The Rent Welcome Wagon- Page 38

[BEKA531]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 11:18am

haha fredi, my mom does that -- my dishes have been found in the strangest places around my house...

[insomniak]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 3:06pm

I'm a clostet Star Wars FREAK and I have to say... the newer movies are bad. They're even cornier than the originals, but not in the same charming way. (I loved the cheesy special effects for some reason)

I was hoping to see Harrison Ford as Robert Langdon, speaking of which. He just fits the part in my mind.

Tiff, what's going on in the world of Harry Potter? (another closet fandom of mine) Movie or book news?

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 3:13pm

Hi Fredi and everyone--finally decided to introduce myself. My name's Amanda, I've been lurking on this board for about a month--been reading the Fredi and Anthony and lots of other threads. Anywayz, I think this is an awesome site and Fredi I just wanted to say how great it is of you to chat with everyone and answer questions. I've also really been appreciating your responses-very intelligent and warm. With that in mind, I thought of a couple of questions I wanted to ask and a little story that goes with the questions as a further way to introduce myself to everyone. Sorry everyone if this ends up being a pretty long post.

I've always enjoyed shows, and Rent was probably the first show I got really obsessed with, but I didn't really get completely into and obsessed with musical theatre until I participated in the pit orchestra in my high school for 4 years. It was my favorite part of high school, and I was the first to hold the title as pit geek(I would stay late to further practice music, ask friends to come over and practice music, it was fun though). I was so into it, I was the first person ever in my high school to hold title as Pit President-a position created especially for me. Anywayz, my very first rehearsal, my pit director, who ended up becoming a great friend of mine, gave us a message about pit that he said we should remember for the res of our pit experience. He said 2 things to keep in mind: we are the cast's bitch and 2) our job is to go completley unnoticed. Usually, the only way a pit gets noticed is if they are bad. He said first mistake, and the audience says oh look there's a pit. Second mistake, and the audience says oh look it's a student pit. The most perfect you play, the most unnoticed you go. I accepted that though, and I still thoroughly enjoyed pit.

Before I ask my questions, now I just have to tell this great story. So keep in mind for 4 years I've lived by this theory and accepted it. My junior year, when we did the Music Man, which was a pretty difficult score, our director got us pit shirts, so a couple of people did come up to me after the show to say that the pit was great. But the highlight came my senior year when we undertook West Side Story, which I honestly swear must be the hardest score in all of Broadway. We worked and rehearsed harder than ever and the result was great. I cannot believe I had the honor to play West Side Story. At the end of the dress rehearsal which was performed for our 9th graders(horrible experience) the entire cast ran out on stage to applaud us(the pit) and to scream thank you--they understood what a hard score it was. But the BEST moment came on the first night, we played the show, it went fairly well, so I was sitting in my pit seat, packing up my clarinet...now keep in mind we have a huge pit of about 26 people, I had my own part but not really a solo, it was a group effort so it was all good...anyway as I'm packing up a complete stranger comes up to me and he said "I have to tell you...I heard your clarinet all night, you were absolutely magnificent." I was speechless, I couldn't believe I had gotten such a huge compliment from being in the pit. What a fitting end to a great High School run.

So anyway, I apologize for the long story, I just love it though, anywayz Fredi, I was wondering if you could comment on the pit orchestra on the professional level. In your experience, what is the relationship between the musicans the cast? Have you yourself ever befriended a musician working on a show? Do they tend to be friends or is it much more professional, the pit rehearses together, the cast rehearses together, and then they come together to make the show, but usually remain separate? I've always wondered about that.

And the other part, I was wondering if you or I suppose anyone could comment about the theory that a good orchestra never gets noticed on the professional level. Of course every show I go to I scream and give the orchestra a standing ovation(if everyone's ever gone to a Broadway show where a short girl's done that, it's probably me), but I dunno I just wondered if Fredi or anyone had thoughts on that. I guess me going through the whole process and knowing how much hard work it takes to be in the orchestra, I wish they could just be a bit more acknowledged and given a bit more credit. Oh well.

