The past decade has been nothing short of transformative in the world of theater. With technological advancements and the increasing integration of digital elements in live performances, stages worldwide have witnessed some truly magical moments. And at the heart of many of these moments? Broadway Media's best-selling Scenic Projections show packages.

Join us as we walk down the memory lane of our top-performing shows, remembering what made each one so spectacular.

This spooky and heartwarming tale has been a family favorite. Our Scenic Projections brought the quirky Addams mansion to life, adding depth and dynamism to the set, truly captivating the essence of the family we all love and fear. Moreover, our Choreography Guides, featuring original Broadway choreography by Sergio Trujilo, made those iconic family dance numbers even more delightful, ensuring every move resonated with the unique Addams' spirit.

The glitz and glamor of North Shore High were made even more vivid with our show package resources. With the original Broadway video design by Fray Studios, the iconic school cafeteria to the Mathletes competition, every scene was rendered with sharp, colorful details. Additionally, our Choreography Guides added that extra zest to the Plastics' strut and every high school dance-off.

Letting it go has never been so beautiful. Elsa's ice palace, the heartwarming town of Arendelle, and the northern lights - our Scenic Projections added a magical touch, making it a winter wonderland every show night.

The historical fiction that took us through the streets of St. Petersburg and Paris. Broadway Media's Scenic Projection package is direct from Broadway! Designer Aaron Rhyne seamlessly integrated with the story, elevating the musical numbers with picturesque backdrops and unforgettable visual moments.

Medieval mayhem never looked so good. Our first product ever created - castles, dragons, and the quest for the Holy Grail were all enhanced with vibrant and humorous visuals. Plus, our Choreography Guides for the Young@Part version turned every knightly dance and coconut gallop into comedic gold.

The sun-kissed shores of the Greek islands beckoned more brightly with our packaged resources. Each musical number, from "Dancing Queen" to "Waterloo", was paired with dynamic Scenic Projections. And with the help of our upcoming Choreography Guides (available in 2024), those disco moves and dance sequences will truly come to life!

Elle Woods' journey from the sorority house to the courtroom was made even more fabulous with our Scenic Projections. Our Choreography Guides feature Tony-award winning director/choreography Jerry Mitchell, who brings an energetic "Bend and Snap" to Elle's victory dance.&nbsp;

A tale as old as time was retold with renewed charm. The grandeur of the Beast's castle, the quaint village, and the enchanting forest – every set piece was enriched by our Scenic Projections. And with our Choreography Guides, featuring the original Broadway choreography by Matt West, dances like "Be Our Guest" became a visual feast, captivating audiences with every twirl and leap.

Yellow brick roads, emerald cities, and poppy fields – our show package for Wizard of Oz was nothing short of magical. Audiences felt like they were journeying with Dorothy, from the cyclone in Kansas to the whimsical land of Oz.

The bustling marketplace of Agrabah, the Cave of Wonders, and the romantic carpet rides were visually stunning, truly making it a whole new world!

In celebrating a decade of show-stopping performances, we are filled with gratitude. To all the theaters, schools, and community groups that trusted in our products - thank you.&nbsp;

Here's to many more years of theater magic with Broadway Media!

Join us as we walk down the memory lane of our top-performing shows, remembering what made each one so spectacular.


A Decade of Showstoppers: Broadway Media’s Best Sellers

Organization: Olathe East High School

Digital Scenery Use: Backdrop replacement and animation

Surface Material:&nbsp;Cycloroma and Scrim, we used the scrim for the Act Curtain and location titles.

Projector Details:&nbsp;7,000 lumens; .038 throw ratio lens; hung 13 feet, 6 inches from the surface and 38 feet in the air

Operator:&nbsp;On an iMac in the stage left wing

I would definitely keep everything downstage as much as possible. This will help keep lighting at a steeper beam angle and shadows off the image. I would use blocking and choreography that coincides with the animation. The moving images help create engaging movement that can be used as a great tool for choreography and/or scene transitions. Use that to your advantage. When you first get your projection package go through each scene and note the direction each slides moves so you can block/choreograph accordingly. I would also take note of color and shapes used in the images. Then, design your show with shapes and colors that match. For example, the Anastasia package has a recurring window motif that we incorporated into our permanent set design.

Advice for lighting with digital scenery:&nbsp;

As you get closer to the projection surface, use more top and side lighting. We used lighting trees in the wings to light the actors up stage when needed. This helped keep the lighting from bleeding onto the projection surface. It will also help eliminate bounce off of the stage floor. As stated previously, we kept most action down stage and utilized our front of house positions for the majority of the lighting. If you can keep most action downstage it will allow you to keep the beam angles steeper and provide less upstage bounce. We also put our spots in the front of house positions. Doing this allowed our spot operators to illuminate the actors without spilling onto the back of the cyc.

