What is a raked stage?
What is a raked stage?
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#0What is a raked stage?
Posted: 10/26/05 at 3:39pmHeard this phrase thrown around many times, never thought to ask about it....what is a raked stage?
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#1re: What is a raked stage?
Posted: 10/26/05 at 3:41pmA stage that is on an incline. It slants upward away from the audience.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
Fosse76
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/21/05
#2re: What is a raked stage?
Posted: 10/26/05 at 3:42pmA stage that is vertically angled. It's much better for the audiences, but harde on the actors. Ragtime, Miss Saigon, Wicked all had/have raked stages. I'm sure a lot of other shows do/did as well.
#3re: What is a raked stage?
Posted: 10/26/05 at 3:43pmTitanic's was very raked - it was difficult to walk on, nevermind PERFORM on.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
Fosse76
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/21/05
#4re: What is a raked stage?
Posted: 10/26/05 at 3:45pmI only saw Titanic on tour, which wasn't raked. It was hydrauluicly lifted on stage left when the ship was sinking, but other than that I recall it being a flat stage.
nydirector2
Featured Actor Joined: 10/4/05
#5re: What is a raked stage?
Posted: 10/26/05 at 3:46pmWow...you just brought up a great point. I always forget to inform my students about terms like "raked stage" because I just assume they know what it is already.
peeps2
Chorus Member Joined: 10/7/05
#6re: What is a raked stage?
Posted: 10/26/05 at 3:46pm
When the stage is angled (higher at the back than the front). It's also where we get upstage and downstage from.
But I prefer lying:
It's when you have dirt or leaves on the floor that need to be tidied. And upstage used to always face north or uptown. And the apron got its name from the Elizabethan theater when the audience near that part of the stage was heavily populated by ladies of easy virtue who only wore aprons. They and the groundlings would... oh nevermind.
Updated On: 10/26/05 at 03:46 PM
BwayTheatre11
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/25/03
#8re: What is a raked stage?
Posted: 10/26/05 at 3:55pmMamma Mia is raked, as well.
"Years from now, when you talk about this - And you will - Be kind. "
#9re: What is a raked stage?
Posted: 10/26/05 at 3:57pmbut why? you may ask - because it adds to the illusion of a forced perspective!
"I don't really get the ending,all i can go with is when after several months,Judith saw Pat sang,and later she kissed him on the toilet,after that the story back to where Pat went down from the stage after he'd sung,and he went to the italian lady.I just don't get it,what Judith exatcly meant when he kissed Pat that she had seen,and did Pat end up together with The Italian Lady?Please help me,thank u very much!"
Quote from someone on IMDB in reference to a movie he/she didn't understand. Such grammar!
BwayTheatre11
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/25/03
#10re: What is a raked stage?
Posted: 10/26/05 at 3:59pm
Speaking of raked stages...that is why Carole Shelley had to leave Wicked:
https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?thread=872941&dt=102605035757
CCM '10!
PJ
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#11re: What is a raked stage?
Posted: 10/26/05 at 4:03pmThe Gershwin's stage is ridiculously raked. I had never heard about Carole having back troubles because of it. I know when Kristin had ner neck injury early in the run, the stage certainly didn't help matters.
#12re: What is a raked stage?
Posted: 10/26/05 at 4:13pm
Shockheaded Peter had a raked stage.
Also, The Fortune Theatre in London where The Woman in BLACK is playing also has a raked stage.
I also always wondered: How did the actors stand performing on the stage? I say, just lean back a little bit, and you're fine. Many London theatres also have raked stages.
MARGARET: "Clara, stop that. That's illegal." - The Light in the Piazza
"I'm not in Bambi and I'm not blonde!" - Idina Menzel
"I'm not in Bambi and I'm not blonde!" - Idina Menzel
Jasey
Chorus Member Joined: 8/1/04
#13re: What is a raked stage?
Posted: 10/26/05 at 4:18pmIs the stage at the Palace theatre raked? Anyone know?
#14re: What is a raked stage?
