Tony Awards Orchestra Question

[SondheimFan5]

Posted: 7/27/10 at 11:38am

How does the orchestra work for the Tonys? Does the orchestra play all the songs from the shows that perform with one conductor for the night, or does each show bring in their own orchestra and conductor?

[wdwfreak]

Posted: 7/27/10 at 11:42am

Do they even have an orchestra? I thought it was all done by recordings.

[musicman_bwayfan]

Posted: 7/27/10 at 1:18pm

They have a gigantic orchestra. Unfortunately, unless you were Hugh Jackman singing at the Tonys for the Boy From Oz performance, you will be performing with a pre-recorded track - most likely the cast recording without the vocal tracks. There is one conductor for the group.

[TechEverlasting]

Posted: 7/27/10 at 6:58pm

I believe that most of the Tony performances are done to backing tracks that are recorded shortly before the telecast by the Tony orchestra, often with a few guest musicians from the show's pit orchestra. Using cast recordings for this purpose would create a nightmare of reuse fee payments, and the Tony performances are frequently ridiculous medleys that have little to do with the structure of the cast album songs (or common sense).

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 7/27/10 at 7:06pm

Most years its done offstage somewhere is Radio City, but I was told that this year the orchestra was across town in a studio...

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 7/27/10 at 7:07pm

And how does it work with the entrance and exit music for when awards are presented and the winner is leaving the stage?