"Track"?!!?!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

[Flippancy]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 8:56am

What is it with this "track" crap? Don't people have roles anymore? I understand the use of "track" when referring to something like LES MISERABLES, wherein multiple roles are played by the cast. In the Godspell thread, though, someone said DeGarmo is doing the "Sonia track". Uh, no, that's noooooot quite right. It's not a TRACK, it's a ROLE.

Sorry for the rant. I haven't had my coffee this morning.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 9:55am

You're absolutely right.

This "track" crap is probably something recent, dreamed up by people with no sense Broadway history to explain another recent phenomena, the massive doubling of roles in shows. Nowadays, with casts of about 30, it is necessary for chorus actors to play numerous roles, all over the show. In the past, when casts for shows could easily exceed 100, there was little doubling involved. I suppose somebody started calling these multi-role parts "tracks" and the kids on this site have adopted the title to sound knowledgeable.

It still sucks.

[tazber]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 10:01am

I haven't seen that term used, but if I had I would have had no idea what they were talking about.

What an odd term.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 10:03am

I agree people on here have been using the term track loads, it's a role.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 10:17am

"Track" is used when a performer plays multiple roles. It should not be used for an actor that only plays a single role in the show. For example, Patti LuPone plays the role of Rose, and there is no such thing as a "Rose track." However, in the case of a chorus member playing multiple roles, they would be given a track to cover. When a swing has to cover for an ensemble member, they cover that person's track.

That's how I understand it all, anyway. Perhaps someone else has learned it differently?
Updated On: 7/22/08 at 10:17 AM

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 10:20am

Updated On: 5/2/09 at 10:20 AM

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 10:25am

What's the big deal? Perhaps the term is not used properly, but it is certainly legitimate.

The "role" is Eponine. The Eponine "track" includes whore number 2. It doesn't describe a role, but what is expected of the actor who portrays that role, including all other roles they must play.
How else would you describe it?

I understand not liking the misuse of the term, but if every role had a different actor, and we had casts with a hundred members, Broadway would be bankrupt.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 10:27am

I first heard the term used over 10 years ago in THE BARRICADE. It's nothing new.

[Flippancy]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 10:31am

I think that even though it's cost effective to have the chorus cover numerous tracks, thereby entailing performing numerous roles, it does increase the wig budget exponentially.

[Weez]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 10:32am

I don't think anyone's arguing the legitimacy of the term, they're just getting peed off with people constantly misusing it, particularly as part of some misguided attempt to look clued up.

[DrVincento2]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 10:32am

For someone that has had ensemble and swing roles many a time, it's much easier to say tonight I'll be John's Track as opposed to I'll be covering Lamp Seller/Gardener/Race Dancer/Wolf/Circus Performer/Waltzer.


Updated On: 7/22/08 at 10:32 AM

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 10:34am

"I don't think anyone's arguing the legitimacy of the term, they're just getting peed off with people constantly misusing it, particularly as part of some misguided attempt to look clued up."

Which I defended, but that is not how the first few posts read.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 11:11am

The complaint in this thread would be similar to musicians complaining about people who can't read sheet talking about "diminished thirds."

Or in the film business ANYONE who walks around town all day with their "Festival Full Access" pass around their necks, trying to draw attention to the fact that they have been at a film festival.

We call those people "digmes" for obvious reasons.

[musicaltheatrefan3]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 11:18am

At my theatre (the theatre that I perform at in my area most often, it's not community theatre), we use the track system. A track at my theatre is for anyone who plays 2 or more roles, and is used for the swings mainly (i.e., Mary-Kate, you're doing Heather's track today), and is also used to describe everything backstage that the actors most do for a show. (i.e. Janine's track-Strike desk, change into blue dress, so on). It is just an organization tool and is not really meant to take away from the magic of theatre.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 11:32am

It's just one of those phrases that popped up and I wish like hell the inventor had never uttered it.

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 11:39am

Updated On: 5/2/09 at 11:39 AM

[allofmylife]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 11:59am

Yup. That one, too.