What's your take on having the 'band' on stage . . .

The growing trend of having the pit on stage is perplexing to me. Hair, SA, Catch Me if . . , Next to Normal -

Certain shows like Hair and SA work better than others - what is the motivating factor for having them on stage-

And what do you prefer?

No problem with it whatsoever.

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The nice thing about having the band onstage, is there isn't the added distance of a pit, the actors can connect easier to an audience, which is pretty key in shows like Hair or Rent.

In some shows, like Chorus Line, it's to maintain an illusion (the orchestra is either in a pit that is covered or elsewhere in the theatre)

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It was integral to the staging of
I Love My Wife. The band was like the 5th character, and it worked quite well.

Urinetowns band was onstage, and the conductors entrance as a plot contrivence began the show.

It's never bothered me, but then I adored South Pacific when that orchestra below was spotlighted!

Where is the band located in Next to Normal?

Gotcha!

I think it depends on the show and where it is located. Obviously for a show like "Chicago", it is needed on stage because it is essential in some parts. I think it would not work as well if you have a huge cast and heavy dancing though, like with "Hairspray."

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The orchestra being on stage in Gypsy was spectacular.

Yes, during the overture. During the rest of the show, it was completely inappropriate since Gypsy is about show folk.. the audience in the seats, the performers on stage, and the orchestra IN THE PIT... and awful when June would say "Mister Conductor, if you please" while pointing to a 21 year old gay boy front row center and the conductor raises his arms 15 feet upstage.

Did the band onstage work for the recent Grease revival? I never saw it.

blaxx,
The closing notice worked wonderfully.

Updated On: 8/5/09 at 05:47 PM

Yes, during the overture. During the rest of the show, it was completely inappropriate since Gypsy is about show folk.. the audience in the seats, the performers on stage, and the orchestra IN THE PIT... and awful when June would say "Mister Conductor, if you please" while pointing to a 21 year old gay boy front row center and the conductor raises his arms 15 feet upstage.

I thought it was only seen during the Overture, 'All I Need Is the Girl,' and 'Roses Turn'? Maybe I was distracted at other times, but those are the only times I can remember seeing the orchestra (and I was sitting in the 7th row, I couldn't have been THAT distracted).

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I thought it was only seen during the Overture, 'All I Need Is the Girl,' and 'Roses Turn'? Maybe I was distracted at other times, but those are the only times I can remember seeing the orchestra (and I was sitting in the 7th row, I couldn't have been THAT distracted).

You're absolutely correct, those were the only times the orchestra was revealed.
broadwayguy, how could you see the real conductor if he was behind the screen during the "Mister Conductor, if you please" moments?

I too think it depends on the show and production. For Hair, Spring Awakening, etc. - I think it's awesome seeing the band onstage. For certain shows, such as classics like South Pacific, I prefer to have a traditional pit. For Lupone!Gypsy, I didn't mind them being onstage. The actors only needed half the stage anyway and I thought those moments when the orchestra is revealed during "All I Need is the Girl" and "Rose's Turn" were wonderful and worked incredibly well.

My only complaint about Spring Awakening's band was that when I sat in the on stage seats, we couldn't hear the singing that well at all. That's not so much a criticism about the band being on stage, I loved that, moreso about their sound system. Oh well.

"broadwayguy, how could you see the real conductor if he was behind the screen during the "Mister Conductor, if you please" moments"

I thought he was joking, the 21 year old gay guy would be a GYPSY fan, as they are.

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