As most people we found Grease to be fun and a wonderful night at the theatre. The cast was great, Laura sings beautifully and can really kick her legs, she was terrific, has Sandy down pat. Max was superb and can dance and sing extremely well, and is Danny Zuko, no doubt. Bravo to all. We will be back. Now the question, we were the last to leave the theatre and as I was walking out I noticed people sitting in 3 rows down front in the orchestra, there was a bright light on a stand on stage, were they cast members or do they allow special meetings with fans after the performance? One other question, is $10,000,000 average for the production of a musical today? I know people are knowledgeable about the theatre. Thank you.
I don't know what was going on this afternoon, but groups can arrange talk backs or Q&As with the cast/crew, etc.
The light on stage is called the Ghost Lamp. It's left lit on stage after every performance and through the night to ward off bad spirits and ghosts. Many of the Broadway theaters have ghostly presences within them and, while many people don't believe in the ghost stories, they still light the lamp as a symbol...though I do know a number of actors who have seen ghosts in various theaters, especially the Belasco, which, by many accounts, is legitimately haunted.
Yes, $10 million is the average initial cost for a musical today.
Mr. E1111 My granddaughters, friend, daughter and I find this info regarding the Ghost Lamp interesting and fun. We never came close to that reason. Thanks.
That's the fun answer, at least. There are the serious ones...keeping the stage lit to make sure nobody falls if someone's on it, etc. The ghost story idea is the commonly accepted idea.
Mr. Ed1111 We thought of all the practical reasons, was if for the cleaning crew, the stage hands, the ushers, and the cast to see and be seen, although now thinking about it, can't imagine what an usher would be doing on the stage. We never thought of a ghost but for my granddaughters, 13 and 14, this was the explaination they liked the best. It's always more interesting and fun to have a fanciful reason. My granddaughters have strict rules regarding the internet, so they talked me into gathering all the info on Max and Grease, then passing it on to them. So they thank you and we older folk thank you as well. You are indeed very knowledgable.