Actors-as-musicians beyond the professional stage?

The list of shows for next year was just posted at my university the other day, and one of the shows listed was The Music Man. This really surprised me, as most of the shows we do are darker/more obscure (recent musicals include Sweeney Todd, Nine, Cabaret, Promenade, Blood Brothers). But then someone told me that it is going to be done a la the current Sweeney revival, as in the actors also play the instruments. So, I'm wondering what you guys think about this? Not only as far as how well it works for this show, but is this going to be a trend now among educational and community theaters? Just thought it was something interesting to bring up.

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Actors play instruments in MOST productions of The Music Man. I'm assuming you know what it's about.

I have to wonder if the person who said that isn't mistaken, in a way. Maybe they know that actors play instruments in the show and automatically thought it was going to be like the Sweeney revival, because of that? I mean, I think it would sort of hurt the story if the actors WERE the orchestra for a production of The Music Man, being that the story involves learning to play instruments, and all. I guess I could see it working in some scenes better than others. It could work, I guess. Sort of.

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Well, yeah, it working is contigent upon the specifics. I don't think it would be weird for like... Harold and Marian to play instruments, really. If it doesn't go overboard and take you out of the context, I think it might be kind of cool.

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