He's talked about how much he loves that number a lot anyways. You must be new if you don't know how much he loves Sondheim and ITW and "On the Steps of The Palace"
@Sarah Hamilfan That's like saying "Don't look up the plot to Cats, it'll be a disappointment." *THERE'S A DEMONIC BLOOD-THIRSTY BURNING STAIRCASE FROM HELL!* I really don't think 'plot' is why people go see it.
I was prepared to ridicule at you for not even Honorable Mentioning the flaming Rebecca stairs at the start of this video, but damned if you didn't please the piss outta me with where you placed it and your totally 100% accurate plot summery of that musical. Thumbs up!
I am obsessed with your synopsis of Rebecca. I almost wish that's what it was actually about. I'm a little disappointed Shirley Temple and Bojangles were not included in the honorable mention montage.
I’m wondering if the only reason is because there’s only low-quality bootleg footage of it, since I haven’t seen him really use many bootleg clips in his videos. The big white staircase may not make much sense, but neither does the Cats staircase, and it’s just as iconic.
I almost screamed when you had Rebecca das Musical as your number one. Such a good show (and there's a version on TH-cam with subtitles) so you should check it out for sure.
I was surprised Sunset Boulevard wasn't on your list. Nice retelling of the Rebecca story. Also, you did a lot of warm up for the Tonys, but so far no roundup. Thanks for the entertaining content.
Only missing Great Comet, Sunset Boulevard, Mame, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella (R&H), and some productions of Into the Woods, but otherwise a freakin solid list! (knew Rebecca had to take the number one spot, how could it not? and I love how you said ICH). Who knew there were so many iconic staircases in musical theatre? 😂👌
somewhere Mimi Lien is staring at all those stairs she designed asking what it was all for. sure, she won the Tony but what is that good for compared to this?
Here's another vote for Man of La Mancha. The dungeon stairs are epic! And for folks missing the staircase from Mame...don't you realize it's just Dolly's staircase in drag?
I saw this video about a month or two after it came out and I really thought the last one about Rebecca was funny and I kind of forgot about it for a while until about November of last year and that's when I found a version of it on TH-cam that had English subtitles and so I watched and I fell in love with it. It's one of my top 5 favorite musicals. So thank you for making this video even if you didn't get what Rebecca's about right. Thank you so much XD
YAAASS REBECCA!!!! SIE ERGIBT SICH NICHT!!! That show shall never die! Honestly though that summery of Rebecca was rather humerous. There are some English demos that you can find here and there on TH-cam, though the ones I recommend searching for first are "She's Invicible" (the German title for which is that phrase at the beginning of my comment) and the title track, "Rebecca."
There's a book, there's a movie, there's a radio play. Why do I feel like I'm the only person who actually knows what Rebecca is about outside of this Musical?
I've read the book, but I haven't found the time to look for and watch the movie. I have read about the changes that were made to the movie though. Perhaps a new movie should be made?
"Manderley in Flammen," which is more or less the penultimate song of the show. An English demo of that can be found somewhere on TH-cam as "Manderley's On Fire," but more was added to it when it was ready for performances.
I had to look up the wikipedia page for it to understand why Tommy's description was so funny (note: I hadn't heard of this musical before this video, took him at his word, and thought it sounded so insane it could be amazing) but oh man. The real summary of Rebecca is only slightly less crazy than the plot described here.
Rebeca (the musical) is inspired by the Hitchcock film with the same name. It's a pretty good film and the musical adaptation seems pretty accurate to the original
I love Rebecca. One of the few german musicals that are actually good... My favorite staircase in theatre in general is in the german play "Tratsch im Treppenhaus". There is an English translation of it called "the stair case".
YES! I was really really really hoping it would be Rebecca in Stuttgart! Because it was so impressive to see and I am glad this awesome show get's at least some recognition ❤️ (Though, of course, the retelling of the story was not quite accurate 😂 )
the willy wonka staircase walk felt like the most iconic moment of film ever when i was a child. it holds up. i still love walking down stairs like that
So pleased 42nd Street was in there. After seeing the current London production, all I could say to anyone was, "The STAIRS! The STAIRS!" Surprised Sunset Boulevard didn't get a mention, though...
