I am constantly in awe of Maria Bjornson's scenic design for Phantom. Although it's often called a big, lavish musical, she leaves a surprising amount of the sets to our imagination once you stop and think about it. I love that the sets are really just a few lavish set pieces and backdrops sitting in a big, frightening dark space--it goes perfectly with the show and keep it from teetering into unforgivable camp. I guess the answer has to be Phantom for me then...it has its share of "ooh, aah" moments (the lake, "Masquerade") but is much darker than the traditional Broadway spectacle. Joel Schumacher could have taken a few tips from Ms. Bjornson.
"If there is going to be a restoration fee, there should also be a Renaissance fee, a Middle Ages fee and a Dark Ages fee. Someone must have men in the back room making up names, euphemisms for profit."
(Emanuel Azenberg)