We hung the projector high to keep actors’ shadows from hitting the images. I would definitely recommend a short throw lens so you can keep the projector as close to your surface as possible. This will make your images brighter and help eliminate shadows.

Edward Shafer has been the Director of Theatre at Olathe East High School in Olathe, KS since 2010. Prior to teaching at Olathe East, Edward taught for three years at Westlake High School in Waldorf, MD. He is also the Thespian Sponsor for International Thespian Troupe 5078. Edward has been Events Coordinator for Kansas Thespians since 2016 and currently sits on the Executive Board. During his time at Olathe East, the theatre program has been nominated for 106 Starlight Blue Star Awards including Outstanding Overall Production in 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, and 2020. Since 2010, Edward has had 70 students qualify for the National Individual Events competition, with 16 of those students earing a Superior rating. In 2018, Edward was selected as the artistic director for the Kansas All-State Thespian Production of Bring it On, which performed at both the Kansas Thespian Festival and at the International Thespian Festival in 2019. Edward was awarded the "Heart of the Arts" award in 2020 by the Kansas State High School Activities Association for his ability to provide meaningful theatre opportunities during the Covid-19 pandemic. Edward studied Theatre and Film at California State University Northridge and the University of Kansas where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Film and a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education. In 2012, Edward completed his master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Kansas. His wife, Meghann Shafer, teaches German at Park Hill High School in Kansas City, MO. They have two children, Hannah and Oliver.

Edward Shafer directed Anastasia at Olathe East High School and used a 7,000 lumens projector to beautifully replace the backdrop and highlight the animations of Aaron Rhyne's Scenic Projections.

Anastasia Digital Scenery Shines

Here at Broadway Media, we can’t get enough of Anastasia the Musical!&nbsp; The transportive Broadway projections, by award-winning designer Aaron Rhyne, are exclusively available to license through Broadway Media’s Scenic Projections. We love seeing photos of theatres utilizing our digital scenery, so naturally we were blown away by these photos of the recent production of Anastasia at Hutchinson High School, directed by Jason Olson in Hutchinson, MI! Check out their stunning production photos below!

Aaron Rhyne won a Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award for his work on the Broadway production of Anastasia, and his designs have been seen on stages around the world in hundreds of musicals, plays, operas, and dance performances. His advice for creating an effective projection design? “Focus on the storytelling first. Make sure anything you create is in service to the story that the entire creative team is trying to tell. Anything that is too much, too bold, too confusing, too anything can harm the production. If your design work distracts or confuses or takes the audience out of the story even just for a moment, you are not in service of the play. Before putting anything on stage, make sure that it first passes that test, then you’ll always have a cohesive design.”&nbsp;

To ensure our script-accurate promise for our Scenic Projections, we perform real-world tests on the materials through our pilot program. Broadway Media’s digital scenery for Anastasia was originally piloted by Madison Fine Arts Academy in a November 2020 production directed by Paul Kelsey. According to Paul, using digital scenery for Anastasia solved a variety of production headaches: “With projections, we can have so many more locations and effects than we could with traditional drops. Projections don't just serve the production quality – they are also so much easier to deal with.”

It’s a common misconception that using digital scenery is difficult to set up and operate, especially in a school setting. However, fellow teachers who have used Broadway Media products are adamant that this couldn’t be further from the truth. According to Albert Carter of Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School in Virginia, “Broadway Media makes using Scenic Projections easy and painless. They are very supportive – you can call them and they walk you through technical issues step by step.”

The ghostly dance sequence featured in the photo above is one of our favorite parts of the show, and a great example of a theatrical effect that can only be achieved by using digital scenery.&nbsp;

Anastasia is one of a long line of films that have been adapted for the stage in recent years. Recreating big cinematic moments for a smaller-scale theatrical production can be a challenge, but using projections allows your production to come alive with stunning, movie-worthy animations and special effects.

Thank you to Hutchinson High School for sharing their photos with us! To learn more about Scenic Projections for Anastasia, fill out the form below!

Hutchinson High School knocked it out of the park with this beautiful production.

Check out these beautiful photos from Anastasia at Hutchinson High School!

From a cinematic travel sequence to an ancient Russian palace, the stage adaptation of Anastasia is famous for its variety of beautiful settings.&nbsp;

For many community and educational theatres, depicting so many specific, unique places is a major headache.&nbsp;Lumber needs to be purchased, sets need to be built and painted, and there needs to be wing space to store it all! Plus, long scene changes can slow down a production’s momentum. 

The Broadway production of Anastasia solved this issue by utilizing projection design — and through <a href="http://broadwaymedia.com/scenic-projections">Broadway Media’s Scenic Projections</a>, you can take advantage of this solution as well.

