Pit falling

[Gmerchant123]

Posted: 2/10/13 at 1:47pm

Anyone ever see a broadway show where an actor accidentally falls into the pit? How deep are they usally?

[backwoodsbarbie]

Posted: 2/10/13 at 1:52pm

I saw it happen in Newsies when an actor slipped on newspaper but the pit was covered with netting and he bounced right back.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 2/10/13 at 1:53pm

The floor level of the orchestra pit is typically at least 4 feet lower than the floor of the audience seating, but usually more. Add to that the anywhere from 3 to 4 feet (or more) from the floor of the stage to the floor of the audience and you are looking at what could be a pretty nasty fall. I have seen some theaters where the drop could be as much as 12 feet from stage floor to the floor of the pit.

[E.Davis]

Posted: 2/10/13 at 1:58pm

I am not sure if it is planned, but when I saw Cinderella the other week an actor almost fell into the pit during the Ogre Battle. Someone helped him out (another actor) before he went in.

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 2/10/13 at 2:02pm

I heard that during Elphaba's first entrance in the beginning on WICKED, Shoshana Bean ran out just like every other night, but slipped nearly into the pit. Luckily part of the set design is that they have little clockwork wheels surrounding parts of the stage, so she she landed on that.

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 2/10/13 at 2:03pm

Also, I believe Spiderman has fallen into the pit on several occasions.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/10/13 at 2:51pm

Don Correia and Sandy Duncan in MY ONE AND ONLY. Last scene. Both of them in bridal attire. He had her in his arms, twirled to the footlights, went too far and the two of them fell into the pit. He never dropped her. She tossed her flowers and laughed. He climbed out and finished the show. Audience was horrified because it was freakin scary but, thankfully, no one was hurt.

[goldenboy]

Posted: 2/11/13 at 11:05pm

Of course there is the famous story of Jerome Robbins yelling at his dancers, ripping them a new one and him saying something like "I don't want to hear a word from any of you" as he backed up and fell into the orchestra pit.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 2/12/13 at 1:27am

"Also, I believe Spiderman has fallen into the pit on several occasions."

Wow, I wonder how they were able to keep that quiet?

[WickedOne2]

Posted: 2/12/13 at 1:33am

I heard an actor playing Frankie in Jersey Boys fell off the stage during Come on Marianne when he slid on his knees. Can't remember if it was on tour or on Broadway

[chrisampm2]

Posted: 2/12/13 at 1:37am

I saw a singer fall into the pit. The show stopped. Paramedics came.

And I fell into an orchestra pit in college and had to leave school to recuperate.

[Matt3358]

Posted: 2/12/13 at 9:51am

My favorite story is about a Madame Thenardier on the Les Mis tour years ago.

"At the end of Master of the House the director had blocked Madame Thenardier to jump on Thenardier, who was leaning over a table. Then the revolve would spin around, carrying everyone off. But, in one show, the table legs gave way, so it and the Thenardiers fell off the revolve section of the stage. Thenardier recovered quickly, and was able to carry off the table. Madame Thenardier, however, rolled off and into the pit, plowing through all of the music stands. The musicians all had to improvise the next few bars of music."

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 2/12/13 at 10:00am

I went to Hairspray and Penny fell into the pit, after she crawled her way back up (there was a net also) and the cast got it together as did the audience she said "I know what you're thinking and no that was not planned and yes I do all my own stunts". The crowd laughed any they kept going.

[finebydesign]

Posted: 2/12/13 at 10:50am

I heard once that a touring Chip's cart in B&B fell into the pit. I wish Stage Management reports were on here for us to read they are hilarious.

[D2]

Posted: 2/12/13 at 11:06am

The night I saw the original production of NINE, one of the Germans toppled off the passerelle into the front row during "The Germans at the Spa." She got up, ran out of the house and was back on stage in a matter of seconds, finishing the number to wild applause.

During a performance of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC in which I played Henrik, I waltzed right off the stage into the pit during the final waltz. My Anne gripped my wrists and pulled me right back up and we continued the dance right on the beat. Good times.