The barricade in Miz. I have seen it countless times and it never fails to astound me.
Broadway Star Joined: 10/30/04
I'm partial to-
1. Phantom's lair appearing, with the candles rising up.
2. Rent's motorcycle- I saw a tour as well, and I was like "WHOA."
3. Les Miz's barricade
4. Overture sequence in PotO (again)
5. And the costumes in The Lion King
My favourite part of the motorcycle in Rent is the stage hand who runs on with the light and opens his mouth so it looks like he's part of the scene and singing the last "snow" :)
Broadway Star Joined: 1/20/05
Wicked-Glinda`s bubble
Beauty and the Beast-Transformation
Aida-Swimming poo`
Phantom-The chair/dissapearing thang
and Phantom-the boat
Phantom of the Opera - The Ending when the phantom goes in his chair and all that is left is the mask. I have seen it countless times live and on tape with hugh Panaro and I just love it. I also love the other effects but that is my fav.
Wicked - Defying Gravity with Idina Menzel
Les Mis - Seeing the Barricade Arrise
Sweeney Todd - Though it is simple I love when Tobias slits Todd's throat and as the blodd drips the whistle blows.
Beauty and the Beast - THe transformation.
I agree with what most of you have to say...just wanted to add:
"Tunnel of Love" scene in Side Show. Really awesome
Broadway Star Joined: 4/7/05
The Beast's transformation in Beauty and the Beast
The Titanic sinking
Elphaba flying
The helicopter in Miss Saigon
Kate Levering's nude scene in "Thou Shalt Not"....well, it was special to me.
Damn Yankees - During Goodbye, Old Girl, the old Joe Hardy opens the front door to exit, but it's the young Joe Hardy that appears. It was perfectly timed and happens so quickly, it truly looked like magic. Simple, but the audience absolutely freaked out when it happened.
Sunset Boulevard - It wasn't anything magical, but at the very end, Norma sings the end of With One Look and at the end, the curtains close and a HUGE projection of a clip of one of Norma Desmond's silent films using the current actress (in my case, it was Betty Buckley) appears over the entire curtain as the orchestra finishes the playing the gripping finale. I had absolute chills when I saw that.
the top five coolest effects ever, in random order are...
1. elphaba defying gravity/the apparition of her broom stick flying unassisted (wicked OBC)
2. the phantom chandelier scene
3. witches of eastwick (i wish i may) flying sequence. THE greatest flying sequence ever organised. it's absolutely sensational
4. MARY POPPINS!!!! for those that haven't seen it, oh my god. when dick van dyke's character dances along the front of the stage, then up the wall of the proscenium, then along the roof of the proscenium up side down then down the other side. tapping and singing. truly amazing
5. todd mckenny (ORIGINAL AUSTRALIAN PRODUCTION BOY FROM OZ), his entrance into the finale, flying with the assistance of a giant banana
Being specific, IMO the best special effects in POTO were the Overture (when everything is shifting..wow). the entire POTO number, not so much the candles because everyone has said that already. BUt also when they are walking down to the lair. The lighting and the catwalk moving down and everything, it's just great. I was most impressed with the flow of the show. It all happened at a cinematic flow. A scene change took less than 30 seconds to happen. And most shows take that little time as well, but with POTO, when you have such a complicated set, it's truly remarkable.
With that in mind. The flow of DRS was just as nice (I'm not talking about the material, so no one can argue with me if they didn't like the show itself) but the flow from scene to scene was in a matter of seconds, having the turntable didn't hurt.
MOst everything else I can think of has already been mentioned.
Broadway Star Joined: 9/14/03
Def. most of Wicked
The flying machine used in Defying Gravity (gets applause every night)
The projection used when Elphaba is killed
No mention yet...anyone seen Slava's Snowshow?
Chorus Member Joined: 1/12/05
Tommy- When the Paratroopers jump out of the plane.
I loved in Cabaret revival in Act 2, can can kick line and the emcee is revealed.
Leading Actor Joined: 1/7/05
1~ The giant Kate Monster in Avenue Q
2~Defying Gravity in Wicked
3~Huge fan of the turn table in Drs or Les Miz...they are so fun!
4~The enchantres transformation in Beauty and the Beast...I still don't get it
5~Like all of The Producers, great sets and I love the fountain.
Broadway Star Joined: 1/6/05
NUMBER ONE:
Chitty Chitty. Everytime I watch that thing, I love it more and more. I never get sick of seeing it fly. I've watched them while they're testing it before the show before and even one of the tech guys said, "I will never get sick of seeing the car fly!"
2. The lift in Defying Gravity
3. The chandelier in POTO
I can't think of any more. Unfortunately when I saw Titanic, it was in previews and they couldn't make the ship sink.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/12/04
I'd definitly have to say that the Amneris's pool from AIDA was awesome. I also like the opening of HAIRSPRAY, where you're looking down on Tracy from the ceiling. I also thought the billboard that the Dynamites step out of was a cool effect in that show...
It's not really an effect but I just love when they use the 2 sided mirror in the Producers and the ensemble dance in the form of a Schwastica(sp?) I get a kick out of it.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
Haha yes I saw Slava's Snowshow. The end was brilliant. You felt like you were dying and going to heaven. Interesting and creative show.
And they were so funny during intermission, what with the water and all. When did you see the show?
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
NO way, me too! Where were you sitting?
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
4th row from the front on the right. what about you?
Haha, I thonk some of my group was sitting in that row as well. Too funny!
We were a bunch of teens, from a summer program. Maybe you remember them.
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