War Horse to Gallop into the Vivian Beaumont for its Dreassage — Page 2

Festival Theatre Chichester.

Cottesloe Theatre, National Theatre, London

...and back to my favorite.

Which theatre is that Mama?

It's been years since I saw anything at the Vivian Beaumont (Anything Goes in the late 80's). I would be interested to see War Horse there next year sitting amongst a New York crowd.

What are the thoughts of actors about playing to an audience which surrounds them as opposed to one they have to 'project forward' to (for want of a less clumsy phrase)?

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The Young Vic could also be considered a theatre in the round as well.

I'm sure War Horse will fit onto the Vivian Beaumount stage without too much problem.

The Rose Theatre is a nice theatre and I've been once to see a production by Kingston University's drama department and the pit is used as seating for £5 but people must bring pillows or blankets. I wonder if the production required it, for the pit to be part of the stage.

I think that two good examples of shows being staged in the round are The Miracle Worker and Norman Conquests both at The Circle In The Square. I love that theatre because it is able to hold show that requires a thrust stage such as Spelling Bee or a show that is called to be staged in the round such as The Miracle Worker or Norman Conquests. Both were great nights out at the theatre I must say.

Also, I do think that South Pacific was nothing short of theatrical magic and I have gone back several times. On Broadway if there is a show that has a full blown overture that lasts a good few min ( I am not talking about something short like Wicked or Les Miserables) the house lights aren't all the way off. They are more dimmed. And, it gives the audience the sign that the show doesn't officially start until the curtain goes up. Whereas, we all know, that it should be that the show starts at the overture. However, with the case of South Pacific, not only does it not have a pre show announcement, (it replaces that with a huge slip of paper with a message to turn off your phones) it really treats this amazing overture as part of the show. With the stage pulling back as indicated in the photo that Mama posted and really becomes part of the show.

I remember the first time that I saw the show was after my high school graduation( I am not sure what you guys call that over in England. It was the schooling I had prior to college/university.) And it was when the show just opened and was a very hard ticket to get. I got mine by using money I got as a gift to pay for my ticket. When I saw it for the firs time, the audience was cheering when the stage pulled back to show the orchestra. One of the most memorable moments I had at the theatre.

And, when I have gone back to see it I still love sitting in the dark for five min and hearing that full orchestra which is not something that one sees on Broadway anymore use the original orchestrations to play that amazing overture and to actually have that be part of the show.

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Just wondering while we talking theatre in general, being wondering about this for a long time, The big area above the stage, where they house lighting and backdrops is there a name for this area please?