Musicals with the Orchestra/Band onstage- Page 2

[fiatlux]

Posted: 12/20/05 at 3:15am

*showing age* No Strings
Forbidden Planet

[ZONEACE]

Posted: 12/20/05 at 3:18am

Does "I love you, you're perfect, now change" count?

[jasobres]

Posted: 12/20/05 at 7:25am

You know, I should've been more specific. I'm talking about musicals where the orchestra is visible onstage.

[JakeB]

Posted: 12/20/05 at 11:05am

Tommy.

[Hoof]

Posted: 12/20/05 at 11:12am

Urinetown!

[my2cents]

Posted: 12/20/05 at 11:14am

any musical can have the band on stage it depends on the director etc...

but what version of footloose and tommy had a band onstage??? I know footloose did not have one they were in the pit, and i could swear tommy was the same way, but that was over 10 years ago so I could be wrong.

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 12/20/05 at 11:17am

I saw a Production of Annie that had 2 pits on stage....one was on stage left the other on stage right.... The one looked like hobos the others like servents it was an intresting addition

[Jon]

Posted: 12/20/05 at 12:26pm

On Broadway, TOMMY's orchestra was either behind the stage or in the basement somewhere. There was no pit.

The original MAN OF LAMANCHA and the revival of OKLAHOMA had the orchestra on stage behind a scrim - they were visible for the Overture only.

The revival of I DO, I DO used twin pianos upstage behind a scrim - visible during the Entr'Acte (there is no overture).

Roundabout's revival of SHE LOVES ME had the orchestra on a high platform above the set, which revolved underneath them.

The original GODSPELL had the band visible upstage behind a chain link fence.

[bare_nakedlady]

Posted: 12/20/05 at 12:42pm

Urinetown's Orchestra was in the PIT.

[AngusN]

Posted: 12/20/05 at 1:03pm

I hated Chicago for this very reason. I actually watched the Original London Cast (of the new version, Ruthie and Ute) I thought it was a huge mistake. The show is such a dance orientated production and - because there was such little space at the front of the stage - the dance numbers were quite restricted. Plus, the orchestra were shuffling papers and sat talking, which I found really off putting. they may have altered it since then, but I hated the show. Infact, not many people were very optimistic about it in the bar afterwards - and now look at it.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 12/20/05 at 1:08pm

Lennon

[elmore3003]

Posted: 12/20/05 at 2:38pm

My first memory of an onstage orchestra is the original production of "I Do, I Do" with Martin and Preston. There was a four-piece band in the original production of "Cabaret," but the 26(?)-piece orchestra was in the pit. The next I remember is "Godspell." The 1973 revival of "Candide" had the orchestra in 3 sections around the audience and stage, but it wasn't onstage at the Broadway Theatre. The last big show of the 1970s to have the band onstage was "Chicago" and there were orchestras on/above the stage for "Grand Hotel." Since Encores! is basically over-elaborate concert staging, I don't consider their performances, like the "Candide" with the Philharmonic, productions or revivals.

[jasobres]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 11:03am

Sure, many people consider ENCORES! as concerts, but I don't because they hand out theatre Playbills and the orchestra has Broadway personell such as Red Press, Dennis Anderson, Jay Berliner, and Jill Jaffe.

[myManCape]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 11:56am

Movin' Out the full Orchestra was above the stage but fully visable for the entire show

Good Viberations the Band was onstage through asct 1 then it moved back behind the stage.

[Musical Director]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 12:56pm

THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS

[Musical Director]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 12:57pm

1940'S RADIO HOUR

[Musical Director]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 12:57pm

I DO, I DO!

[jv92]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 5:54pm

We wouldn't be listing these shows if it weren't for "No Strings" thank you very much.
Umm..."The Happy Time" has an onstage pit durring tryouts but got cut.
And the current revival of "Oklahoma!" had the orchestra behind a scrim the whole time.

[boxers7]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 5:56pm

Let's not forget Taboo!

[jv92]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 6:00pm

Let's do.
Sorry, everyone's entitled to their opinion. I just don't like that show.

[jasobres]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 8:17pm

Just out of curiosity, what is the 1940's Radio Hour?

[morosco]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 8:28pm

GRAND HOTEL (At least when it was at the Martin Beck/Hirschfeld. Didn't the orchestra move to the traditional pit hen it moved to the Gershwin? Or did that happen when it went on the road?)

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 8:50pm

Grand Hotel's orchestra moved to the pit when the show moved to the Gershwin

[jasobres]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 8:53am

I still would like to know what The 1940's Radio Hour was.

[Jon]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 9:17am

It's an Off-Broadway musical revue in which the stage is a radio studio in the 1940's and you watch the performers do a musical variety show. They sing actual commercial jingles from the era, do comedy skits, etc.