It’s no secret that big, complicated set pieces can cause problems. <a href="https://www.broadwaymedia.com/blog/lumber-is-seriously-expensive-right-now-heres-what-you-should-consider-when-planning-your-upcoming-show">Lumber is historically expensive right now</a>, making the cost of building a set skyrocket beyond what most theatres might expect. Large, intricate set pieces may also be difficult for theatres to store and move. Broadway Media firmly believes that projection design is not out to replace the art of scenic design; the two elements are able to work together in tandem to create a dynamic theatrical experience. However, for many theatres, using projections as a replacement for a backdrop or a complicated set is an option that can save space, money, and time. This is uniquely exemplified in <a href="https://www.broadwaymedia.com/shows/anastasia/anastasia/scenic-projections">Broadway Media’s Scenic Projections for Anastasia.</a>

The Scenic Projections for Anastasia are directly adapted from the Broadway production’s projection design by <a href="http://aaronrhyne.com">Aaron Rhyne</a>, who won a Drama Desk and an Outer Critics Circle Award for his effort. Rhyne creates all of his designs with a strong sense of the overall story at work, recognizing the importance of projections in shaping a narrative.

“A good projection design works in harmony with all the other elements of design, the script, direction, music, and the performers on stage to all tell the written story cohesively,” he noted in a prior interview. “Everything has to work together in service of the play for it to be a success.” Rhyne’s Anastasia design portrays breathtaking settings and moments like a ghostly dance sequence, a stunning Parisian ballet theatre, and the famous train scene — effects that would be difficult to achieve using set pieces alone. 

Broadway Media’s Scenic Projections contain every setting and cue from the script, ensuring that  your production is able to effortlessly incorporate each location in Anya’s story. Using projections to aid in depicting these places allows for simplified scene changes while simultaneously creating a “wow” factor for the audience.

 “With projections, we can have so many more locations and effects than we could with traditional drops,” says Paul Kelsey, who piloted Broadway Media’s Scenic Projections for Anastasia at Madison Fine Arts Academy. “Projections don't just serve the production quality – they are also so much easier to deal with.”

Make Your Stage Come Alive With Scenic Projections&nbsp;

To learn more about Broadway Media’s resources for Anastasia the Musical, fill out the form below. And for your next season, be sure to explore our entire <a href="http://broadwaymedia.com/scenic-projections">scenic projections library</a>, plus our <a href="https://www.broadwaymedia.com/digital-backdrops">digital backdrops library</a> for choral and music productions.

A deep dive into how Aaron Rhyne’s projections for Anastasia The Musical resolve a variety of staging challenges.

Solving Problems With Projections

Throughout the history of cinema and theatre, the two art forms have often looked to each other for inspiration for the next hit. Adeptly transferring a story from one medium to another means conquering certain challenges (like the scenic flexibility of cinema), while capturing the essence of the story and creating an engaging onstage experience. While big budget productions can do this with relative ease, making the title universally playable across theaters of all shapes and sizes? Well, that’s where scenic projections come in!

Let’s dive into some of our favorite screen to stage adaptations, and how scenic projections have been utilized as a powerful storytelling tool.&nbsp;

Anastasia is inspired by the 1997 animated musical film and the 1956 Fox film, featuring the popular songs from the animated hit, including “Journey to the Past” which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song. The songwriters,<a href="https://ahrensandflaherty.com/"> Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty</a>,&nbsp;remained onboard for the stage musical adaptation, composing an additional 16 new songs for the show.

When adapting a piece of cinema (particularly one on the scale of Anastasia), naturally challenges in creating fluid scene changes. With Act 1 set in St. Petersburg and Act 2 in Paris, the growth of projection technology in theatre gave the creative team (projections by <a href="https://aaronrhyne.com/">Aaron Rhyne</a>) the opportunity to direct a full travel sequence by train.

In Anastasia, Rhyne demonstrates that projection design not only solves the screen-to-stage conundrum, but can serve as a powerful storytelling tool that is as rich in emotion as it is detail. Check out this Paris sequence:

<a href="https://www.broadwaymedia.com/shows/anastasia/anastasia/scenic-projections">Explore our scenic projections for Anastasia here.</a>&nbsp;Broadway Media also offers scenic projections for the Youth Edition of Anastasia, which you can explore <a href="https://www.broadwaymedia.com/shows/anastasia/anastasia-youth/scenic-projections">here</a>.

<a href="https://www.broadwaymedia.com/blog/Anastasia-Digital-Scenery-Shines">Click to read our blog to see how Olathe East High School utilized our scenic projection in their production of Anastasia</a>!