I would like to add newsies, the park version of into the woods, not a musical but the curious incident of the dog in the night time, and I think it was Shrek that had the staircase that lifted up in front of the actor as they walked up it. O also and I don't like saying this but high school musical lunch room scene.
Callie Myers it is in the main turn table don't remember what scene but as it rotates the steps come up out of the stage. It is in the recorded Broadway version
So many thoughts! 1. If you haven't read it, you need to read Du Maurier's "Rebecca." It's the epitome of that novel that makes you question whether you, as the reader, are imagining things or if the narrator is taking things too far. The first-person narrator is never given a name, so that's why she's "X." It centers around the narrator's husband's first wife, now dead, whose personality consumes and (metaphorically) haunts the entire house. I had no idea there was a musical of this, and I want to see it now!!!! 2. In terms of staircases themselves, I find the "Lullaby of Broadway" staircase in "42nd St" more iconic because it's the entry vehicle that all the characters use to convince Peggy to stay in the show. She's already on the stage, ready to leave, but they all descend (and later ascend) it as a means to show her the magic of Broadway. It's the entry and exit point to the magic of musical theatre!
One of my favorite musical staircase numbers was from the film 'An American In Paris' .... 'I'll build a stairway to paradise. With a new step every day. I'm going to get there at any price. Stand aside I'm on my way'.
"So what's your musical about?" "A staircase posessed by a demonic presence." "Wha-" "And her name is 'Rebecca'." "Stop-" "And she kills everyone who walks on her except a housekeeper who keeps her evil at bay by way of a tiny statue, but when that is broken, Rebecca just burns herself and literally everything and everyone else and there will be *real actual fire on e v e r y s t e p .* " "... Cats just had a UFO." " *STAIRCASE OF S A T A N !!!* "
A strong contender for favourite stairs for me is the staircase in Hamilton I remember sitting looking at them and thinking how it would be used since it was pulled up but alas they have their one moment in the opening and are just kinda forgotten afterwards left to the fate of just being a plain staircase
Don't think anyone's mentioned Sondheim's Follies - deserves an honourable mention imho. Those beautiful girls have got to make a proper entrance in that once-great theatre.
I just saw "Roman Holiday: The Cole Porter Musical" (based on the movie) in its pre-broadway premiere in san francisco, and although the staircase is not present for most of the musical, it starts and ends the story beautifully and powerfully
Since no one else has mentioned it, I want to mention the balloon-filled staircase during the "It's Not How You Start, It's How You Finish" number from the unjustly forgotten "Seesaw." Tommy Tune won his first Tony for that show, let us not forget.
Best elevator in musical theater has got to be the original set of Company! The reason the first "We LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE you!" is so long is so that the elevator had time to get all the way to the top of the set.
I have never been so happy that my name is Rebecca. I am Rebecca the demon staircase... But really, the plot of Rebecca is so incredibly insane, and I'd love to see how they would bring it to Broadway, but ah... twas not to be.
yahhhh i thnk you need to read that novel Rebecca or at least the thug notes before you commit any broadway tickets or european tours to seeing that musical...
Do one about ladders next so you can have 'Orphée aux enfers'. There's a great number in the first act sung by the bored gods watching a man slowly climb the ladder to Olympus. Yes techinally it's an operetta, but lines are spoken rather than sung and it's so silly and breaks the forth-wall so many times, might as well count.
My vote is for Newsie's 3 stair cases. Not as glamorous as others but 90% of the musical features the guys running up and down the stacks and swinging from them. Plus I just think they're awesome the way they move and rotate often along with the music
Surprised to see that Cinderella didn't make it on this list, whether in her Rodgers and Hammerstein musical or in Into the Woods. However, learning that Rebecca was adapted into a German musical with an evil staircase (?) has been the highlight of my day
Masquerade is my favorite! :) It's really cool to see something so vague. XD I love this staircase and scene in Hello Dolly! :D OH MY GOODNESS THAT STAIRCASE in the last one you mentioned... like the whole show just seems epic and a little scary and I'm a little sad I'll probably never see it. Even though I also don't speak German. XD It's also kind of cool to see how staircases really do play a big part in some musicals. Like how Hello Dolly wouldn't be the same without her walking elegantly right in time with the music down the stairs. I never really noticed that. And oh my goodness the thought of Rebeca and just.... the idea of demonic staircases is both hilarious and horrifying. XD Especially because she just decides to burn the whole house down. That is one powerful and angry staircase.
dude, Rebecca is amazing it is written by the same people who wrote Elizabeth (aka the most successful nonenglish show in the world) I encourage everyone to watch these (with or without subtitles). Foreign shows like these, Romeo et Juliet, and Notre Dame deserve more recognition.
