Disney Testing Musician Replacements in Australia

[macbeth]

Disney Testing Musician Replacements in Australia #1

Posted: 5/18/26 at 2:30pm

https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/9248970/musicians-vanishing-from-australias-major-productions/

Musicians are disappearing from Australia's biggest stage shows as technology usurps their roles.

The world's highest grossing musical returned to Sydney in April with a smaller orchestra after Disney cut all four string parts from the 2026 season of The Lion King.

 

[John Adams]

Disney Testing Musician Replacements in Australia #2

Posted: 5/18/26 at 5:14pm

macbeth said: "The world's highest grossing musical returned to Sydney in April with a smaller orchestra after Disney cut all four string parts from the 2026 season of The Lion King."

To clarify, the string parts might not be cut from the score. They might possibly be re-written to accommodate for a single keyboard player. 

Instead of hiring (4) musicians, a keyboard player will be hired to utilize a program called, KeyComp. Per KeyComp's site: KeyComp is a revolutionary, keyboard-driven system that enables a single player to produce the sound and dynamics of a full-sized, live orchestra with an unparalleled level of detail and control."

Such an extremely greedy little mouse, wanting all the cheese for itself. 

[Sutton Ross]

Disney Testing Musician Replacements in Australia #3

Posted: 5/18/26 at 6:22pm

Programs just like that and AI will replace many musicians in the next decade, unfortunately.

[rosscoe(au)]

Disney Testing Musician Replacements in Australia #4

Posted: 5/18/26 at 7:37pm

It has been called out in nearly every review of the show, that it doesn’t sound as lush as it used too. 

Well I didn't want to get into it, but he's a Satanist. Every full moon he sacrifices 4 puppies to the Dark Lord and smears their blood on his paino. This should help you understand the score for Wicked a little bit more. Tazber's: Reply to Is Stephen Schwartz a Practicing Christian