Adapted from the smash-hit animated motion picture,<a href="https://www.mtishows.com/shrek-the-musical"> Shrek The Musical,</a> sheds the pop soundtrack (save for Smash Mouth’s “I’m A Believer”, because of course) for an all-new score by Jeanine Tesori (Caroline, Or Change, Fun Home) and David Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit Hole, High Fidelity). The storyline remains much the same, and provides plenty of opportunities for amazing costumes, sets and puppets to create an amazing onstage spectacle – just as Tim Hatley did for the original Broadway production.

When accounting for all the different settings and special effects required to tell the story (yes, there’s a fire-breathing dragon), your production budget could give you a case of the ogre-level grumpies. Not to worry! Our scenic projections are an affordable and gorgeous solution. Check out the following Princess Fiona rescue sequence.

<a href="https://www.broadwaymedia.com/shows/shrek-the-musical/shrek-musical/scenic-projections">Explore our scenic projections for Shrek the Musical here.</a> Or check out&nbsp;<a href="https://www.broadwaymedia.com/shows/shrek-the-musical/shrek-musical-jr/scenic-projections">Shrek the Musical Jr </a>or <a href="https://www.broadwaymedia.com/shows/shrek-the-musical/shrek-musical-tya/scenic-projections">Shrek the Musical TYA scenic packages</a>, written for family and youth theaters to perform.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.broadwaymedia.com/blog/big-bright-and-beautiful-inside-shrek-the-musical-scenic-projections">Click to read our blog highlighting how Shrek the Musical has come straight from the storybook with productions that utilize our scenic projections.&nbsp;</a>

With a story that features the transatlantic adventures of a boy and life-size insects aboard a gigantic peach, scenic projections can help with the many of the cinematic qualities of the script and, in turn, become a valuable storytelling tool for audiences. In the following sequence, the giant peach falls from the tree and begins its journey – flattening Spud and Spike, busting through a well-known confections factory, and out to open water!

<a href="https://www.broadwaymedia.com/shows/roald-dahls-james-and-the-giant-peach/james-giant-peach/scenic-projections">Browse our scenic projections for James and the Giant Peach here.</a>&nbsp;

Or take a look at <a href="https://www.broadwaymedia.com/shows/roald-dahls-james-and-the-giant-peach/james-giant-peach-jr/scenic-projections">James and the Giant Peach Jr</a>&nbsp;or <a href="https://www.broadwaymedia.com/shows/roald-dahls-james-and-the-giant-peach/james-giant-peach-tya">James and the Giant Peach TYA scenic packages,</a>&nbsp;written for family and youth theaters to perform.&nbsp; &nbsp;

“I passed through the seven levels of the Candy Cane forest, through the sea of swirly twirly gumdrops, and then I walked through the Lincoln Tunnel”.&nbsp;

The cherished fish-out-of-water comedy starring Will Ferrell received the musical treatment in 2010, and has been a regular addition to theaters’ festive season programming ever since. Eschewing only a few scenes from the movie upon which it is based, a dynamic set is required to bring the North Pole and New York to life. But what about Buddy’s fabled journey? Well, check it out:

<a href="https://www.broadwaymedia.com/shows/elf-the-musical/elf-musical/scenic-projections">Make your production sparklejollytwinklejingley with our Elf the Musical scenic projections.</a> We also offer the junior version with<a href="https://www.broadwaymedia.com/shows/elf-the-musical/elf-musical-jr/scenic-projections"> Elf the Musical Jr scenic projections.</a>

Madagascar – A Musical Adventure JR.&nbsp;

From screen zoo to stage, Madagascar – A Musical Adventure JR follows all your favorite crack-a-lackin’ friends from the blockbuster movie from Dreamworks as they escape from their home in New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien’s Madagascar. Bringing the tropical island to life is one thing, but how about the boat? Watch the video to see how we do it.

<a href="https://www.broadwaymedia.com/shows/madagascar--a-musical-adventure/madagascar-musical-adventure-jr/scenic-projections">Take your production on a trip to&nbsp;Madagascar with our scenic projection package here.</a>

Rent Your Scenic Projection Package for Your Show Today

Are you producing one of these titles as part of your upcoming season? Fill out the form below to connect with one of our Production Specialists. Or <a href="https://www.broadwaymedia.com/contact">schedule a call</a> and speak with our team of professionals, eager to answer your questions and enhance your production.

Let’s dive into some of our favorite screen to stage adaptations, and how scenic projections have been utilized as a powerful storytelling tool in theatre.

From Screen to Stage: Using Technology as a Storytelling Tool in Stage Adaptations.