Omitting Sunset is unforgivable, sister ;) Btw… in a silly way you could also add Starlight's moving bridge - Electra's entrance was the rollerskating version of descending a grand staircase in a quaaluded fever dream of Studio 54.
What about the palace steps from Into the Woods! There's a whole musical number about them!
Right?!? They're name dropped in the song and everything! Maybe it felt a little too obvious to him. Always keep 'em guessing, that sorta thing...
Sam Hackenson I think it's because the original broadway production of Into The Woods didn't utilize a staircase. It was just in the movie.
He's talked about how much he loves that number a lot anyways. You must be new if you don't know how much he loves Sondheim and ITW and "On the Steps of The Palace"
@Abby Rose
Oh, I know he loves Sondheim, that's why I was surprised he didn't mention it.
And that park version, lots of stairs
Did you only make this video to make the public aware of Rebecca the Evil Staircase?
I had never heard of it before this, so I am glad.
@Sarah Hamilfan That's like saying "Don't look up the plot to Cats, it'll be a disappointment."
*THERE'S A DEMONIC BLOOD-THIRSTY BURNING STAIRCASE FROM HELL!* I really don't think 'plot' is why people go see it.
I was prepared to ridicule at you for not even Honorable Mentioning the flaming Rebecca stairs at the start of this video, but damned if you didn't please the piss outta me with where you placed it and your totally 100% accurate plot summery of that musical. Thumbs up!
He just made this list so he could talk about the German staircase isn't it,
I'm German and the "Rebecca" part made me laugh so hard 😂 your sense of humor is the best! 👏
I saw Rebecca, the musical, many times. Now I finally understand the whole storyline. Demon staircase, best synopsis ever! :D
I don't know why, but right now, I'm only interested in how long it took you to do those animated transitions.
Right? Those transitions are awesome! :) I know he's used them in other videos too but... they're too good to change really. XD
Same Craig 😂
How dare you forget about the staircase at the house on sunset blvd belonging to Norma Desmond... THE Norma Desmond aka the greatest star of all.
ScarletBear seriously, it didn't even get an honorable mention. I thought for sure it would be number 1. Blasphemy!
Glad I'm not the only one who thought that. I thought that one would be a given.
But if Sunset was included too then he would heave need to mention ALW three times.
I agree, why the sunset snub?
ScarletBear I was waiting for this one to be included too!
where are the 49402468382 stairs throughout comet tho smh
Sarah Gorman ^^
This is the high quality work i subscribed for.
I am obsessed with your synopsis of Rebecca. I almost wish that's what it was actually about. I'm a little disappointed Shirley Temple and Bojangles were not included in the honorable mention montage.
I'm bummed that the staircase from the end of the 1988 Broadway production of Carrie isn't on this list.
Michael Scuotto same
I’m wondering if the only reason is because there’s only low-quality bootleg footage of it, since I haven’t seen him really use many bootleg clips in his videos. The big white staircase may not make much sense, but neither does the Cats staircase, and it’s just as iconic.
I almost screamed when you had Rebecca das Musical as your number one. Such a good show (and there's a version on TH-cam with subtitles) so you should check it out for sure.
THE PHANTOM STAIRCASE IS ICONIC
I was surprised Sunset Boulevard wasn't on your list. Nice retelling of the Rebecca story. Also, you did a lot of warm up for the Tonys, but so far no roundup. Thanks for the entertaining content.
Only missing Great Comet, Sunset Boulevard, Mame, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella (R&H), and some productions of Into the Woods, but otherwise a freakin solid list! (knew Rebecca had to take the number one spot, how could it not? and I love how you said ICH). Who knew there were so many iconic staircases in musical theatre? 😂👌
Also, while not a musical, I feel like the stairs in Noises Off deserve a special mention lol
I really enjoyed the editing of this video. The count down was cute, and the song that played during honorable mentions made me smile.
i didn't know I needed this. Top marks for the Rebecca synopsis, spot on
What About Stages on Stage like in Phantom, Curtains, Anastasia, American in Paris Etc. usually for shows or ballets the characters do
I love your explanation of what you think Rebecca is about. Not close at all, but I do love that staircase.
