Broadway Lights
What were the first 'lights' used in theatre?
Candles
How many wireless microphones are generally used at a Broadway show?
50+ Microphones
(Not all on cast members! Also used for SMs, etc)
What is the most expensive musical ever made?
Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark (2011), costing $75 million!
What is a ghostlight? What does it do?
A light that stays on within a theater, often onstage, to 'keep the ghosts company'/keep people from walking off the stage in the dark.
What is a 'limelight', and why is it called that? For bonus points: when was it invented?
A spotlight. A piece of lime was lit on fire, casting a greenish hue.
BONUS: Invented in 1803 by Henry Drummond.
When microphones first became frequent on Broadway in the 1970s, many critics were, well, critical. Why?
Loss of the sense of space, blaming actors for being lazy/untrained, too loud overall
Phantom of the Opera (1988) is at-current-time still the longest running musical in Broadway history, at 13,981 performances. What is the runner-up?
Chicago (1998 revival): 10,338 (Apr 2023)
Why is it bad luck to whistle onstage?
Whistles used to serve as cues for stagehands to know when to move scenery! While no longer in use, the superstition holds up!
In the Italian Renaissance, an archaic form of gels were placed in front of a light source, known as 'bozze'. What were they?
Glass bottles filled with colored liquids!
Ex: red wine for red, saffron for yellow
Before wireless microphones, which type of microphones were most commonly used in theatre productions?
Foot Microphones aka Floor Microphones
(PCC's in our space!)
While popular now, A Chorus Line, which opened on Broadway at the Shubert Theater in 1975, was an underdog. Why?
No sets, no real costumes (except for the very end), no intermission, no big stars
What is a "sitzprobe"?
A "seated rehearsal" (German). This is when the orchestra/musicians first play with the actors! The goal of the rehearsal is for both to get familiar with one another on a musical-level.
The practice of dimming house lights when a show starts is a relatively modern addition. Why is this a good thing?
For bonus points: roughly when was this popularized? Why?
Serves as a great way to focus the audiences' attention.
BONUS: Early 1900s, outdoor spaces to indoor.
The 1980s brought a great need for more amplification of sound, particularly actors' voices, in musical theatre. Why?
It was the first show to integrate dance into the plot of show, via the 20-minute Dream Ballet.
Musical theatre is an American invention. So is one other music genre, that musicals have also had very close ties to since its inception. What is it?
Bonus: what type of dance did it also create?
Jazz
BONUS: Tap!
According to Brian MacDevitt, a Tony-winning lighting designer, approx. how many lights could a large-scale musical employ?
"A big musical could have 1,000 stationary and 100 moving."
What was the first Broadway production to extensively use wireless microphones?
Cats (1982)
Stephen Sondheim brought 20 shows to Broadway within the span of his career. What role did he play?
Bonus: Name two of them.
Bonus: Name his mentor.
Composer and Lyricist
BONUS 1: Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, etc
BONUS 2: Oscar Hammerstein II
Revolving stages in theatre are popular due to their usage in musicals like Hamilton. However, non-automated ones have been in use for much, much longer. When did they first appear?
Kabuki theaters in the 1700s!