The set design for "Best Little Whore House in Texas" also calls for a bi-level set with parts of the second level seen from below and other parts separate.
Act One also had a massive Bi-Level set, great video of Beowulf Boritt talking about it (also features another set designer, but it still shows off Act One's set a lot)
The musicians for Grand Hotel did occupy the upper level when the show played at the Martin Beck (now Hirschfeld) but they were relocated to the traditional pit when the show relocated to the Gershwin. The tour of the show also had the musicians in the pit. To fill the empty space in the upper level it was re imagined to be an attic of sorts with the gold leaf chairs scattered and dangling about.
Only two short bits of action took place on the upper level. The Baron climbing along the ledge as he was breaking into Grushinskaya's suite and Raffaela sang "What You Need" while lying on the ledge.
DoTheDood said: "Act One also had a massive Bi-Level set, great video ofBeowulf Boritt talking about it (also features another set designer, but it still shows off Act One's set a lot)
morosco said: "The musicians for Grand Hotel did occupy the upper level when the show played at the Martin Beck (now Hirschfeld) but they were relocated to the traditional pit when the show relocated to the Gershwin. The tour of the show also had the musicians in the pit. To fill the empty space in the upper level it was re imagined to be an attic of sorts with the gold leaf chairs scattered and dangling about.
Only two short bits of action took place on the upper level. The Baron climbing along the ledge as he was breaking into Grushinskaya's suite and Raffaela sang "What You Need" while lying on the ledge."
It seems like a shame to go through the effort to create such a set and then barely use the second floor.
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"Michael Riedel...The Perez Hilton of the New York Theatre scene" - Craig Hepworth, What's On Stage
Lot666 said: "That is massive - did the entire thing revolve?"
I don't know if the video shows that off, but it did. Obviously it got Boritt the Tony because of how intricate it was. Here's another video that shows it in action a little bit more. https://youtu.be/kI4-Gl4sJ1g
The hotel suites in Victor/Victoria were two story. My first Broadway show and was amazed how these massive set pieces glided so quietly, as well as how Toddy’s apartment and Chez Louis tracked on stage.
The three massive girders in Newsies we’re tried-level.
I'm no good at downloading photos (maybe Morosco can help) but Peter Larkin's original set for THE RINK had a stunning partial 2-level set torqued into an astonishing version of false perspective.
Clarke Dunham's gorgeous set for GRIND boasted far more than just 2 levels; it contained a veritable rabbit warren of dressing rooms on probably 6 or 7 levels surrounding its Burlesque stage with its fully working fly loft, all placed on a constantly rotating turntable.The show had its critics but man, that set was a thing of beauty!
How can we forget the original setting of SUNSET BOULEVARD?
Literally mentioned by the original poster in the first post.
Otherwise, Crazy For You had an impressive 2 level saloon set, with some impressive fight choreo from level to level. Unfortunately I can't find a pic from the original production.