BTW Fredi, I never got a chance to see you in the show, I only got to see Wilson of the OBCers, but I listen to the CD all the time and you're absolutely amazing on the CD! I love your voice!

And sorry to make this long post now, I know this thread is usually more active at night, I just wasn't sure if I could make it at night and I really wanted to make this post. I'll try to be on a bit later, I've really enjoyed all the conversation and I look forward to finally speaking with you all!

~Amanda~

[camerangel]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 4:40pm

You know what the problem with the new star wars movies is? Lucas is actually directing them himself. The first three were done by other directors, I think Speilberg did one of them. I'm not saying that Lucas is a bad director, it's just maybe he's too close to the project. I agree that he should hyave left well enough alone and not done the "pre-trilogy" The original three were the best.. Thankfully from what I have heard he has no plans to do the final 3, from what I understand it was originally going to be a set of nine.. Too bad he had to go and
"update" the originals and add additional special effects.. I guess part of me is a purist.. Leave well enough alone..

[insomniak]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 4:56pm

Oh, I hear ya on the purist thing. What's this crap about a digital Yoda on the DVDs? *shakes head* Disgraceful. Anyway, one of my big problems with the newer movies was the crappy dialogue. I was cringing the whole time. Not that the originals had genius writing, but you know... meh. The whole thing was just not good and too full of special effects.

It's kinda disapointing that there will not be three more... they would be based on the books and I liked them... What? Don't you snicker at me for reading Star Wars books! Some of them were pretty good!

[Racetrack]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 5:17pm

Okay don't get me started on Star Wars. That would take days. Anwyays wickedrentq I think it's great you had such a wonderful time playing in the pit. I've never been in a musical, but whenever I go to live theatre(especially when it's a musical) I play both really close attention to both what's on stage and the musical instruments behind them. I have to say I'm like you in the sense that whenever the show ends orchestra gets standing ovation from me. For me it's the first thing that gears me up into the show once it starts. I love hearing just the people playing instruments just before the curtain rises. That's how I feel.

Racetrack.

[N0tThatGirl213]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 6:34pm

Oo, I have a great random story about the pit.

First a disclaimer though. Being a musician myself, I have every bit of respect in the world for people who do this for a living. They are amazing and I could never be that good. This is not meant to bash all pit musicians, just to tell a funny story that happens to be related.

When I saw the closing cast of Aida last summer, there were these two flies flying around in the spotlights for the entire second act. They kept landing on people's faces when they were standing still. Everyone tried really hard to keep a straight face, but it just didn't work. Everyone ended up giggling through most of the second act...interesting, seeing as how that's the tragic part. As we got up to leave at the end (we were all the way in the front), I walked by the pit and heard this guy say, very loudly "Ohhh, so *that's* where the flies came from!" He then proceeded to hold up a bag of food at least a week old. It made my day.

[JoAnne1]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 8:01pm

hi...

i'm on - catching up..

definitely have stuff on the pit thing...

[N0tThatGirl213]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 8:08pm

Hi Fredi.

[JoAnne1]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 8:20pm

wow...

on the pit musicians.

I have an immense respect for pit musicians. You are right they go terribly unnoticed by the majority of the audience - but to us - it's our life's blood. There is an intimate connection between a singer and the orchestra - you can build one another to soaring heights - or drag one another into the depths of misery...

However, the off-stage relationships vary - Musicians have their own call time - their own rehersal schedule (until late in the game when "it all comes together" - and most importantly, their own UNION - one of the strongest in the biz (next to stagehands)

So - if relationships between performers, crew, and musicians happen - it's just one of those things. People see each other at work every day and some become friends and some don't... just like any other work environment.

You will find more "cross-bonding" (a Fredi-ism) on tours - were all the different factions are stuck together in strange cities and don't know anyone else.

In the past (on the road) I've gotten VERY friendly with a musician or two... Ahhhh - youth.


back to star wars...
not laughing at the books - I have the first 3 - and the director comment I find to be on point. Speilberg also directed at least one (if not more) of the brilliant RAIDER's series and the first RAIDER's is a close to perfect as a movie can get IMHO.

