Real pianos on Broadway

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 3/6/16 at 5:46pm

When I watched the preview performances of waitress I noticed there was a baby grand piano. How many shows currently use a real piano on their orchestrations.

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 3/6/16 at 6:58pm

3

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 3/6/16 at 7:54pm

Clyde, thank you for the answer! Which ones?

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 3/6/16 at 9:27pm

PThespian said: "I Beautiful, Fun Home and School of Rock (acoustic and electric) all use pianos onstage. "

That's not what I was referring to, but okay.

[DooWahDiddy]

Posted: 3/6/16 at 9:50pm

An American in Paris and Chicago (two pianos) are the only ones I know of.  Beautiful may have one onstage, but it's actually a keyboard being played from the pit.  Wicked uses a hybrid piano, meaning it looks and feels like a real piano, and arguably is one I guess, but it's actually a keyboard and has the ability to produce different sounds, use headphones, etc., just like any keyboard. 
 

I think that's it, although of course I could be missing one.  But it's definitely a rarity!

 

Updated On: 3/6/16 at 09:50 PM

[mingaldrichgan]

Posted: 3/6/16 at 9:59pm

Aladdin also has a hybrid piano, much like the one at Wicked, except that it's a baby grand! Possibly the only grand piano in a Broadway pit?

[DooWahDiddy]

Posted: 3/6/16 at 10:06pm

Ah, didn't know that one!  Good to see you here, Ming! 

[mingaldrichgan]

Posted: 3/6/16 at 10:07pm

You too, Brandon! 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 3/6/16 at 10:15pm

Do either of you twi know if the piano in the waitress preview videos in a baby grand hybrid or just a regular baby grand?

[DooWahDiddy]

Posted: 3/6/16 at 10:20pm

No, that's a regular baby grand since they're just in a rehearsal studio.

[DooWahDiddy]

Posted: 3/6/16 at 10:22pm

(Doesn't mean they won't use one in the show, although they probably won't.  But since they're in a rehearsal space and not the theatre yet, they're just using the piano that's there for now.)