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

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

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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.

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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.

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"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

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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

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...

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

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 :)

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

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

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

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? :)

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).

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Totally Peter Pan's first flight. So magical.

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