Why You Love Theater??

[turquoiserain]

Posted: 1/31/04 at 1:16pm

helloo.

I am an architecture student and a huge broadway fan. For my grad thesis project i would like to explore a subject dear to my heart--theatre.

I would really appreciate it if i could get a few thoughts from other theatre lovers. Here are a couple of questions, but all comments are welcome:

-Which are your favourite theatre (broadway or otherwise) buildings?
-Why do you love them?
-How do they capture/enhance the magic of the theatre experience...the show, the anticipation before a show, the social interaction during a show?
-conversely why do you think certain buildings are badly designed?

Also do you know of any books/autobiographies etc. that depict the lives of performers?

Thanks so much!

[brdwaybaby17]

Posted: 1/31/04 at 7:15pm

I would really love to give you an answer to this, especially since no one else has bothered to, but, unfortunately, I know nothing about the theaters in NY. Sorry!!!

[DofB5]

Posted: 1/31/04 at 7:28pm

Same here. I'm in Florida and can only tell you about the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center and Ruth Eckard Hall.

All I can say is both places feel like magic when I walk inside. No matter what play I go to see, I'm excited and I look at and think about everything. What are the actors thinking right now, the stage hands, the guys/gals in the pit. It's an exciting time right before a show. I often wonder if the have a prayer on stage right behind the curtain. We always did.

Since I did some local plays at the TBPAC, it's a little more special to me because I know where the dressing rooms and the green room are. I've seen the place from both sides of the stage. I've sat down in the pit during our rehearsals as well so I feel quite at home there, no matter where I am.

Ruth Eckard is amazing in the accoustic department. You can hear a pin drop, even in peanut heaven. They recently remodeled but they didn't mess with the sound. Thank God!

I don't know if that will help you or not.

D

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/31/04 at 8:26pm

I'll answer. I didn't want to be the first to, because for some reason that's intimidating... but since other people did, here goes. I'm going to try to do this in a way that it will be helpful to you, rather than useless babbling about how much i love theater.

specific theaters i love: the winter garden. the inside is so beautifully decorated. studio 54 (obviously my answer to this had to have something to do with Cabaret, didn't it?). Here's why: I love that even though it wasn't originally a theater, that's been preserved. I love the lobby (if that's the correct word for it) with the mirrors and the leopard print carpet. it has such a wonderful atmosphere... really enigmatic and inviting, in a mysterious sort of way. I think the environment in studio 54 was perfect for cabaret, to answer your question about its connection with the show. the setup of it allowed for the show to be so much more engaging and real than i think it would have been had it been in a conventional theater. clearly, the setup helped the audience engagement in the show, and really added to that magical ability theater has to take its audiences away from their own reality.

[BroadwayDiva]

Posted: 1/31/04 at 8:30pm

I love the Gershwin. It's one of the most beautiful theaters (well, the inside is). Currently, on the wall, is a map of oz, which is REALLY cool. Also, there's not a bad seat in the whole place. It's just really nice.

[turquoiserain]

Posted: 1/31/04 at 9:55pm

Thanks guys. your comments are very helpful and I will definately look into some of the examples you mentioned. Sorry if I gave the impression that I was interested in theatres in NY. Any theatre or performance experience will do. I'm just trying to analyse waht differentiates an amazing theatre from the bland. Often architects may not appreciate how the building can enhance the whole experience, before, after and during a show.

[chasing_rainbows43]

Posted: 1/31/04 at 10:06pm

The Shubert in New York is fantastic. Although there are a few obstructed seats (poles in the balcony, etc), it's such a wonderful space. A fairly large house, yet it's so intimate. With the right show there it's really amazing. CHICAGO worked there really well because of the design of the show. The minimalism drew all the attention to the work itself, as well as the performances, and the intimacy of the space enhanced that. GYPSY doesn't seem like a good fit to me, it seemed like the show was forcing out the walls. Too big a show for a house with that feel.

[newyorkuniq]

Posted: 1/31/04 at 10:12pm

I really love the Winter Garden,mostly because of it's history.
Al Jolsen, Fanny Brice, Barbra Streisand etc... the only feeling it gives me now is shame that such a crap show is playing on such an honorable stage.