most visually spectacular musicals
most visually spectacular musicals
bwaylvsong
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/28/05
#0most visually spectacular musicals
Posted: 7/24/06 at 9:08pm
What are the most visually spectacular musicals you have ever seen?
I'd say "Beauty and the Beast", "Phantom", "Aida", "42nd Street", and "Dance of the Vampires".
Updated On: 7/24/06 at 09:08 PM
ThankstoPhantom
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/05
#1re: most visually spectacular musicals
Posted: 7/24/06 at 9:11pmCats.
How to properly use its/it's:
Its is the possessive. It's is the contraction for it is...
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#3re: most visually spectacular musicals
Posted: 7/24/06 at 9:17pmWest End production of Mary Poppins.
MARGARET: "Clara, stop that. That's illegal." - The Light in the Piazza
"I'm not in Bambi and I'm not blonde!" - Idina Menzel
"I'm not in Bambi and I'm not blonde!" - Idina Menzel
#4re: most visually spectacular musicals
Posted: 7/24/06 at 9:25pmCats, Phantom, A Chorus Line (Finale)
"NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!"
SDav 10495
Broadway Star Joined: 7/21/06
#5re: most visually spectacular musicals
Posted: 7/24/06 at 9:25pm
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)
ThankstoPhantom
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/05
#6re: most visually spectacular musicals
Posted: 7/24/06 at 9:30pm
I agree, Phantom is not really a *spectacle.* It does have spectacular moments, but it's a simplistic, yet beautiful, set.
Also, the FOTR revival was great to look at.
How to properly use its/it's:
Its is the possessive. It's is the contraction for it is...
#7re: most visually spectacular musicals
Posted: 7/24/06 at 9:34pmTarzan.
The choice may have been mistaken, The choosing was not... "Every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life." - Lin-Manuel Miranda
Wildcard
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/21/06
#9re: most visually spectacular musicals
Posted: 7/24/06 at 9:52pmCarousel, Showboat, Sunset Blvd., Miss Saigon, Whistle Down the Wind, Beauty & the Beast, The Lion King, The Producers, Mary Poppins
#10re: most visually spectacular musicals
Posted: 7/25/06 at 3:09pm
Wicked and Mary Poppins. Mary Poppins had a waaaaay more awesome set, but I adore everything about Wicked visually. :3
RentBoy86
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/15/05
#11re: most visually spectacular musicals
Posted: 7/25/06 at 3:14pmI want to see Mary Poppins just for the sets. Hopefully I'll get a chance to. The Lion King was fun to look at. Not sure how The Producers is beautiful to look at, but to each his own. I like Wicked, but for me, I dunno, I don't think it's as "spectacle" as some shows. It doesn't really have that ONE set piece that's spectacular. It's just a great set to look at. I don't think it really relies on its spectacle that much.
Luvinbroadway
Leading Actor Joined: 7/18/03
#12re: most visually spectacular musicals
Posted: 7/25/06 at 3:34pmThe Lincoln Center revival of Carousel.
Leading Actor Joined: 12/31/69
#13re: most visually spectacular musicals
Posted: 7/25/06 at 3:38pmTarzan for sure! Especially the first 5 min, they are spectacular!
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#14re: most visually spectacular musicals
Posted: 7/25/06 at 3:39pmI remember Shogun. The opening scene & many others were outstanding. Too bad you had no idea what was going on book wise
Poster Emeritus
#15re: most visually spectacular musicals
Posted: 7/25/06 at 3:46pmWicked, Phantom of the Opera, finale of 42nd Street
"I wish the stage were as narrow as the wire of a tightrope dancer, so that no incompetent would dare step upon it." Goethe
exedore
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/20/05
#16re: most visually spectacular musicals
Posted: 7/25/06 at 3:53pm
Wicked? You have got to be kidding me. Wicked was a major disappointment as a spectacle, and has one of the lamest flying effects ever.
If you want truly amazing spectacle, then you're looking at shows such as the original production of "The Who's Tommy" (which has more spectacle in the first five minutes alone than all of Wicked), "Starlight Express" (which is a spectacle show with a fun plot and enjoyable score), the Vienna production of "Elisabeth", "The Lion King", the OBC of "Ragtime", "Phantom of the Opera", etc.
#17re: most visually spectacular musicals
Posted: 7/25/06 at 6:11pmThat depends on your opinion of "visually spectacular" ... You don't really NEED special effects to make something visually spectacular. One of the shows that comes to my mind in Drowsy. The set was clever and the costumes were stunning. The lighting was great. Someone might find those aspects visually spectacular. Wicked's set and costumes are quite spectacular as well.
So, that was the Drowsy Chaperone. Oh, I love it so much. I know it's not a perfect show...but it does what a musical is supposed to do. It takes you to another world, and it gives you a little tune to carry with you in your head for when you're feeling blue. Ya know?
cheezedoodle
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/15/05
#18re: most visually spectacular musicals
Posted: 7/25/06 at 6:16pmDreamgirls.
"Oh Link...your pork is ready..." - Edna Turnblad
Practically Perfect
Leading Actor Joined: 3/10/05
#19re: most visually spectacular musicals
Posted: 7/25/06 at 6:42pm
Light In The Piazza, Phantom Of The Opera, Wicked, Mary Poppins, Sunset Boulevard
Mary P x
#20re: most visually spectacular musicals
Posted: 7/25/06 at 6:46pm
Aida.
The Lion King.
The Phantom of the Opera.
Hairspray.
The Light in the Piazza.
And, in my opinion, the most visually spectacular show is Sunday in the Park with George.
"The only way we live beyond our lives is to connect and carve ourselves into the souls of those we love." -Little Fish
WhatDoINeedWithLove?
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/11/03
#21re: most visually spectacular musicals
Posted: 7/25/06 at 6:48pmI'll never forget seeing Dreamgirls when I was little and being in absolute awe.
#22re: most visually spectacular musicals
Posted: 7/25/06 at 6:49pm
If you want to go WAY back... my dad always said that "Fanny" was visually incredible. Also "Ondine" (but that wasn't a musical). I'm sure many who saw it would say the original "Follies."
Of the shows I've seen:
Nine (original production)
The Lion King
Cats
Sunset Boulevard
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
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snl89
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/4/05
#23re: most visually spectacular musicals
Posted: 7/25/06 at 6:54pm
Wicked, for SURE :)
Beauty and The Beast
The Wedding Singer (I know that probably sounds a little- not right, but I sure thought it was awesome the way the sets move around everything and the choreography and everything was such a feast for the eyes!)
I don't need a life that's normal. That's way too far away. But something next to normal would be okay. Something next to normal is what I'd like to try. Close enough to normal to get by.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#24re: most visually spectacular musicals
Posted: 7/25/06 at 7:19pm
o yea, Lion King was great
and the wedding singer i found visually spectacular during the opening song, saturday night in the city, and the finale. Again the energy made it such a joy to watch!
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