Worst show mishap- Page 3
Worst show mishap
#50Worst show mishap
Posted: 8/6/13 at 6:20pm
When I was a senior I was playing Harold Hill in our high school production of THE MUSIC MAN. During "Trouble", there was a fountain unit in the center of the very wide stage and I had to jump up on it (just like Robert Preston in the movie, naturally).
One night I landed on the fountain and it began to move--rolling off the stage and into the wings.
I wasn't hurt; I'm proud to say I rode the racing fountain and didn't even miss a word. (The acoustic tiles in our "cafetorium" were so bad we had to perform musical numbers with hand mikes so as to be heard over the orchestra.)
The funny part was actually 30 years later at a high school reunion. Former members of the MM crew sat me down and explained that the fountain unit had been DELIBERATELY sabotaged by a crew member who didn't like the fact I was kissing his girlfriend (who played Marion) each night at the footbridge.
It was funny because I was such a dedicated little thespian at 18 ("The theater is a temple" and all that), that it never in 30 years occurred to me that anyone would play such a destructive prank on stage.
When I learned the truth, I was speechless for several minutes and much laughter ensued!
Updated On: 8/6/13 at 06:20 PM
#51Worst show mishap
Posted: 8/6/13 at 6:25pm
Most onstage mishaps with which I've been associated have involved dancers. The accidents were never visible to the audience; the injured dancer covered until he could get offstage and go to the hospital.
SPIDERMAN and pulled dancer muscles excepted, given all the stunts used in theater, doesn't it seem the industry is relatively accident-free?
Wildcard
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/21/06
#52Worst show mishap
Posted: 11/4/14 at 3:26pm
Not big mishaps but funny stores by Seth Rudetsky
Broadway Disasters According to Seth
#53Worst show mishap
Posted: 11/4/14 at 3:53pm
Noted Broadway character actor Arnold Soboloff died of a heart attack while waiting in the wings for his second act entrance in Sandy Duncan's Peter Pan. He played Smee.
When searching Google for him, I found this list of deaths that happened onstage at Snopes:
http://www.snopes.com/horrors/freakish/onstage.asp
French composer Jean-Baptiste Lully died from an accident that occurred while he was conducting a performance of his music in 1687. Conductors had not yet begun using batons; they stood and and beat time by pounding the stage with long hand-held staffs. Lully wasn't paying attention and stabbed his foot with it. The wound didn't heal well and eventually gangrene set in. His doctors told him that he risked death if they weren't allowed to amputate. He refused, the gangrene spread, and he died.
Updated On: 11/4/14 at 03:53 PM
#54Worst show mishap
Posted: 11/4/14 at 3:59pmNot that big a deal, but during a preview for Carrie I remember they were doing a scene change. Betty Buckley was in her place for the next scene. A piece of mechanical scenery got stuck and you heard a very loud crashing kind of sound. I seem to remember it involving a basketball hoop which signified they were in the gym? Anyway, Betty Buckley was up like a shot and moved to the front of the stage. I don't blame her, considering what almost happened to Barbara Cook during rehearsals in London.
eatlasagna
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/6/04
#55Worst show mishap
Posted: 11/4/14 at 4:19pm
just saw this article on EW... some fun stories!
although i do think "disasters" is a bit much... but whatever
http://popwatch.ew.com/2014/11/04/10-big-broadway-disasters-according-to-seth-rudetsky/
#56Worst show mishap
Posted: 11/4/14 at 4:48pm
Haven't I read here or somewhere that there have been enough problems over the years with the cherry picker that flies Elphaba that they have alternate staging rehearsed for when it fails?
broadwayguy2
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/03
#57Worst show mishap
Posted: 11/4/14 at 4:53pm
As a general rule, it is critical to have alternate staging prepared in the event that something happens at a critical moment during the show as STOPPING the show is the absolute last resort.
Yes, the mechanical arm (cherry picker is so reductive to the effect) has malfunctioned before, but the machinery is also designed to work perfectly by NOT going forward with the effect if there is actor error or any question of actor safety, so no. Just because she does not fly does not mean that the effect failed.