Yooooo Rebecca looks good! The set design is incredible!
somewhere Mimi Lien is staring at all those stairs she designed asking what it was all for. sure, she won the Tony but what is that good for compared to this?
AHatredOfEs YESSSS
As a huge lover of German musicals and Webber this made me very happy.
Here's another vote for Man of La Mancha. The dungeon stairs are epic!
And for folks missing the staircase from Mame...don't you realize it's just Dolly's staircase in drag?
I've never heard of Rebecca before but it sounds incredible
I saw this video about a month or two after it came out and I really thought the last one about Rebecca was funny and I kind of forgot about it for a while until about November of last year and that's when I found a version of it on TH-cam that had English subtitles and so I watched and I fell in love with it. It's one of my top 5 favorite musicals. So thank you for making this video even if you didn't get what Rebecca's about right. Thank you so much XD
YAAASS REBECCA!!!! SIE ERGIBT SICH NICHT!!! That show shall never die! Honestly though that summery of Rebecca was rather humerous. There are some English demos that you can find here and there on TH-cam, though the ones I recommend searching for first are "She's Invicible" (the German title for which is that phrase at the beginning of my comment) and the title track, "Rebecca."
There's a book, there's a movie, there's a radio play. Why do I feel like I'm the only person who actually knows what Rebecca is about outside of this Musical?
I've read the book, but I haven't found the time to look for and watch the movie. I have read about the changes that were made to the movie though. Perhaps a new movie should be made?
what song is in the clip he shows before he talks about it?
"Manderley in Flammen," which is more or less the penultimate song of the show. An English demo of that can be found somewhere on TH-cam as "Manderley's On Fire," but more was added to it when it was ready for performances.
I had to look up the wikipedia page for it to understand why Tommy's description was so funny (note: I hadn't heard of this musical before this video, took him at his word, and thought it sounded so insane it could be amazing) but oh man. The real summary of Rebecca is only slightly less crazy than the plot described here.
"The staircase's evil can no longer be controlled and
*it sets itself on f i r e."*
(Cue happy music)
Love your number 1 being Rebecca! I so thought it was going to be Sunset Boulevard.
The stair puns......oh Lord. Well played, sir. Well played.
Gotta put that Stagecraft major to good use!
Musical Theatre Mash No kidding!
Rebeca (the musical) is inspired by the Hitchcock film with the same name. It's a pretty good film and the musical adaptation seems pretty accurate to the original
Let me tell you, this was not a video I expected to see in my subscriptions feed today, but it was really fun. :)
yes!!! i was so excited when i saw the staircase from rebecca was number one!!
I'M READY FOR MY CLOSE UP MR DEMILLE???!!!
For a minute I was upset that Fosca's staircase didn't make the list, but Rebecca the Demon Staircase saved the day
I had no idea Rebecca had a musical adaptation. I...I did not see that coming.
I love Rebecca.
One of the few german musicals that are actually good...
My favorite staircase in theatre in general is in the german play "Tratsch im Treppenhaus".
There is an English translation of it called "the stair case".
The honorable mention reel was actually my favorite bit. :~)
YES! I was really really really hoping it would be Rebecca in Stuttgart! Because it was so impressive to see and I am glad this awesome show get's at least some recognition ❤️ (Though, of course, the retelling of the story was not quite accurate 😂 )
You're amazing! Props to the immense effort you put into these videos!
Never heard of Rebecca before looks insane and awesome
But, but, but...SUNSET BOULEVARD?!? I mean, c'mon that staircase was crazy!
But amazing video still, it was so interesting to learn about Rebecca😂
the willy wonka staircase walk felt like the most iconic moment of film ever when i was a child. it holds up. i still love walking down stairs like that
No Sunset Boulevard? Oh well, great video!
So pleased 42nd Street was in there. After seeing the current London production, all I could say to anyone was, "The STAIRS! The STAIRS!"
