Live music on Broadway? Well, what about at the Tonys?

[IssaMe]

Posted: 6/6/06 at 11:10am

For the second year in a row, the musicians for the Tonys aren't even in the Hall...not only do they not appear on stage or in the pit of Radio City Music Hall during the broacast - they are actually relegated to play from one of the rehearsal halls on the 7th floor...and the music is just piped in. You never get to see a single musician.

This non-visual presence may seem a minor point but frankly, isn't live music one of the big selling points about Broadway?...and if there is absolutely no presence of the orchestra during this broadcast representing Broadway to America and the world, doesn't it make the whole thing look a little more canned and less what "Broadway" is all about???

And what is the reason for it - or the point to this banishment? Last year, they blamed the "Spamalot" set --- what's the excuse this year?

Just wondering.

[Blanche]

Posted: 6/14/06 at 10:28pm

Bump
I'd like to know the answer to this as well. Anyone know? And does anyone know why some music was canned (like Phantom) and some was not?

[lamentingenvelope]

Posted: 6/15/06 at 12:30pm

Well, from what I saw it looked to me like they had some people sitting where the pit ought to be... they probably realized if they moved the pit they could put some extra seats there and charge ridiculous amounts of money for them.

[Just_John]

Posted: 6/15/06 at 1:01pm

No the people sitting there were from something broadway-related that I can't think of right now. But one of the first presenters during the pre-show was sitting in that section. I think what is usually used as the orchestra section is what "Show Off" came up on.

[trpguyy]

Posted: 6/15/06 at 1:28pm

No, there are many lifts in the stage at Radio City. The actors for The Drowsy Chaperone came up on a lift in the middle of the stage, not the downstage lift. There were set pieces in front of the lift that they used.

My theory is that the more seats there are, the more money is made.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 6/15/06 at 2:14pm

What about the Spamalot set messed it up for them? I don't remember anything happening?

I didnt realize there wasn't a live orchestra, I just figured they were under the stage. They were on the 7th floor? Is there just one orchestra for the show that learns the different songs? Or do the orchestras from each of the nominated shows change out? At least Sweeney Todd was live.

[latheatrelover]

Posted: 6/16/06 at 3:28am

I was there and I am sure the orchestra was live. Where it was exactly I don't know.

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 6/16/06 at 11:21am

They did this with the strings in Aida (in a room upstairs at the palace) and I'm sure in other shows. I dunno what the real deal is, it's not like the pits are getting smaller.

[jasobres]

Posted: 6/16/06 at 11:41am

Does it really matter? As long as we know that the musicians are live it's okay.

[Jon]

Posted: 6/16/06 at 12:07pm

It's hardly anything new for the orchestra to be unseen. Right off the bat, I can think of TOMMY, CATS, and the revival of OKLAHOMA as having the musicians behind the stage. The OKLAHOMA orchestra was seen behind a scrim during ther overture. In fact, way back in the mid-1960's, MAN OF LA MANCHA had the orchestra behind the set, visible though a scrim during the overture only.