As part of our ongoing partnership with projection designer Aaron Rhyne (A Gentleman's Guide to Love &amp;&nbsp;Murder, Anastasia, Bonnie &amp;&nbsp;Clyde, The Sound Inside), we are delighted to make his Anastasia projections available to license to the amateur and secondary professional market worldwide. Our process with designs such as Rhyne's involves the painstaking process of adapting individual scenic and animated elements (such as the ghostly dance scene, or the amazing railway travel sequence) to make them script-accurate and by simplifying their complex nature into easy-to-use still images and videos for use through our app, Stage Player.&nbsp;

To ensure our script-accurate promise, we perform real-world tests on the materials through our pilot program. For Anastasia, we were delighted to work with Paul Kelsey at Madison&nbsp;Fine Arts Academy, Indiana. It's through the detailed and insightful feedback from theatre makers like Paul that we can make a product that is beautiful and incredibly useful. We had great fun with this show and were encouraged that a school could present this musical safely during the pandemic. You can explore the instagram takeover <a href="https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17895568570645729/">here</a>.&nbsp;

We had a brief chat with Paul after the performances to capture his experience.&nbsp;

Broadway Media:&nbsp;What led you to choose using projections for your production of Anastasia? &nbsp; ‍

Paul Kelsey:&nbsp;We have recently acquired a new 24' x 11' LED screen, which allows us to use projections. With projections, we can have so many more locations and effects than we could with traditional drops. Projections doesn't just serve the production quality – they are also so much easier to deal with (hanging, folding, shipping, etc.)

BM:&nbsp;The joy of projections is how flexible they are. They really can adapt to your production management style and calendar. Can you walk us through your process of integrating projections into your production?Paul:&nbsp;For me, the projections served as an enhancement to our traditional scenic design. &nbsp;We still build physical elements like doors and furniture for&nbsp;our cast to interact with. During production, we use the physical elements early in rehearsal and then add projections during tech week, which usually falls about two weeks before we open so we can fine tune the lighting with the LED&nbsp;wall. Scenic challenges such as the bridge, the palatial windows, and changes in time and weather were solved with Scenic Projections. My favorite moment was the sunset over Paris at the end of Act One. 

BM: How did this Aaron Rhyne’s Scenic Projections for Anastasia influence your show vision? &nbsp;

‍Paul: Aaron Rhyne's designs add so much atmosphere and are so embedded in the stage musical that we ended up sticking close to the original production design. 

BM:&nbsp;You've used physical drops often in the past – was this experience different?&nbsp;‍Paul:&nbsp;It's so EASY! &nbsp;No hanging the drops, then removal, then folding and shipping. &nbsp;I was also always worried something would happen to the physical drops. I would absolutely recommend using Scenic Projections to anyone, and will continue to use them myself. If you have access to the technology, you will never go back. 

BM:&nbsp;What was your experience working with the team at Broadway Media? &nbsp;

‍Paul: Their imagery is the most artistic and they are great to work with. &nbsp;Despite obvious challenges of piloting a show during the pandemic and their creative team working from home, we all managed to pull it together in time! 

BM: What was it like for your production team to work with projections? 

‍Paul: It offers another tech option for students to learn with and for the lighting team to design with. &nbsp;The numerous images inspires them to be artistic with their design for each scene and song change.

Looking to license Aaron Rhyne's Anastasia The Musical projections? Fill out the form below to talk to one of our Production Specialists.

Piloted by Madison Fine Arts Academy, Indiana, in November 2020, read on to get first impressions from the school’s theatre director, Paul Kelsey, and learn how you can license all the scenes, settings and incredible moments from the Broadway production in this Scenic Projections package.

Anastasia: The Musical at Madison Fine Arts Academy, Indiana

One of the most impressive (as well as most difficult) special effects to be done onstage is flight. Broadway equips themselves with highly skilled engineering teams to create impressive technical illusions that leave audiences wondering: “How did they do that?”

Without Broadway’s secrets of hidden wires and harnesses, how can theatres of all sizes deliver the same magical and effortless effect of flight?

Hiring a standard rigging system, and getting insurance for the safety of your actors can cost thousands of dollars. Due to a lack of funds or another dependable solution, schools can become discouraged from producing certain titles that include flying. That’s why we're is here to lend a helping hand and offer worry-free solutions through Scenic Projections.&nbsp;

Here are a few of our favorite animated flight sequences and suggested staging that you can use for your productions:

Disney’s Aladdin JR: Scene 8 - Magic Carpet Ride

(ALADDIN helps JASMINE onto the magic carpet, which flies into the night sky)

In this scene, Aladdin and Jasmine begin on the Palace Balcony and with the press of a cue, fly over Agrabah, travel amongst the clouds, and then through the city back to the Palace. You can have the magic carpet set center stage on the floor with your actors seated on top. The scenery behind them moves backward, and the audience experiences the illusion that the actors are flying forward and upward.