I'm glad the last 3 are canned. I'd be scared to see them, that's the truth. Could be Lucas is more of a conceptual guy than and director.....(of course "Grafitti" ain't bad - but that was loooooong ago.)

[JoAnne1]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 8:23pm

addendum for Amanda

RENT was a unique experience because the musicians were onstage with us....therefore they literally became part of the show as well as our musical support.

*a memory*
I will never forget the first day singing the score with the band. I always thought it was good music - but that day I knew - IT ROCKS!!!!

[insomniak]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 8:24pm

Good point on Lucas- stick to creating the story, don't get your hands dirty.

That's interesting about traveling companies being closer than others. (and I like the term 'cross-bonding'. I may have to adopt it) But if you don't bring the orchestra in until the end, how do you rehearse? I imagine going from a capella to having instrumentals throws you a little at first.

[N0tThatGirl213]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 8:25pm

::sigh::

I want cool experiences like that...

So how goes the computer searching?

[insomniak]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 8:29pm

NTG, it may happen yet... it just depends. My middle school drama club was run like the army and was like family except we spent more time together. Great experience, but high school is just the opposite. It can be good or bad, just keep at it.

[N0tThatGirl213]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 8:32pm

I don't wanna go back to school though...I just realized I'm going to be getting home after 8 almost every night this week. And I have 6 tests, two papers, and exams in a week and a half.

sorry...end of rant.

Oh, and auditions for Dolly...

[insomniak]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 8:36pm

Good luck with all that, sounds like you'll need it. I'm just trying to make it through... if highschool is the best four years of your life, please shoot me now before it gets worse.

But anyway...

[JoAnne1]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 8:36pm

how do you rehearse?...

usually with piano only... then you add the orchestra at a big "sing through" at the top of tech week....

how goes the computer searching?

auuughhh!!! does that answer?

I can't believe BOTH went down at once!!!!

[N0tThatGirl213]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 8:38pm

So are professional tech rehearsals as evil as high school ones are?

[insomniak]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 8:41pm

Highschool tech *twitch*

Fredi, are your computers beyond repair?

[JoAnne1]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 8:42pm

Dudes and Dudettes...

listen closely

HIGH SCHOOL IS SO NOT THE BEST YEARS OF YOUR LIFE... if it is, too bad for you.

Oh, do I remember the "divas" in HS... all of them old and unhappy looooonnnngggg before their time. Imagine peaking at 16-17 yrs old and still having oh - 30-50 years to live (possibly more if you're in good health) NOT ME BABY.

Oh yes, the fat, musical theatre loving, grade geek becomes a Bway Star!!! Take THAT to your 20 year reunion and smoke it!!!

[N0tThatGirl213]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 8:45pm

::feels better::

You were a grade geek? Does that mean being smart actually *does* matter in theater? Cuz I get that all the time... "stop being such a nerd, it's not gonna matter on Broadway anyway!"

[JoAnne1]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 8:45pm

ps -

blew off my 20 year...

the only reason to have gone would be to "show them" - but I was grown up by then....

If they didn't care about me then - why should I go out of my way to impress them now?

It was a really great moment to know that I no longer needed (or wanted) their approval

[insomniak]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 8:46pm

Sounds like someone enjoyed their reunion!

*grins evilly*

Oh, I can hope... Do I sound like a horrible biTch if I say that I want to see a certain few people all fat and wrinkly and working 9-5 in a tiny cubicle located in a dull suburb?

[JoAnne1]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 8:46pm

tech rehersals are ALWAYS LONG, TEDIOUS AND EVILLLLL (but necessary)

[N0tThatGirl213]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 8:49pm

Oooh, som, only if I do too...but then...everyone already thinks I'm a b*tch, so I got nothin' to lose!

Why is it that in high school drama you have to either let everyone step on you or get deemed a b*tch? I don't understand that...

Fredi, since we're on the subject, have you ever worked tech?