Beautiful stage images

[jvoom]

I'm curious to know, what are some of your favorite stage images? Potential spoilers ahead!

One of them for me has to be the final image in the last revival of "The Normal Heart" as the list names are projected all over the theatre.

Another is from a revival of "Sive" that Druid produced in Ireland last year - the same company behind The Beauty Queen of Leenane. The set is a minimalistic rural kitchen with a huge mirror suspended from above, lit in such a way that you don't really notice it until the shows final moments when it dramatically tilts to reveal Sive's body floating in a pool of water in the stage deck. Still gives me goosebumps when I think of the effect and the audible gasps from the audience.

[AADA81]

The final moments of the original 'Children of a Lesser God', where the man speaks, as the woman signs behind him and slightly above him, giving hope that they will finally come together.  It was an exquisite moment.

[carolinaguy]

The thought of the image of Chita Rivera in the web singing the title song of KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN always gives me chills.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Despite people liking to dismiss Phantom as tourist schlock Hal Prince and his team created some stunning visual moments for that show. For as many times as I've seen it I still get chills as those dust covers are pulled and reveal that stunning proscenium at the top of the Overture and the chandelier begins its ascent over the audience.

[CT2NYC]

The "split screen" effect during "This Time Next Year" in the original production of Sunset Boulevard, as Norma Desmond's empty mansion lifts off the stage to make room for an apartment full of New Year's Eve revelers. To this day, it's the most cinematic image that I've seen on stage.



 

[IHeartNY2]

AEA AGMA SM said: "Despite people liking to dismissPhantomas tourist schlock Hal Prince and his team created some stunning visual moments for that show. For as many times as I've seen it I still get chills as those dust covers are pulled and reveal that stunning proscenium at the top of the Overture and the chandelier begins its ascent over the audience."

Anyone who considers Phantom "schlock" needs a serious reality check. I agree with you. There's a reason it's been running 30+ years. Hard to pick just one scene but, yes, that opening reveal gives you that visual WOW factor (and goosebumps) that's unmatched IMO.

[Mr. Wormwood]

I agree that chandelier rising in Phantom is a moment that gives chills even though I'm mixed on the show itself.

The final image of Matilda when Miss Honey and Matilda walk towards the sunset and Miss Honey does a cartwheel with Matilda was a beautiful stage picture

The tableau during the opening songs of both Ragtime (the original) & Lion King

[Mr. Wormwood]

double post, please delete

[Mr. Wormwood]

double post, please delete

[Impossible2]

I've seen Phantom twice, 15 years apart and don't remember a single thing about it let alone any 'visual splendour' it contained...it was a crushing bore x

[CT2NYC]

Impossible2 said: "I've seen Phantom twice, 15 years apart anddon't remember a single thing about it let alone any 'visual splendour' it contained...it was a crushing bore x"

No one asked.

[Alex Kulak2]

In The Band's Visit, during "Answer Me", there's this cool lighting/projection effect where there's this ghostly silhouette thing following the characters while they walk, and it's colored to match their clothes, and it represents the ruts every character is trapped in.

David Yazbek said that the song is partially inspired by the Israel/Palestine conflict, and the moment when every character sings together (for the first and only time in the show) brought tears to my eyes.

Also, the stage transformation in Wait for Me. So simple, but so beautiful.

[Hot Pants]

The moment near the very end of The Band’s Visit where the band leaves. I’m talking about when the turntable carries Tewfiq away from Dina. Absolutely heartbreaking.

[poisonivy2]

I always thought that the way the whole auditorium darkened except for the "comet" which went out on the final note in The Great Comet was very beautiful.

 

[KathyNYC2]

Mr. Wormwood said: "

The final image of Matilda when Miss Honey and Matilda walk towards the sunset and Miss Honey does a cartwheel with Matilda was a beautiful stage picture. “

Yup.  I was going to post the same thing.. 

Similarly I also loved the sunrise moment at the end of Groundhog Day.

Going back many many years, the final moments of the original production of 1776 with the actors posing as the signed their names with the Declaration of Independence shone over them..,.while the liberty bell is ringing. I’ve seen revivals of this but nothing took my breath away like the OBC production. 

[singer234]

Clara running onstage in “Clara’s Interlude” in the original production of Piazza, when the set pulls away and the stage and backdrop was bathed in sunlight and she got down on her knees to sing. Has stuck with me for almost 15 years!

[Frenchbacon]

the part at the very end of Rent when the entire cast is on stage singing and Mark is shining the projector on the walls around the auditorium. saw it on the DVD and whatnot but seeing in live is unreal

[dmwnc1959]

Impossible2 said: "I've seen Phantom twice, 15 years apart anddon't remember a single thing about it let alone any 'visual splendour' it contained...it was a crushing bore x"

 

I saw Phantom of the Opera back in March, and the most beautiful, amazing image I remember from it, other than the aforementioned proscenium and chandelier reveal, was the underground lair scene as the boat glided among giant iron candelabras which had rose from the stage and fog. It was eerily breathtaking. 

I thought the flying carpet in Aladdin was fairly amazing against the backdrop of stars.

The opening sunrise of The Lion King as the giraffes slowly walk across. 

In An American In Paris - when the bar scene morphs into the glamorous Art Deco arched set in I’ll Build a Stairway to Paradise.

Walking into the theatre of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time and in the center of the grid-lined stage was the victim. 

And the vibrant images of Put on Your Sunday Clothes in Hello, Dolly! and the train arriving on stage is always one that puts a smile on my face.

 

 

[Robbie2]

Sunday in the Park with George - Act 1 Finale-SUNDAY

[TooTiredForThis]

Anything from the NT Follies, but... above all else in that show there's a segment where Imelda Staunton is standing just in front of the rotating part of the stage, and Young Sally is walking perpetually forward on the rotating part so she's in the same spot. She's walking perpetually towards Sally with this sad, almost horrified expression of what she ages into. I'm not one hundred percent sure why but it's stayed with me moe than any other moment in theater it was haunting.

[Someone in a Tree2]

Re SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, my favorite visual is when, at the end of Act II, the company reprises “Sunday” and when they get to “on an ordinary Sunday”, the entire company turns toward contemporary George and in unison, they slowly bow in gratitude

[Lot666]

AEA AGMA SM said: "Despite people liking to dismiss Phantom as tourist schlock Hal Prince and his team created some stunning visual moments for that show. For as many times as I've seen it I still get chills as those dust covers are pulled and reveal that stunning proscenium at the top of the Overture and the chandelier begins its ascent over the audience."

Me too. I don't think that Overture scene will ever be topped for me.

[Lot666]

CT2NYC said: "The "split screen" effect during "This Time Next Year" in the original production ofSunset Boulevard,as Norma Desmond's empty mansion lifts off the stage to make room for an apartment full of New Year's Eve revelers. To this day, it's the most cinematic image that I've seen on stage.



"

Man, I wish I could've seen that production!

[Lot666]

KathyNYC2 said: "I also loved the sunrise moment at the end of Groundhog Day."

Going into that show the first time, I could never have imagined it making me cry. That scene did.