[Brother Marvin Hinten, S.]

This thread requires a stretch of the imagination, so I'd like you to imagine this for a minute.

You've signed up with the first non-Equity bus-and-truck company of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera. The tour has a punishing schedule, with lots of one-night stands. What you need is a set that takes an hour each for assembly and disassembly, and minimal costumes and props.

Now, describe this Phantom on a shoestring. What would you consider essential elements of the set, costumes and props that would need to be there?

[pish123c]

I haven't seen the show in a few years, but from what I remember, the essential set peices I think would be:


The organ/piano
The Phantoms chair at the end/The mask on the chair
The mirror that Christine walks through
The christine as a bride manequin the phantom shows her
oh yeah, and the chandeleir.


The only costume peice I think that would be ESSENTIAL is the phantoms mask and the prosthetics to make him look deformed.

[Sweeney Hyde]

You would need something to be the chandelier
some sort of statue or something to represent the roof of the opera
some sort of framework for Box 5
a boat...that's easy enough to make though...
fog machine...I would use one at least...for the lake.
the mirror
Maybe a flat that looks like the grave thing...you know what I'm talking about...
the "Seat of Sweet Music's Throne"...the chair...hehe
the "organ"

[Brother Marvin Hinten, S.]

Things you two agree should definitely be there:

- The organ
- The Phantom's chair
- The mask (and prosthetics that make him look deformed)
- The mirror Christine walks through
- The chandelier

Pish's misc.:

- The "Christine as a bride" mannequin that the Phantom shows Christine

Sweeney's misc.:

- Statue or something representing opera roof
- Framework for Box 5
- A boat
- A fog machine
- A flat resembling the mausoleum in "Wishing"

All of this is really good. Anyone else got more?

[what_the_heck013]

I see it now... John Doyle's production of the Phantom of the Opera. All the actors are onstage all the time with their instruments and that's it. With the phantom on the organ and Christine on a tuba... or trombone... or whatever Patti LuPone played.

[pish123c]

[theatre_grl]

actually, if your going for minimalist, the christine-as-a-bride dummy is not completely necessary.
watch how this ends:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktLJYxv6vSA&mode=related&search

[Brother Marvin Hinten, S.]

Yeah, I was going to bring that up. Then again, "Phantom" on a shoestring might mean not paying the alternate for three seconds as a girl in a wedding dress, hence my putting it there. However, duly noted that an actual mannequin might not be needed.

[OldDeuteronomy]

here's something i've wanted to know. When phantom tours how much smaller exactly is the set from that of the full blown Broadway/London production. I sawv the show in L.A., & San Francisco and the tour set didn't seem any different but their might be some small modifications on the tour i couldn't see.

[Paula74]

[ConverseSneaker]

The best small set idea i've ever had is to build a 3 sided flat and then paint the sets on canvas. Attach the canvas one on top of the other in the order you need them and flip them over when needed.

Then you would need:
Phantom mask and deformities
Chair
Chandlier
boat
fog machine for lake
Grave thing
Mirror

[Toasterphantom]

I agree that a phantom mannequin is not really needed in the production. It's only there for the final lair scene anyhow.

And before everyone tears me apart and is all like WOAH HEY WAIT A SECOND GENIUS, THAT MIRROR BRIDE IS AT THE END OF MUSIC OF THE NIGHT, its not, because where the mirror bride in the lair is a mannequin, the mirror bride at the end of music of the night is a live actress in makeup and a mask to look plastic or wood.

So, if you were doing this, it would depend on the budget. A mannequin like they had, could be easily fashioned for not a lot of money, so it could be brought in. You'd need the phantom's chair/throne, which is relatively easy to fashion. While ingenious in design, it's wonder is in its simplicity.

The dry ice fog is easily set up and relatively cheap to maintain, so that would be essential. This is gearing up to be a long post I warn you now...

The gondola, while seeming essential... i mean... that's one of the most unpredictable and expensive props in the show. You /could/ end up doing without it. A cheap facade of the dressing room with the mirrors. You wouldn't even need the stairs in masquerade... You would need something representing Christine's father's grave even if it was much less extravagant. Merely some gravestones or something. You would need a cheap easy to assemble platforms with false fronts for the manager's and phantom's boxes. Elephant in Hannibal could be dropped...

The canvas backdrops seem an easy way to go. Hey, it worked in Ken Hill's The phantom of the opera musical, who seemed to aim for simplicity and cost effectiveness. Easy to travel with.

I suppose as far as sets go, they could be relatively sparse, simple, eyes on the actors. The manager's office is already no more than a backdrop with a false desk and a chair. Il Muto could have a cheap bed frame, with cushions to make it seem extravagant. Don Juan has what, a picnic table and some fake fruit/wine glasses on it? The lair has some rolled in candelabras, a chair at one point, and the pipe organ, which could be constructed of light PVC piping and faux painted to appear functional.

I think phantom would be a good show even if done in a short staying run as such suggested. Sorry if I ranted too much.