Special Effect on stage that had the most impact to you in the storytelling...- Page 4

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 10:06pm

The Phantom Effect is not actually as cool when you know the secret...Craig Shulman told my class once.

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 10:16pm

I second POTO's journey to his lair. I could watch that scene take place for hours.

[Trekkie2]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 10:19pm

Chip in B&TB. I know it's simple, but when I first saw it I was very little, and it really impressed me almost more than the transformation.

[The White Half-Mask]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 10:33pm

To answer actor's question, I believe the throne has a false back that conceals a secret compartment for The Phantom to hide in. When he throws the cloak over himself, there's a wire hidden inside it that keeps his shape & thus the illusion that he is still sitting beneath it. In reality, he is sliding back into the throne's hidey-hole. I've heard that if Meg sat on the throne on the end, she'd pretty much be sitting on The Phantom's lap.

[sidjones09]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 11:25pm

I can't believe no one said it. I'm sure because most of us have tried to block the show out of our memory, but the best part about Tarzan was the first 5 minutes, which was one of the coolest special effects sequences I've seen. When I saw the the sinking ship sequence at the top of the show, I knew I was in for something special. It only took me another 5 minutes to realize it was all down hill from there.

Other great ones:

1)Effie's magic costume change during 'Changing' in Dreamgirls
2)Dissapearing Phantom in POTO
3)Hat in Piazza (best story enhancing effect)
4)Saigon Helicopter
5)Les Mis Barricade
6)Destruction of Coalhouse's Model T in Ragtime
7)Aida finale when tomb closes in on Aida and Radames to reveal one star which then spreads across the stage to reveal an entire starry night sky (breathtaking)
The Life - in Act 2 when Queen goes to escape Memphis' penthouse by elevator(shown by lighting) only for all the penthouse furniture to rise into the flyspace simultaneously, giving the illusion of her descent through the building. Practically stopped the show with applause when I saw it.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 11:33pm

I would have a turntable that has 4 rings that spin. Imagine Fantine during "Lovely Ladies" standing in the middle, while 3 circles of girls surround her, going in different directions.

That sounds...nauseating

[sidjones09]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 11:36pm

"I would have a turntable that has 4 rings that spin. Imagine Fantine during "Lovely Ladies" standing in the middle, while 3 circles of girls surround her, going in different directions.

That sounds...nauseating"

LOL

[CFK]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 11:42pm

For its hilarity: Jane and her sheet in "Call from the Vatican".

For tingle inducing spectacle: Defying Gravity

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 11:49pm

the helicopter sequence in miss saigon of course... woo hoo

i loved the sequence in AIDA with the Nile River... the lighting, the sheet... everything... then how the river becomes a tent... aaahh... i loved that sequence in the musical... oh that and the swimming pool sequence although i HATED that mannequin that just sat there the entire time... looked really stupid

the opening sequence of Tarzan was amazing

Chad's motorcycle entrance in ALL SHOOK UP

[Mistress_Spouzic]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 11:57pm

Golda's Balcony... when the projection of a plane flew at the audience. Freaked me out, really put me in the moment.

[galindagirl2]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 11:59pm

The Lion King has some brilliant special effects, but I remember being especially wowed as a little kid when Mufasa falls from the cliff (before he dies, very sad part )
The chandelier from The Phantom of the Opera gives me shivers to this day...
And Elphaba belting high e flats while flying...come on, you know it was cool...

[Broadway Bob*]

Posted: 2/6/07 at 12:48am

Okay, so I would totaly say JEKYLL & HYDE, the fire effect at the end of Act 1 when Hyde burns the Bishop...

But I'm afraid people would take me serious and think badly of me. Seriously! Was that like the WORST effect ever or what?!?!?

[JustChillin8908]

Posted: 2/6/07 at 1:51am

In All Shook Up when Lorraine (I think that's her name) is chasing the bus with her bike.

[AnythingCanHappen]

Posted: 2/6/07 at 5:00am

Cheesy, i know, but Mary Poppins. When the lights disperse over the audience during 'anything can happen' my eyes welled up with tears more than they have from joy ever. Then the way Mary leaves, just continued losing it.

[just_me1981]

Posted: 2/6/07 at 5:45am

The fire scene in Jane Eyre was breathtaking.
Also the Beast's transformation was pretty spectacular (although it was 10 years ago that I saw it...)
And the moment Alex, Jane and Sukie levitate in the Witches of Eastwick was also pretty cool.

