What is a raked stage?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 3:39pm

Heard this phrase thrown around many times, never thought to ask about it....what is a raked stage?

[Gothampc]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 3:41pm

A stage that is on an incline. It slants upward away from the audience.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 3:42pm

A stage that is vertically angled. It's much better for the audiences, but harde on the actors. Ragtime, Miss Saigon, Wicked all had/have raked stages. I'm sure a lot of other shows do/did as well.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 3:43pm

Titanic's was very raked - it was difficult to walk on, nevermind PERFORM on.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 3:45pm

I only saw Titanic on tour, which wasn't raked. It was hydrauluicly lifted on stage left when the ship was sinking, but other than that I recall it being a flat stage.

[nydirector2]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 3:46pm

Wow...you just brought up a great point. I always forget to inform my students about terms like "raked stage" because I just assume they know what it is already.

[peeps2]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 3:46pm

When the stage is angled (higher at the back than the front). It's also where we get upstage and downstage from.

But I prefer lying:

It's when you have dirt or leaves on the floor that need to be tidied. And upstage used to always face north or uptown. And the apron got its name from the Elizabethan theater when the audience near that part of the stage was heavily populated by ladies of easy virtue who only wore aprons. They and the groundlings would... oh nevermind.

Updated On: 10/26/05 at 03:46 PM

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 3:51pm

Chitty is raked.

[BwayLover]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 3:55pm

Mamma Mia is raked, as well.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 3:57pm

but why? you may ask - because it adds to the illusion of a forced perspective!

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 3:59pm

Speaking of raked stages...that is why Carole Shelley had to leave Wicked:

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?thread=872941&dt=102605035757

[PJ]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 4:03pm

The Gershwin's stage is ridiculously raked. I had never heard about Carole having back troubles because of it. I know when Kristin had ner neck injury early in the run, the stage certainly didn't help matters.

[Piazzaslight]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 4:13pm

Shockheaded Peter had a raked stage.

Also, The Fortune Theatre in London where The Woman in BLACK is playing also has a raked stage.

I also always wondered: How did the actors stand performing on the stage? I say, just lean back a little bit, and you're fine. Many London theatres also have raked stages.

[Jasey]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 4:18pm

Is the stage at the Palace theatre raked? Anyone know?

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 4:20pm

it is the act of "leaning back" that causes so much strain on the back and legs - making raked stages a bit hazardous for some performers to work on.

[Piazzaslight]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 4:21pm

Jasey: Nope.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 7:28pm

Was Fiddler on The Roof raked at the Minskoff Theatre? I just saw a picture and it looked tilted.

[ThePinballWizard]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 7:37pm

I remember a story one of the Miss Saigon vets told me awhile back. I believe he said when the 1st National went out it was one of the highest raked stages even allowed by Equity standards. It caused awful things to your body because it's like performing a giant, steep hill. Can you imagine doing that 8 times a week? I know that they had onstaff massage therapists and people like that on hand to treat the injured. I believe another guy was one of the tumblers in that show. He can no longer bend his wrist all the way back due to the rake.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 7:39pm

Though I much prefer the audience to be raked.

[bluesoprano]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 8:46pm

My university had a raked stage for our production of "Into the Woods," and it killed my back. I was Little Red Ridinghood and skipping on that raked stage shot my back. I had to go to two weeks of physical therapy. Although the the stage did benefit the show and audience members, it kills the actors.

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 8:59pm

Thankfully I didn't have to SKIP on one, but I did do "1776" on a raked stage... and the first time we ran through the show on the (amazing) set I staggered around like a drunken sailor. And I was singing "Molasses to Rum." (It was ALL about the "rum" part that particular run-through.)



It took me several rehearsals to get used to it. But the effect from the audience was great. Our "congressional" chamber appeared much bigger than it actually was.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 9:18pm

When JLT was giving me the tour backstage at Wicked, I stepped onto the stage and almost tripped because I just wasn't aware how slanted it was. She led me to the 'cog' where she stands for "What Is This Feeling?", and I swear, I thought I was going to fall into the orchestra pit. It was ridiculous!

[dirty rotten guy]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 9:22pm

I believe I read somewhere that Threepenny also is slightly raked. I cant imagine how difficult it must be for these performers, especially the dancers.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 9:34pm

Most stage floors are actually built as part of the set design. The question of whether a stage is raked or not depends on that, not the surface of the top of the stage which is usually built over.

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 9:40pm

Jesus Christ Superstar's revival had a raked stage.

It's what caused Manoel Felciano to fall into the pit. I'm amazed he only suffered a broken hand and gash on his forehead from that, it was a nine foot drop.

Updated On: 5/6/06 at 09:40 PM