Posted: 5/18/26 at 2:30pm
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.
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. 
Posted: 5/18/26 at 6:22pm
Programs just like that and AI will replace many musicians in the next decade, unfortunately.
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.
Posted: 5/18/26 at 7:59pm
How exactly are musicians supposed to compete against AI?
Posted: 5/18/26 at 11:06pm
everythingtaboo said: "How exactly are musicians supposed to compete against AI?"
This has been the age old argument ever since the 80s when synth technology and sound amplification started becoming more prominent. A really good combination of Ableton and synths can make a 15-piece orchestra sound better than a 30-piece orchestra. (Bad sound design can also ruin a decent sized orchestra, which was my experience at BEACHES.)
Posted: 5/19/26 at 6:54am
I believe you also said that the Sunset Blvd Jamie Lloyd revival sounded just as good as the previous revival with the 40 piece orchestra, a palpably ridiculous thing to say. Broadway has boiled your ears. Please take a trip to the NY PHIL and familiarize yourself with what a real orchestra sounds like, as you’ve clearly become accustomed to the manipulation that happens on Broadway and have even started to prefer it. How embarrassing
Posted: 5/19/26 at 7:39am
Disney has more than enough money to pay for the additional strings. They’re cutting them because the people at the top aren’t seeing these shows and don’t understand the impact reducing an orchestra can have. There are savvy ways to reduce orchestra size to cut costs without it also sacrificing the integrity; Disney doesn’t know how to do that.
Updated On: 5/19/26 at 07:39 AM
Posted: 5/19/26 at 7:45am
See also: the recent "new version" of Beauty and the Beast in licensing and on tour which cuts half an hour and a number of vocal harmonies, so as to run cheaper and shorter and not do overtime.
Posted: 5/19/26 at 7:59am
Not sure why this is making news now (I guess because the show just opened in Australia) but Keycomp is used all over the place, on many Disney and non-Disney shows. The Lion King US tour uses it, the Toronto company used it, etc. This isn't unique to the Sydney company.
Posted: 5/19/26 at 8:24am
Fred Mason said: "I believe you also said that the Sunset Blvd Jamie Lloyd revival sounded just as good as the previous revival with the 40 piece orchestra,a palpably ridiculous thing to say. Broadway has boiled your ears. Please take a trip to the NY PHIL and familiarize yourself with what a real orchestra sounds like, as you’ve clearly become accustomed to the manipulation that happens on Broadway and have even started to prefer it. How embarrassing"
Oh I go to the Met, the Phil, and Jazz at Lincoln Center all the time to hear unamplified music.
But those aren’t the ears that Broadway is catering to (nor should they be).
And how would you know what I said months ago when you’ve just joined the board within the past 30 days, Flash?
Updated On: 5/19/26 at 08:24 AM