Surprised Sunset Boulevard didn't get a mention, though...
I lost it when he said "newcomer ECKHT" at 6:03
thedackmanshow same, I know he mispronounced ‘Ich’ as a joke but still I died 😂😂😂😂
How about the staircase from the Will Rogers Follies? Such an important staricase.
That was my first thought - seconded by Mame!
I would like to add newsies, the park version of into the woods, not a musical but the curious incident of the dog in the night time, and I think it was Shrek that had the staircase that lifted up in front of the actor as they walked up it. O also and I don't like saying this but high school musical lunch room scene.
I know shrek inside and out. What scene?
Callie Myers it is in the main turn table don't remember what scene but as it rotates the steps come up out of the stage. It is in the recorded Broadway version
Kevin McKain the curious incident staircase was actually the greatest thing I have ever ever seen ever
I know Webber's musicals are questionable BUT! The Norma Desmond staircase should be on here
So many thoughts!
1. If you haven't read it, you need to read Du Maurier's "Rebecca." It's the epitome of that novel that makes you question whether you, as the reader, are imagining things or if the narrator is taking things too far. The first-person narrator is never given a name, so that's why she's "X." It centers around the narrator's husband's first wife, now dead, whose personality consumes and (metaphorically) haunts the entire house. I had no idea there was a musical of this, and I want to see it now!!!!
2. In terms of staircases themselves, I find the "Lullaby of Broadway" staircase in "42nd St" more iconic because it's the entry vehicle that all the characters use to convince Peggy to stay in the show. She's already on the stage, ready to leave, but they all descend (and later ascend) it as a means to show her the magic of Broadway. It's the entry and exit point to the magic of musical theatre!
One of my favorite musical staircase numbers was from the film 'An American In Paris' .... 'I'll build a stairway to paradise. With a new step every day. I'm going to get there at any price. Stand aside I'm on my way'.
This is the hard-hitting commentary that keeps me riveted to your channel.
came for the list. stayed for the commentary. subscribed for the transitional animations. those things are awesome.
"So what's your musical about?"
"A staircase posessed by a demonic presence."
"Wha-"
"And her name is 'Rebecca'."
"Stop-"
"And she kills everyone who walks on her except a housekeeper who keeps her evil at bay by way of a tiny statue, but when that is broken, Rebecca just burns herself and literally everything and everyone else and there will be *real actual fire on e v e r y s t e p .* "
"... Cats just had a UFO."
" *STAIRCASE OF S A T A N !!!* "
Willow Lackett 😂😂😂😂😂
A strong contender for favourite stairs for me is the staircase in Hamilton I remember sitting looking at them and thinking how it would be used since it was pulled up but alas they have their one moment in the opening and are just kinda forgotten afterwards left to the fate of just being a plain staircase
Isn't there also a staircase in Wicked?
I, too, have a favourite staircase in musical theatre: the one in Carrie that descends from above and cost way too much money. Iconic.
Who else is creative enough to make a video about staircases? And those transitions with just the right songs from musicals. i'm so glad i subbed.
Ugh, Webber. Even with Webber, you called him out on his bs. this countdown is awesome,
I saw the clips from #1 and was like......is this Rebecca?!
Don't think anyone's mentioned Sondheim's Follies - deserves an honourable mention imho. Those beautiful girls have got to make a proper entrance in that once-great theatre.
Wait is Rebecca's plot just fanfic of the Book-Turned-Alfred-Hitchcock-Movie Rebecca?
quicksilver-ace It's the musical of the novel. The sypnosis he gave is a joke though xd
I just saw "Roman Holiday: The Cole Porter Musical" (based on the movie) in its pre-broadway premiere in san francisco, and although the staircase is not present for most of the musical, it starts and ends the story beautifully and powerfully
Love the video as always 😊
Since no one else has mentioned it, I want to mention the balloon-filled staircase during the "It's Not How You Start, It's How You Finish" number from the unjustly forgotten "Seesaw." Tommy Tune won his first Tony for that show, let us not forget.
It's the very ending that really does it for me. The "was it or was it not real" moment.
This video made me so happy, because I did two musicals in high school, and both featured staircases as central props. :p
My fav staircase is the Banks House from Mary Poppins!
