Shows that require “in ears”

In the case of Great Comet it wasn't just because the band was in a different place, but because the cast was all over that theatre. Providing traditional monitors to cover every space they were in would have been a designer's nightmare.

They were used in the Hedwig revival, likely for the reasons you stated in your first post—it was so similar to a concert.

Music_Maker42 said: "Is that because the band/orchestra was located elsewhere in the cases of Comet and Hair? Also there’s a lot of parts in the music. For a cappella I totally understand. For the others I’m kind of wondering why."

Generally speaking, it’s all about getting the performers to hear what they need to hear without negatively impacting what the audience hears.

The cast and/or band being significant spread out (Comet, In Transit, Spring Awakening), an onstage rock/horn band (Hair), loud sound effects (Let It Go) are all things that would make the use of traditional/loudspeaker monitors extremely challenging.

There is also the fact that performers have very different opinions on what they like to hear, and catering to everybody’s needs/wants is not always possible with traditional monitors. In ear monitors allow for much more individual control.

trpguyy said: " . . . There is also the fact that performers have very different opinions on what they like to hear, and catering to everybody’s needs/wants is not always possible with traditional monitors. In ear monitors allow for much more individual control."

Interesting Can you explain the differences in what performers might want to hear?

Rumpelstiltskin said: "trpguyy said: " . . .There is also the fact that performers have very different opinions on what they like to hear, and catering to everybody’s needs/wants is not always possible with traditional monitors. In ear monitors allow for much more individual control."

Interesting Can you explain the differences in what performers might want to hear?

"

If a particular number is blocked in a way where they don't have a direct sightline with the pit (or if the band is offstage and connected with a video monitor), then some singers might need extra help keeping time with the orchestra, especially if they don't have technical musical training. This might be as simple as adding in a click track if the band uses one. If an instrument in the orchestration doubles their vocal line, that might be amplified in their ear only. If another instrument is playing a note that's a close harmony, that may be dampened in the ear so it doesn't throw off the singer. Or, possibly when actors are singing some complex harmonies, the in-ear monitor might only pump in the other people on their note so they stay on pitch.

This is not to say that the use of any of these monitor tricks mean the performer is a bad singer. There are plenty of incredible singers on Broadway that can't read music and don't have perfect pitch. It's just about giving singers the tools they need to deliver the best possible performance to the audience.

So… after this conversation. Would Eden benefit from in ears. Genuinely curious, because I feel like she has the potential to be great

Probably an obvious addition at this point but just to answer the original question, Here Lies Love did have in-ears as well (understandably).