Largest Pit Orchestra Currently On Broadway

[angel_of_music2]

Posted: 7/10/17 at 9:32pm

Now that Sunset Boulevard has closed which current Broadway show has the largest orchestra?

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 7/10/17 at 9:37pm

Probably HELLO DOLLY. I believe it's around 20 players. 

[morosco]

Posted: 7/10/17 at 10:12pm

I think Phantom has a 27 piece orchestra?

[trpguyy]

Posted: 7/10/17 at 10:57pm

morosco said: "I think Phantom has a 27 piece orchestra?"

I count 29 on IBDB, which off the top of my head makes it the largest.

[musicals1989]

Posted: 7/10/17 at 11:13pm

Phantom- 29

Lion King- 25

Wicked-24 

Hello, Dolly- 23

Miss Saigon/Aladdin- 18

Charlie- 17

 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/11/17 at 11:06pm

Good for Phantom for not cutting costs! 

[leighmiserables]

Posted: 7/11/17 at 11:17pm

I know it's not a pit orchestra, but anyone have any idea how many musicians are in Great Comet? Between the band itself and the cast members who play it has to be up there... 

[haterobics]

Posted: 7/11/17 at 11:20pm

RippedMan said: "Good for Phantom for not cutting costs! "

Personally, I'm not interested in the number of people in the pit, so I'm not sure why anyone else would be...

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

Posted: 7/11/17 at 11:26pm

leighmiserables said: "I know it's not a pit orchestra, but anyone have any idea how many musicians are in Great Comet? Between the band itself and the cast members who play it has to be up there... "

So in the cast, there's 4 guitar players, 2 accordion players, 2 violinists, 2 violists, and 1 clarinet. That's 11 right there. The opening night playbill listed 10 orchestra member, so 21 musicians are playing for the show.

[Tag]

Posted: 7/11/17 at 11:26pm

Good for Phantom for not cutting costs! 

There would be a huge battle with AFM.  Although the last WSS revival cut their string section in half during the run with much drama surrounding that decision.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/11/17 at 11:41pm

How'd that work with like American Psycho which seemed all electronic? 

[DooWahDiddy]

Posted: 7/12/17 at 10:52am

RippedMan said: "How'd that work with like American Psycho which seemed all electronic? 

The AFM takes it on a show-by-show basis.  A few shows were written to be performed by small combos, less than the theatre's required minimum (Rent comes to mind).  Back in the day, the theatre used to have to hire people to show up and just sit in the pit during the show, not playing a note, just to satisfy the minimum.  Nowadays there are ways around that, and if the essence of the show is written to be a certain way, they can negotiate with the AFM and skirt the usual requirements. 

What they can't do, however, is change things once it's been open and running for so long.  So it's not really a "good for Phantom" situation; they pretty much have to keep running with the same number of musicians they had in 198-whatever.  And believe me, some of those same musicians are still there...

 

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 7/12/17 at 11:23am

haterobics said: "RippedMan said: "Good for Phantom for not cutting costs! "

Personally, I'm not interested in the number of people in the pit, so I'm not sure why anyone else would be...

 

"

So because you are not interested in something, no one else should be? That makes sense. Not 

Personally I'm very interested as I have musicians in my family and am interested to hear about any possible job opportunities.  Lol.  Also the sound of the musicians is extremely important to my enjoyment of a musical and I'm interested to hear the number of musicians involved. The very large orchestra that recently was a part of the recent production of On The  Town was def one of the highlights of the show for me. 

And yes there was a huge issue when American Psycho came out. And all electronic musical does not sit well with the musicians union. - or with me either. Personally I expect/prefer live musicians for live theater. Call me old school. 

[haterobics]

Posted: 7/12/17 at 11:50am

KathyNYC2 said: "So because you are not interested in something, no one else should be? That makes sense. Not"

That is a joke carried over from another thread.

[TheThreadMaster]

Posted: 7/12/17 at 11:51am

http://www.broadwaymusicians.com/

^^^^that has every show with who plays what instrument and how large the orchestra is. answers every question on this thread

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 7/12/17 at 1:15pm

haterobics said: "KathyNYC2 said: "So because you are not interested in something, no one else should be? That makes sense. Not"

That is a joke carried over from another thread.

 

"

Did not realize that so my apologies. 

[bowtie7]

Posted: 7/12/17 at 6:34pm

A production can reduce the number of musicians it employees but only if the show initially had move than required number of musicians that particular theatre requires and those specific parts where listed as potentially subject to reduction when the production first performs.  I also remember (I think, sorry if this isn't correct) that if a keyboard player is to cover any part eliminated, the part must be a part of the keyboard part from the beginning of the run though I assume it isn't played (or not sent out by the sound board) until the live instrument is no longer present.

[Pit Monger]

Posted: 7/12/17 at 10:21pm

I could be wrong but I think Beauty and the Beast reduced their orchestra over time. 

[The_Spielers_2017]

Posted: 7/12/17 at 10:29pm

^They did, but only after changing theatres and therefore qualifying as a "new produciton". 

[DooWahDiddy]

Posted: 7/13/17 at 10:15am

^^Right, there are certain loopholes the producers can use to get around the rules, and believe me, they'll use them if they can.