I was under the impression that stage heights can be raised or lowered based on productions? True or false?
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
but it really depends on the theatre, some shows (if they can) will rip out the stage and build their own (particularly if alot of traps are needed) Others will just build their stage ontop of the theatre's own stage, thus raising the height. You also need to keep the height of the stage the same level as the floow in the wongs so scenery can be trucked off so if youre stuck with an already high stage, and need to build your own on top of that then you are stuck.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27199361@N08/ Phantom at the Royal Empire Theatre
See, I found lotto seats for Priscilla a neckache, yes, but at American Idiot at the St. James I thought the stage was a perfect height. Yes, productions can add to the floor. How to Succeed and Wicked are two examples of shows that have done so, as many set pieces on both shows are on tracks.