Use of click tracks

[alterego]

Posted: 8/12/03 at 12:43am

What shows on broadway are currently using click tracks? I know there is quite a lot of Phantom that has the cast lipsynching to pre recorded portions of numbers, and I believe there is a little used in Beauty and the Beast. What other shows are using this device? A giveaway is usually when the Musical Director puts on headphones to cue the cast vocals.

I recall years ago hearing that Barnum had the extraordinary number of 8 numbers lipsynched, though at the time it was explained that it was due to the fact that the cast were all over the place doing tricks and the quality of vocals wasn't all they could be. So can anyone enlighten me as to what shows are using them now?

[Copeman63]

Posted: 8/13/03 at 5:19pm

Mamma Mia! uses a clip track for a couple of songs for backup vocals. Gimme, Gimme, Gimme is one, and Voulez-vous is the other. It's funny because the track skips from time to time on Voulez-vous, possibly because of all the bass. Also, all the vocals for the finale are prerecorded. It's always nice when Louise Pitre is out of the show and her understudy is lipsyncing to a voice that sounds nothing like her. I think most of the cast at least makes the effort to sing along, except a couple ensemble members. It always seems David Ayers would rather be working at McDonalds than performing...

[alterego]

Posted: 8/14/03 at 12:39am

I'd forgotten Mamma Mia and the extended Dancing Queen finale.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/14/03 at 12:53am

lol. david ayers at mcdonalds. ha ha ha. he wouldn't be flipping fries. he would be playing ronald.