*You could also use one of your three wishes to construct a small raked platform, with the top angled upwards, away from the apron. Then, cover the base with black fabric, and have your actors sit on the magic carpet laid over the top of the platform. This gives your actors extra height off of the ground so they appear as if they are flying in the middle of the traveling scenery behind them. 

Experience a whole new world with our scenic projection package for <a href="https://www.broadwaymedia.com/shows/disneys-aladdin/aladdin-jr/scenic-projections">Disney's&nbsp;Aladdin Jr</a>.&nbsp;plus<a href="https://www.broadwaymedia.com/shows/disneys-aladdin/aladdin-kids">&nbsp;Disney's Aladdin Kids.</a>

Disney’s Mary Poppins: Act 1 Scene 1 - Mary Poppins’ Arrival

(MARY POPPINS soars over the London rooftops and through the sunrise)

Press cue and Mary Poppins is flying across your stage with her parrot-handled umbrella in hand. As the scene in the Parlor ends, the actors can clear the stage and begin preparing for the following scene, while the projection of Mary begins to play. The audience watches Mary’s silhouette fly in and your actress playing Mary can await her cue backstage. Eliminating the need for a blackout or difficulty getting Mary out of a harness, she’s ready to walk onstage at the proper cue line.

*Our<a href="https://www.broadwaymedia.com/shows/mary-poppins/mary-poppins/scenic-projections"> Mary Poppins Scenic Projections</a> are practically perfect in every way, that they’ve even been used in a Disneyland production of Mary Poppins! If you're interested in a school or youth production, check out our<a href="https://www.broadwaymedia.com/shows/mary-poppins/mary-poppins-jr"> scenic projection package for Mary Poppins Jr!</a>

Peter Pan (1954 Broadway Version): Act 1 Scene 2 - Flight to Neverland

(PETER flies out the nursery window followed by the children. The nursery disappears and the night sky is exposed.)

With faith, trust and a little projection magic, Peter and the children escape out of the Nursery window, past Big Ben, and onto the second star to the right. Tinkerbell bursts through the Nursery window, opening it for the children and Peter to fly out of. As the scenery begins to move forward and the window becomes larger, this gives the illusion that the actors are flying out of it. Your actors can turn upstage and “fly” through the window until the window has disappeared. Then your actors can face the audience and through movement, physically express that they are in the air. The scenery behind them moves backward and downward and the audience follows their graceful journey from location to location.

Fly off to Neverland with our scenic projection packages for <a href="https://www.broadwaymedia.com/shows/peter-pan/peter-pan-1954/scenic-projections">Peter Pan 1954</a> and <a href="https://www.broadwaymedia.com/shows/peter-pan/peter-pan-jr">Peter Pan 1954 Jr.</a>

Still interested in Broadway’s flight sequences?

-&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnet.com/news/the-hidden-tech-behind-broadways-aladdin/">The Hidden Tech behind Broadway's 'Aladdin'</a> by Sally Neiman for CNET

-&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1979/09/21/archives/special-effects-keep-peter-pan-flying-playing-a-programmed-console.html">Special Effects Keep 'Peter Pan' Flying</a> by Barbara Crossette for The New York Times

-&nbsp;<a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ever-wonder-how-that-magic-carpet-in-disneys-aladdin_b_58ed407fe4b0ea028d568db7">Ever wonder how that Magic Carpet in Disney's "Aladdin" flies?</a> By Jim Hill for HuffPost

You Can Fly - with our Scenic Projections!

Whether you're looking to add special effects to your production or simply want to take the hassle out of scenic backgrounds, Broadway Media has you covered with dazzling, affordable scenic projections. <a href="https://www.broadwaymedia.com/scenic-projections">Browse our extensive library or search by show to match your upcoming season.</a>&nbsp;

Our team is looking forward to helping your next production soar - both literally and figuratively - so give us a call or fill out an order form on our <a href="https://www.broadwaymedia.com/contact">contact page.&nbsp;</a>

Suspension of disbelief + projection magic = flight. Our Scenic Projections are an incredible resource for flight that saves you the expense of a wire-flying system – so you can take flight anywhere! 

Making Your Production Soar (On a Budget). 

On any given day, you may sit down to stream a TV show or read a book, but find yourself easily distracted by the neighbor’s lawn mower or your adorable pet. Let’s face it, even on vacation you rely heavily on your phone. The intent may be to open a reservation number or hire a ride share, but the call of unanswered text messages or unread notifications proves too strong. Before you know it, your dedicated relaxation time is interrupted by a peer with a question, a friend with gossip, or a local news update.&nbsp;

Things are different with live theatre. Whether it’s professional or amateur, in a blackbox or a <a href="https://www.broadwaymedia.com/solutions/school-theatre">High School</a> auditorium; once you take your place in an audience, your phone is switched to Do Not Disturb and you’re ready to enjoy a show. The overture sets the tone, the curtain rises, and before long you’re swept away to a time and place other than your own.&nbsp;&nbsp;

As a performer and community theatre director, I’m privy to the sequence of events leading to opening night and the necessary steps it takes to effectively transport an audience. 

