What's a 'track'?

[jczelyph]

Posted: 1/9/05 at 9:01am

After reading one or two posts here and the book 'Making It On Broadway' I've come across things called 'tracks'. The performers who featured in the book who'd been a part of Les Miserables spoke a lot about it and a post on here spoke about swings having to learn all tracks of the ensemble. I get the feeling it doesn't mean 'tracks' as in CD tracks....so what is it exactly?

[brandonm]

Posted: 1/9/05 at 9:47am

at the theatre i work at the tracks are taped accompnament

[breakneckspeed]

Posted: 1/9/05 at 10:01am

No, "track" is a term used to represent an individual's ensemble duties...like you "track" what roles they play in what scene, where they're standing, what harmony they're singing, what they wear, what's in their hands, what part of the dancing formation they're in, when and where they do their costume changes, etc. - all ensemble memebers have different "tracks" that swings need to learn. So, people say "I know 12 tracks for this show" - means they're ready to go on (after a little review usually) for 12 different members of the ensemble of a show.

[kenmarksnj]

Posted: 1/9/05 at 10:43am

are you sure the members of Les Miserables didn't mean it as in stage tracks? technical tracks? on most broadway and professional stages the scenery comes in automatically... it's not on wheels or anything, it's connected to a network of pulleys and electronic contraptions underneath the stage which are designed to move the scenery on and off stage instead of having to use manual labor. technology prevails again.

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 1/9/05 at 10:45am

No, a track is the role an ensemble person plays