I have 2 questions about the Original Broadway Sweeney Todd...?

Question

In the 80's, the first tour occured, it starred Angela Lansbury. PBS filmed it. I've seen this version and I'm curious about a few aspects of it compared to the Broadway one.

In the tour, the sets are pushed around by men who are on stage the whole time, and the set. the main one, is a big cube that is turned to represent differant rooms, Sweeney's shop is on top. I'm just curious because since it is a tour, they would have grooves in the stage to move sets that way.

If anyone could provide me with an answer, more than yes or no, and no IDK's, I would really like it.

Thanks in advance!!!!

Answer 1

Not all stages are the same.  It could have also been a theme that the director was going for.

Answer 2

If it used tracks, then they used a false floor.  This is actually pretty common in theater.

Answer 3

If they needed grooves in the floor, chances are they would tour a false floor which is placed over the stage proper in each venue.  It raises the stage slightly, but it means that the floor is correct without having to make a mess of the floor wherever they go, and is a pretty common solution.  I worked on a production of Les Mis where the floor had "railroad tracks" on it - tracks which guided the barricades and other set pieces, and we had a false floor (we also had a revolve which needed a false floor, but that's irrelevant!).

Answer 4

When I did the show years ago, we didn't have any tracks -- the bakeshop was on casters and was wheeled around -- controlled entirely by the set crew who followed spiked marks on the ground.    It can be done either way.