Each step serves a purpose, from securing performance rights, to production meetings, budget negotiations, auditions, rehearsals, marketing, and of course...Tech Week! The majority of your audience will never know about the in-depth process behind the scenes, and frankly, they shouldn’t. All that matters is each patron is engaged in the story you’re telling, temporarily transported, and finds value in the ticket they purchased.

So how does a theatre effectively engage their audience and ensure their return for future productions?

 First, it’s important to understand the talent in your area and demographic of your community. A region heavily populated by young families may not be the best area to launch an edgy blackbox program, and likewise, a college town is probably not ideal for kid-heavy productions.&nbsp;

As President of my local community theatre, I send an annual survey to our patrons, performers, and volunteers in an effort to understand our talent pool, and what our community is expecting from their local theatre.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Once the survey is complete, the results are shared with our play selection committee to effectively select shows that meet the needs of our community. They review a number of parameters for the season, including, but not limited to:

- What venue will we be performing in?&nbsp;&nbsp;

- Are there safety protocols that need to be accounted for? (for example, for our 2021 return, we were careful to select shows with small casts and limited romance)

Once the rights for a production are obtained and subsequently announced to the public, it’s imperative to understand the vision and outline the story you plan to tell from the beginning.&nbsp; Your production team, including a representative from marketing, should come together early in the process to calibrate and understand how the show will be portrayed. 

If another theatre recently produced the same show, determine how your production will be different. Perhaps use an orchestra instead of tracks? Are there resources like digital scenery to make your stage come alive?&nbsp;

<a href="http://broadwaymedia.com/scenic-projections">Broadway Media’s Scenic Projections</a>&nbsp;include every scene and setting mentioned in the script; whether it’s a day to night transition, a magical embellishment, or a change in the weather. Previously, creative sound effects were needed to illustrate these moments onstage, but with the addition of Scenic Projections and creative lighting, the audience can now see and experience the author’s intent. Whatever you choose to do, use your marketing platforms to build the excitement and start laying the groundwork for immersing the audience.&nbsp;&nbsp;

If you’re adding an audition notice on your theatre’s social media accounts and/or website, your performers are not the only ones who will see the post. Audition postings will likely be how your patrons first learn about your upcoming shows, thus beginning the immersive journey. Though you don’t want to give too much away before opening night, offering a glimpse into the rehearsal process via marketing channels can build excitement. 

Tactics like Instagram takeovers or TikTok videos, help audiences identify with a performer or a particular craft, and become invested in seeing the finished product. I’ve also seen theatres partner with local restaurants to offer a dining experience themed to the production (for example: A Greek restaurant paired with a production of <a href="https://www.broadwaymedia.com/shows/mamma-mia/mamma-mia/scenic-projections">MAMMA MIA</a>!).&nbsp;&nbsp;

Once a patron arrives for your production, ensure they feel welcomed and comfortable. Warm greetings from those working the house, comfortable seats, adequate legroom, and temperature control should be considered. Consider eliminating potential outside distractions by covering windows with blackout curtains to ensure outside light doesn’t interfere with show lighting choices. These details can help patrons focus more on the production itself.

With the audience comfortable, it’s time to focus on setting the tone. From your programs to music playing in the house, find ways to match the style and tone of the era to be reflected onstage. During a recent Shakespearean production I attended, instrumental music from the Elizabethan era played throughout the house and programs were printed in an Olde English font. Furthermore, carefully placed props onstage and a customized curtain warmer help create a sense of anticipation for what’s to come. The overture plays and the curtain begins to rise, and the audience is in the right mindset; ready to experience the world your  team has created.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The challenges of the pandemic may continue to ebb and flow, but theatre remains a much needed escape for both patrons and theatre-makers. For an hour or two, you can press the pause button on your own realities and focus on a world other than your own. So as a theatre-maker, take the time to prepare for your audiences; make them feel safe, appreciated, and transported. Remind them why the arts are needed and the positive impact they can have on a community.	

In today’s digital age, it’s difficult to disconnect from reality. Thankfully, there remains a sacred place to transport you from the real world, and that’s the theatre.