... just in my humble opinion :)

[tazber]

Posted: 2/6/07 at 7:35am

In a bad way, all those skating ramps moving and re-connecting during the race scenes of Starlight Express. I was so nervous one of the actors was going to trip I was completely taken out of the moment.
In a good way, I love the way the entire theatre turns into a giant pinball machine in Tommy.

[mustard]

Posted: 2/6/07 at 10:07am

Even though I knew it was coming, I almost crapped myself and cried when Javert flung himself from the bridge and it flew up. Really.

I thought I'd cry at Fantine or Eponine, but no. I cried at that damn bridge, and the Bishop giving Valjean the silver (which had no special effects to speak of).

LOL

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 2/6/07 at 11:08am

The first time I saw Les Mis on tour, in 1999, I was floored when Javert jumped off the bridge and just stayed put while the bridge flew out. I was very disappointed when the last two tours didn't do that.

[dramaqueen2]

Posted: 2/6/07 at 5:33pm

yah, i agree that the defying gravity sequence had a major impact. don't bash it just because you guys bash anything and everything wicked, just think about it for once. love it or hate it, you can't deny it was a breathtaking moment.

and also.. the lightening in spring awakening. especially during don't do sadness/blue wind.. it really gave the piece greater depth and emotion, thereby impacting the audience in a greater way. as well as the starry-type lightening during whispering.. it truly gave a ghostly and haunting effect, which was perfect for the moment and circumstance in this song. love it.

<3

Updated On: 2/6/07 at 05:33 PM

[ggersten]

Posted: 2/6/07 at 6:47pm

1. The car in London's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - took my breath away at how well it was done - and even better at the finale.
2. The helicopter in Miss Saigon
3. When the white doo wops come down from the ceiling in Dreamgirls to cover Cadillac Car.
4. The strobe light transition of the newsboys from boys to teens/men in Gypsy.

[Shakespearean]

Posted: 2/8/07 at 2:32am

OK, here's a really obscure reference...

Duke driving the bulldozer through the wall of the house at the end of Doonesbury the Musical. But for what it's worth, Duke was played by Gary Beach and the show also had Mark-Linn Baker(pre-Perfect Strangers et al) and Kate Burton. Did I just date myself? :)

[tazber]

Posted: 2/8/07 at 7:12am

Shakespearean,

Doonesbury has a special place in my heart. I love the album. It's never been on cd, I have the vinyl!!
I really wish they would out it on cd.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/8/07 at 10:59am

Most effective I've seen:

The house, lighting and rain in the revival of An Inspector Calls.
The use of cyclorama and lighting throughout Jane Eyre to tell the story from Jane's "memory".
The entire A Kiss is a Terrible Thing to Waste in Whistle Down the Wind.
Bobby's fall in Urinetown (and many uses of "the wall").
The panels in City of Angels that framed the sets of the movie scenes to make them appear "on screen".
The entire set and lighting in Proposals.
The use of the mirror in The Confrontation and Jekyll's entrance to Lucy's bedroom from the second and third Jekyll and Hyde pre-Broadway tours.
The coach ride in Scarlet Pimpernel.
The flying car in Chitty.
The revolving barricade in Les Mis to reveal the dead students and Javert's suicide.
The use of the curtain during Comedy Tonight in the 1996 revival of Forum (hilarious surprise).
Joe's Transformation in the 1994 revival of Damn Yankees.
The "living tableau" in Will Rogers Follies.
The dove in Two Gentlemen of Verona (silly and simple, but hysterical and brilliantly scored).

[BroadwaySinger2]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 12:50pm

Breath-taking effects:

Phantom of the Opera (It was my first show) - Phantom disappears
Wicked - Defying Gravity sequence (as ashamed as I am of it)
Mary Poppins - her flight over the audience
The Drowsy Chaperone - Bob Martin flies out on plane


Simple, but wonderful effects:

Les Miserables - the barricade set was amazing
A Chorus Line - Cassie's mirrors
The Drowsy Chaperone - When Janet exits on the elevator at the end of "Bride's Lament"

[Sykes24]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 1:04pm

Totally Peter Pan's first flight. So magical.

Also- the Witch's transformation in INTO THE WOODS... really exciting as well.