing it someday.
#20Site-specific stagings
Posted: 1/7/17 at 1:50pm
The NYC Apartment Players. Oh my, I SO wanna make this happen! Not even kidding.
mpd4165
Leading Actor Joined: 8/6/09
#21Site-specific stagings
Posted: 1/9/17 at 5:06pm
broadwayguy91 said: "Alex Kulak2 said: "mpd4165 says: "I directed bare in a church sanctuary."
how the hell'd you get the church to let you do that? Did they know the content of the show?
"
they may be a LGBT-friendly church, and a non-Catholic one
"
broadwayguy91 is correct. We worked with a Methodist church that has often opened its space to theatre groups, and we were upfront about the content. It made them even more excited to offer their space.
#22Site-specific stagings
Posted: 1/9/17 at 5:21pm
The ART this year is doing Violet on a moving bus!
#23Site-specific stagings
Posted: 1/9/17 at 6:55pm
Ado Annie D'Ysquith said: "Probably been done before, but I've always wanted to stage Into the Woods in an modest amphitheater surrounded by trees...and have the natural light serve as the "lighting cues."
Less ambitiously, how about Nine set in an old movie house? Or Anything Goes in concert on the Staten Island Ferry? Hehe...it is my hometown, after all."
Armstrong Woods is a state park north of San Francisco near Guerneville, the gay'ish resort area. The park has the most awesome ampitheater. I don't think it is used much at all, but it would be absolutely ideal for INTO THE WOODS. As you can see in the picture it even has an orchestra pit.
#24Site-specific stagings
Posted: 1/9/17 at 7:03pm
I remember seeing a video of some scenes from BIG RIVER performed on a series of platforms over a running creek with a small waterfall in the background. Looked spectacular.
musicals1989
Understudy Joined: 9/16/11
#25Site-specific stagings
Posted: 1/9/17 at 10:39pm
PatrickDC said: "I remember seeing a video of some scenes from BIG RIVER performed on a series of platforms over a running creek with a small waterfall in the background. Looked spectacular.
This one?
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