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Most Unique "High-Concept" Productions?

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HamilHansen
Leading Actor
joined:6/2/17
Leading Actor
joined:
6/2/17
Most Unique "High-Concept" Productions?#1
Posted: 5/27/19 at 10:15pm

Hello again oft-friendly Broadway World users! I was browsing the internet and watching some productions of of one of my favorite ALW shows, Jesus Christ Superstar. Several were extremely high-concept. I especially liked what they did in the london arena tour with Tim Minchin. This happened also with Les Miserables, a production at Dallas Theater Centre had me blown away. 

I wanted to reach out to all of you to share some high-concept productions you think are interesting or worth checking out. These are productions that keep the text intact, but change the sets, costumes, lights, etc. to fit a new era or, in some cases, tell a different story. I have ones for both JCS and Miz, but I was wondering if any of you had any productions in mind for me to take a look at.

Thanks and all the best,

HamilHansen: Annoying Thread-Starter Of Irrelevant Threads That Spring From Curiosity :)

ARTc3
Broadway Star
joined:8/5/13
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Most Unique "High-Concept" Productions?#2
Posted: 5/27/19 at 10:50pm

Many of New York Public Theater summer Shakespeare in the Park shows. Over the years, there have been many brilliant "high-concept" productions.

ARTc3 formerly ARTc. Actually been a poster since 2004. My name isn't Art. Drop the "3" and say the signature and you'll understand.
Emmaloucbway
Broadway Legend
joined:10/16/11
Broadway Legend
joined:
10/16/11
Most Unique "High-Concept" Productions?#3
Posted: 5/27/19 at 11:05pm

I think the current Oklahoma! revival would be a good example of this. 

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DoTheDood
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joined:3/18/19
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Most Unique "High-Concept" Productions?#4
Posted: 5/28/19 at 1:13am

I will forever gush about the New York Philharmonic's 2014 production of Sweeney Todd with Bryn Terfel as Todd and Emma Thompson as Mrs. Lovett. The New York Philharmonic did something similar for a 2000 production of making it half a concert, half a stage show, but man the opening number for 2014 was killer. I would highly suggest anyone to watch the PBS broadcast of either, but specifically 2014. I want to say more, but it's best to just go and watch it.

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IronMan
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Most Unique #5
Posted: 5/28/19 at 1:28am

I worked at the NYSF for much of the 90s, and my picks for the top/bottom 'high-concept' Shakespeares I did were:

1990 "The Taming of the Shrew" (Tracey Ullman/Morgan Freeman) set in the Wild West- the setting really worked for the plot, characters, and a western twang fit the verse very well.  

1995 "Troilus And Cressida" which had such an excess of multi-era concepts that I made friends come see it because they would not believe it was on a public stage. I'd describe it, but it wouldn't do it justice, and would spoil your shock. Ok: one thing... Two couples realistically simulating sex while Stephen Spinella sang a sonnet in falsetto wearing a bejeweled strap-on that inflated to an erection and shot liquid into the audience. And that wasn't even the weirdest scene.  

"What- and quit show business?" - the guy shoveling elephant shit at the circus.
Updated On: 5/29/19 at 01:28 AM