So Great Comet lost the tonys and Tommy went insane
🤣🤣🤣 Lovely summary of Rebecca🤣🤣
Best elevator in musical theater has got to be the original set of Company! The reason the first "We LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE you!" is so long is so that the elevator had time to get all the way to the top of the set.
My #1 has to be Great Comet, that set is all stairs and I'm LIVING for it
I have never been so happy that my name is Rebecca. I am Rebecca the demon staircase...
But really, the plot of Rebecca is so incredibly insane, and I'd love to see how they would bring it to Broadway, but ah... twas not to be.
I know it's not actually during a musical number, but Eliza's dramatic staircase descent at the end of the first act of My Fair Lady is pretty epic.
SHOCKED that billy elliot isn't on here (even though I am bitter about that staircase's existence)
Staircases: The building blocks of musicals
yahhhh i thnk you need to read that novel Rebecca or at least the thug notes before you commit any broadway tickets or european tours to seeing that musical...
This was amazingly delightful. I LOVED IT!
What you understood from the plot of Rebecca is PRICELESS.
I have found your videos years late but I'm a huge fan of yours now! I'm like the biggest musical fan geek too
You included 1+1=3!!! I love that song. I was daisy and it sucked because I didn't get to dance in the beginning of the song:( but I love it so much
Dayna Nolan aaagh I love side show so much😍
Gah!! Where was sunset blvd?!
also wait i just googled that musical and lmao at the synopsis having not a single mention of stairs
Do one about ladders next so you can have 'Orphée aux enfers'. There's a great number in the first act sung by the bored gods watching a man slowly climb the ladder to Olympus. Yes techinally it's an operetta, but lines are spoken rather than sung and it's so silly and breaks the forth-wall so many times, might as well count.
wait... there's a musical based on Rebeca??? 😱
Alejandro Bustillos Chacón That was my reaction too!!!
I can't believe you left out Sunset Boulevard.
My vote is for Newsie's 3 stair cases. Not as glamorous as others but 90% of the musical features the guys running up and down the stacks and swinging from them. Plus I just think they're awesome the way they move and rotate often along with the music
Maybe some great comet
I recently saw a production of chicago in a town hall, where the set was a staircase and a catwalk. Really interesting, but it worked well!
4:37 ?
4:41 Chicago?
4:45 Sound of music
4:51 Rent
4:55 Annie?
5:01 West side story?
5:07 Charlie and the chocolate factory
Please help me out
Simone! Mary poppins for 4:36
The Producers for 4:41
Surprised to see that Cinderella didn't make it on this list, whether in her Rodgers and Hammerstein musical or in Into the Woods. However, learning that Rebecca was adapted into a German musical with an evil staircase (?) has been the highlight of my day
I know it was used during the transition but I still love "A Chorus Line" finale.
The editing of this video was on point 👌🏼
Masquerade is my favorite! :) It's really cool to see something so vague. XD I love this staircase and scene in Hello Dolly! :D OH MY GOODNESS THAT STAIRCASE in the last one you mentioned... like the whole show just seems epic and a little scary and I'm a little sad I'll probably never see it. Even though I also don't speak German. XD
It's also kind of cool to see how staircases really do play a big part in some musicals. Like how Hello Dolly wouldn't be the same without her walking elegantly right in time with the music down the stairs. I never really noticed that.
And oh my goodness the thought of Rebeca and just.... the idea of demonic staircases is both hilarious and horrifying. XD Especially because she just decides to burn the whole house down. That is one powerful and angry staircase.
The fire escape stairs from In The Heights. Especially in the London production.
The first 25 seconds made me smile very slowly with each pun 😏
dude, Rebecca is amazing it is written by the same people who wrote Elizabeth (aka the most successful nonenglish show in the world) I encourage everyone to watch these (with or without subtitles). Foreign shows like these, Romeo et Juliet, and Notre Dame deserve more recognition.
I agree. I appreciate POT and CATS being added.
Omitting Sunset is unforgivable, sister ;) Btw… in a silly way you could also add Starlight's moving bridge - Electra's entrance was the rollerskating version of descending a grand staircase in a quaaluded fever dream of Studio 54.
you literally make my favorite videos on youtube. musical theatre 4 lyfe! XD
this is the content I live for
this is good and all but have you considered great comet?