Posted: 10/26/05 at 4:20pmit is the act of "leaning back" that causes so much strain on the back and legs - making raked stages a bit hazardous for some performers to work on.
"I don't really get the ending,all i can go with is when after several months,Judith saw Pat sang,and later she kissed him on the toilet,after that the story back to where Pat went down from the stage after he'd sung,and he went to the italian lady.I just don't get it,what Judith exatcly meant when he kissed Pat that she had seen,and did Pat end up together with The Italian Lady?Please help me,thank u very much!"
Quote from someone on IMDB in reference to a movie he/she didn't understand. Such grammar!
#15re: What is a raked stage?
Posted: 10/26/05 at 4:21pmJasey: Nope.
MARGARET: "Clara, stop that. That's illegal." - The Light in the Piazza
"I'm not in Bambi and I'm not blonde!" - Idina Menzel
"I'm not in Bambi and I'm not blonde!" - Idina Menzel
neddyfrank2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/23/05
#16re: What is a raked stage?
Posted: 5/5/06 at 7:28pmWas Fiddler on The Roof raked at the Minskoff Theatre? I just saw a picture and it looked tilted.
ThePinballWizard
Leading Actor Joined: 1/25/06
#17re: What is a raked stage?
Posted: 5/5/06 at 7:37pmI remember a story one of the Miss Saigon vets told me awhile back. I believe he said when the 1st National went out it was one of the highest raked stages even allowed by Equity standards. It caused awful things to your body because it's like performing a giant, steep hill. Can you imagine doing that 8 times a week? I know that they had onstaff massage therapists and people like that on hand to treat the injured. I believe another guy was one of the tumblers in that show. He can no longer bend his wrist all the way back due to the rake.
"Isn't it strange that we spend most of our time learning to do what they put people in asylums for." - Jane Fonda on Acting
BSoBW2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/8/04
#18re: What is a raked stage?
Posted: 5/5/06 at 7:39pm
Though I much prefer the audience to be raked.
#19re: What is a raked stage?
Posted: 5/5/06 at 8:46pmMy university had a raked stage for our production of "Into the Woods," and it killed my back. I was Little Red Ridinghood and skipping on that raked stage shot my back. I had to go to two weeks of physical therapy. Although the the stage did benefit the show and audience members, it kills the actors.
#20re: What is a raked stage?
Posted: 5/5/06 at 8:59pm
Thankfully I didn't have to SKIP on one, but I did do "1776" on a raked stage... and the first time we ran through the show on the (amazing) set I staggered around like a drunken sailor. And I was singing "Molasses to Rum." (It was ALL about the "rum" part that particular run-through.)
It took me several rehearsals to get used to it. But the effect from the audience was great. Our "congressional" chamber appeared much bigger than it actually was.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
thevolleyballer
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/29/04
#21re: What is a raked stage?
Posted: 5/5/06 at 9:18pmWhen JLT was giving me the tour backstage at Wicked, I stepped onto the stage and almost tripped because I just wasn't aware how slanted it was. She led me to the 'cog' where she stands for "What Is This Feeling?", and I swear, I thought I was going to fall into the orchestra pit. It was ridiculous!
#22re: What is a raked stage?
Posted: 5/5/06 at 9:22pmI believe I read somewhere that Threepenny also is slightly raked. I cant imagine how difficult it must be for these performers, especially the dancers.
"The hallmark of aristocracy is responsibility. Oh brother, that got me, that did me in!"
#23re: What is a raked stage?
Posted: 5/5/06 at 9:34pmMost stage floors are actually built as part of the set design. The question of whether a stage is raked or not depends on that, not the surface of the top of the stage which is usually built over.
#24re: What is a raked stage?
Posted: 5/5/06 at 9:40pm
Jesus Christ Superstar's revival had a raked stage.
It's what caused Manoel Felciano to fall into the pit. I'm amazed he only suffered a broken hand and gash on his forehead from that, it was a nine foot drop.
Updated On: 5/6/06 at 09:40 PM
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