Effectively Transporting Your Audience With Live Theatre

Anastasia - Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre

Anastasia The Musical - Monroe High School

Anastasia - Woodcrest Christian High School

Anastasia - Orchard Park High School

Anastasia - Ambassador Christian School

Anastasia - Ferndale High School

Anastasia - Miami Children's Theater

Anastasia - Class Act Productions

Anastasia - Theamus, Teatro Musical

Anastasia - California Regional Theater

image

logo

Anastasia is a captivating and enchanting musical that weaves a tale of mystery and romance. Enhance this mesmerizing production with Scenic Projections by Broadway Media, immersing you in the rich and historic settings of Russia and Paris. Follow Anya's quest to discover her true identity, aided by two conmen, Dmitry and Vlad, as they embark on a thrilling adventure to find out if she is the long-lost Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov. This Tony Award-nominated show explores the search for belonging, the allure of the past, and the power of love and perseverance. Anastasia is a spellbinding theatrical experience that will leave you captivated, reminding us that the most extraordinary journey is the one we take to find ourselves. Get ready to be transported to a world of mystery, romance, and adventure with Anastasia, a musical that will fill you with wonder and belief in the magic of destiny.

Elevate your production of Anastasia with the original Broadway projections from Broadway Media to spellbinding theatrical experience.

Anastasia Theatrical Resources | Broadway Musical

Enter the enchanting world of Anastasia with our mesmerizing Scenic Projections, featuring the original designs by award-winning Projection Designer Aaron Rhyne, straight from the Broadway production. Broadway Media is the exclusive licensing partner for these breathtaking visuals, ensuring an immersive experience for your audience. Transport them to the majestic streets of imperial Russia, the grand ballrooms, and the breathtaking journey to Paris. Elevate your storytelling with dynamic visuals, seamless transitions, and captivating effects, all crafted by the visionary mind of Aaron Rhyne. Download watermarked materials, customize using our StagePlayer app, and consider the upgrade for professional mapping, guaranteeing an unforgettable visual spectacle on your stage. Trust our world-class theatre experts and resources to transform your stage and bring Anastasia's magical quest of self-discovery, love, and adventure to life with Scenic Projections today!

Broadway Media's Scenic Projections for Anastasia showcase the original Broadway designs from Aaron Rhyne, offering breathtaking visuals of Russia & Paris.

Anastasia Scenic Projections | Broadway Media 

Regular

Anastasia is a captivating and enchanting musical that weaves a tale of mystery and romance. Follow Anya, a young woman with amnesia, on a quest to discover her true identity. With the help of conmen Dmitry and Vlad, they embark on a thrilling adventure to find out if she is the long-lost Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov. Set against the backdrop of a changing Russia and the allure of Paris, this Tony Award-nominated show is filled with captivating twists, beautiful melodies, and the search for belonging. Anastasia is a spellbinding theatrical experience that will leave you captivated until the final curtain.

Captivating and enchanting, Anastasia the Musical weaves a tale of mystery and romance in 1900s St. Petersburg Russia. 

Anastasia the Musical | Broadway Media

Anastasia

We are a small rural school. Digital backdrops were amazing. The support team was awesome. I couldn’t have done this show without the Digital Backdrops! They were fantasmorific for James and the Giant Peach TYA

Scenic Projections - Standard License

Chillicothe Middle School

Our students love having the Mean Girls projections, it’s the one comment they’ve all made!

Haywood Arts Regional Theatre

Thank you for all your help with getting our production rental set up. There were a lot of extra layers to this show with projections, but the projection package from Broadway Media took part of that stress away!

Scenic Projections

Arrowhead High School

It worked great for us. Our theater is over 100 years old and is a renovated movie theater with very limited wing space. The projections have opened up a lot of possibilities for future production options. Even by using an old, back of the theater, projector.

Rialto Theater

It was the very first production for Newtown Stage Co and we sold out both performances! We LOVED the slides and plan on using slides for every show moving forward.

Scenic Projections Standard License

Newtown Stage Company

Everyone at Grande Prairie Live Theatre would like to thank Broadway Media for the excellent background graphics you provided us for our production of Shrek. These were colorful, detailed and very creative. They added to every scene.

Grande Prarie LIve Theatre

Thanks so much for your fabulous images. They really made a huge impact on our show and worked beautifully. Lots of the audience commented on them as we normally have enormous sets and it was a big change.

The Little Mermaid

Methodist Ladies’ College

We were extremely pleased with the projections for our production of Beauty and the Beast. They added a magical element to the show and helped make the transitions seamless.

North Greenville University

I just wanted to tell you how wonderful our show has been received. With the help of your animated backdrop putting us over the top. Thank you again and again. Looking forward to our next endeavor. 

Paul J. Gelinas Middle School

Tech support was great and once we had some time with the software, editing and running the show was easy enough.

Anastasia

Stories

Anastasia Production Photos

Trusted by our Theatre Community