The Single Most Awesome Set Piece- Page 3

[theatremom2]

Posted: 6/21/06 at 8:45pm

The last scene from Wonder of the World, well the whole show, actually. From the opening in a cramped apartment,the helicopter ride and the 3 restaurants to the expanse of Niagra Falls. It's my fav play ending....But for sheer determination I have to mention a Panasian ? production of Rashamon. Different locals were denoted by the bamboo listing one way or another. Apparently they had people crawling under the small raised platform that served as a stage to shift and hold the sticks of bamboo. If its true, that must have really hurt.

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 6/21/06 at 9:20pm

i adore the "window" for the "oklahoma?" set in drs

also rocky horror's amazingly versatile couch thing

Posted: 6/21/06 at 9:30pm

i LOVED how the whole floor flipped over at the beginning of Rocky Horror- that blew my mind the first time I saw it.

I also love how the Tarzan back wall transforms into a "forest" when its pulled up and they walk through it- at that point, i wasnt expecting that wall to change so it was a stunning surprise combined with the lighting effects.

[morosco]

Posted: 6/21/06 at 9:30pm

The barricades from Les Miserables.
The light towers in the original Dreamgirls (they moved by themselves).
Chitty from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
The beach and water trough from My One and Only.
The huge mirror ball in Ballroom.
The massive moving bridge in Starlight Express.

[musicalkid]

Posted: 6/21/06 at 10:04pm

Javert Suicide in LESMIS- so simple and yet so amazing!
but all of the LES MISERABLES scenery is plain beautiful!

Beauty and the Beast (practically evrything-but especially the castle-inside-and during if i can't love her)

i also loved those rich ornated curtains in POTO- they made the show.

[H.Higgins]

Posted: 6/21/06 at 10:58pm

I've always been pretty fond of Sweeney's barber chair from the original Broadway production.

The "Single Most Awesome Set Piece" I've seen HAS to be Chitty from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. I mean, come on, not only is it gorgeous, but it sprouted a raft and appeared to float before popping wings and flying. Watching that car filled with Raul and co. heading up and away from the audience, appearing to REALLY be flying is an image I will never forget. I cried...I'm not gonna lie =)

[MrBungee7]

Posted: 6/21/06 at 11:09pm

Agreed, all of Pillowman, but especially the above sequences were brilliantly designed.

Also, the wood structure used for the revival of Assassins.

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 6/21/06 at 11:09pm

Dolly's famous staircase.

[Cenoern]

Posted: 6/21/06 at 11:16pm

"also rocky horror's amazingly versatile couch thing"

The Rocky Horror ottoman, which is just simple, creepy, and cool. Maybe I'm a bit biased cause it's currently in my local theater's rocky show haha
Updated On: 6/21/06 at 11:16 PM

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 6/21/06 at 11:18pm

The entire Titanic.....

Celie's Tree in The Color Purple

[Steph_DeVo]

Posted: 6/21/06 at 11:23pm

Not Broadway: The garret room and roof in La Boheme...
West End: Professor Higgins' house in My Fair Lady...
Most stagings of Les Miz: Javert's suicide off the bridge...

Posted: 6/21/06 at 11:26pm

The set behind the main characters of HAIRSPRAY during Without Love, where all the couples are displayed in different vinette-style cubes. Its used several times, but I loved it then.

The Time Clock Dragon from Wicked- when I 1st saw the show, I was in awe of that thing, then it moved and I was like "Woah"

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 6/21/06 at 11:43pm

This might not be a "set piece" but I love the whole park set in SITPWG. I love the way it changes from white into the park in the first scene. So beautiful. Plus I love the fact that they set designer painted the sets in Seurat's painting style.

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 6/21/06 at 11:55pm

The mansion from Sunset Boulevard

[SoulMadeOfSong]

Posted: 6/22/06 at 12:10am

The one thing that comes to mind- The barricade in Les Miserables.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 6/22/06 at 2:39am

-The platforms in Zhivago

-The Mary Poppins house with the moving Attic

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 6/22/06 at 4:15am

The really high cluttered bookcase in the Sweeney revival. And the way it was lit from behind and certain things were highlighted throughout the show.

[lifeisacabaret]

Posted: 6/22/06 at 4:31am

singtopher- you are incorrect about the vegas phantom, there will not, as you say, be a fancy transition between the crash and masquerade, because the chandelier crash will happen at the end of the show, like the movie. It will be 90 minutes without an interval, and the crash will occur at the end.
Updated On: 6/22/06 at 04:31 AM

[mirandajrs]

Posted: 6/22/06 at 7:27am

The ever-changing, neon colored office building from the How To Succeed revival.

[WickedOne2]

Posted: 6/22/06 at 11:44am

I really like the map from Wicked.
And I like how in Jersey Boys are doing the Ed Sullivan Show (Sherry) you can see them on the big screen. The whole view from behind in "Dawn" is also pretty cool.
I love the moving pilars in Light in the Piazza
I love the entire Cabaret (Revival) set.

[Wildcard]

Posted: 6/22/06 at 12:29pm

More awesome sets:

Titanic - I agree, the ship sinking was awesome. Poorly recreated for the tour though

Sunday in the Park with George - I love how the painting comes together at the end of Act 1

The Producers - Esp. the fountain scene and the swastika scene in Springtime for Hitler

Into the Woods - Rapunzel's tower rising from the ground

[BNN]

Posted: 6/22/06 at 1:19pm

The very intimidating shelf in the Sweeney revival and Oz's "head" in Wicked are two of my favorites.

[Jesus]

Posted: 6/22/06 at 1:36pm

The Act one finale pinball machine in Tommy.

[tgrabon]

Posted: 6/22/06 at 2:55pm

The bridge in RAGTIME with JP Morgan and Henry Ford on top slowly descending and crushing the immigrants.

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 6/22/06 at 3:07pm

wildcard: Complete agreement with the carousel forming during the overture for 'Carousel' for NT and LCT's production...


What is the gargoyle that you speak of in POTO? was asked by someone...

The one that descends from the top of the stage, when the Phantom eavesdrops on Christine and Raoul after "Say You Love Me."