Site-specific stagings

[LindaSmyth]

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. 

[haterobics]

Posted: 1/5/17 at 12:14pm

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee was initially staged in a high school cafeteria.

[ggersten]

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.  

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

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]

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]

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...

 

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

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.

Updated On: 1/10/17 at 02:25 PM

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

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]

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.

[haterobics]

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]

Posted: 1/6/17 at 4:24pm

Where/when was Spelling Bee?

[mpd4165]

Posted: 1/6/17 at 4:27pm

I directed bare in a church sanctuary. 

[bdn223]

Posted: 1/6/17 at 4:28pm

Lysistrata Jones was initially staged in NY in an actual Gymnasium...

[haterobics]

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]

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?

[Call_me_jorge]

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]

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]

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.

[icecreambenjamin]

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.

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 1/7/17 at 1:50pm

The NYC Apartment Players. Oh my, I SO wanna make this happen! Not even kidding.

[mpd4165]

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.

[The Josh]

Posted: 1/9/17 at 5:21pm

The ART this year is doing Violet on a moving bus! 

[PatrickDC]

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. 

 

[PatrickDC]

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]

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?