What's your take on having the 'band' on stage . . . - Page 2

[James885]

Posted: 8/11/09 at 9:16am

It really depends on the show. I didn't really like Gypsy's orchestra being on stage.

[Mark_E]

Posted: 8/11/09 at 9:42am

I loved having the orchestra on stage for Gypsy.

It works well for the new La Cage revival in the West End. Although at the very side of the stage and hidden away slightly, they still have a little bit interaction.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 8/11/09 at 10:03am

I loved that the orchestra was onstage during Gypsy because I loved how the trumpet solo was highlighted during the overture.

And I agreed with whoever mentioned the reveal of the orchestra in South Pacific; that was just beautiful.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 8/11/09 at 10:09am

Why is "band" in quotation marks?

[bwaybri2]

Posted: 8/11/09 at 10:56am

Because some people call it the 'pit' some call it the 'orchestra' . . .

[humbugfoto]

Posted: 8/11/09 at 2:03pm

bwaybri2, you seem confused about your terminology. "pit" and "orchestra" are not interchangeable words, they are not the same thing.

A "band" or "orchestra" is a group of musicians playing instruments. A "pit" is a physical location, in front of the stage and below stage level where the band and/or orchestra sits while performing. The pit is a fixed, immovable location, the band and orchestra are groups of musicians who can move about the theater as needed.

That said, for practical matters I prefer the musicians in the pit and not onstage. Onstage they are distracting and take up valuable space needed for the production.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 8/11/09 at 2:55pm

Quick question. When did they start revealing the orchestra during All I Need Is The Girl and Rose's Turn because I saw the show not too long after the Tony's and I can't remember that happening.

[mybigsplash]

Posted: 8/11/09 at 3:06pm

I thought it was a terribly idea, and entirely un-aesthetically pleasing in Catch Me if You Can.

[ALittlePriest]

Posted: 8/11/09 at 3:11pm

I just posted this link on another thread, the reviewer obviously didn't like the show (CMIFC), but talks about the onstage band and set design.


CMIYC Doomed, too late to fix.

[Byron Abens]

Posted: 8/11/09 at 4:34pm

My problem with the orchestra on stage for Gypsy was that it then eliminated the passarelle (I have no idea if I spelled that right, it's the walkway around the outside edge of the orchestra pit that also sometimes has a center bridge). I think the Final Strip and ecdysiast monologue became that much more static without having Louise be able to physically break the fourth wall and come out that much closer to the audience. It had the same effect for me with Rose's Turn. In order to keep those numbers from becoming static and not just a back and forth across the same plane situation it pushed them both further upstage, when both of those numbers need to be embracing the audience; Louise quite literally as it is a performance piece within the show, and Rose metaphorically as she is reaching out to the audience in her head that isn't really even there.

[rwlevin]

Posted: 8/11/09 at 5:00pm

I think it really depends on the show and the production. It seems to me that the whole "band on stage" trend started with the transfer of Chicago from Encores to Broadway. (yes, I realize this is not the first show that utilized this setup, but it's one of the first of the current trend, that and Rent, but I'll get to that later) The reason for this setup was mostly because that's the way it was staged at Encores and bands are always on stage for Encores. The show incorporates the band as much as possible, an entrance in the middle of the band, Amos waving his hand in front of the conductor to no effect. But the show is minimal and it works.

The same is true with the current production of Hair. The band was on the stage in the park because...well...there's no orchestra pit in the park. And the band is more or less incorporated into the scenery of the stage and is also used in certain numbers, such as when Hubert plays the piano during "my conviction." Rock of Ages is about a guy who wants to be a musician and works in a rock club ala CBGB or Cafe Wha? It wouldn't make sense not to have the band on stage.

Sometimes an orchestra is on stage due to space constraints but hidden, as was the case with She Loves Me from many years ago.

With the smaller ensembles composing orchestras now it is much more feasible to have onstage ensembles, whether they interact with the characters or not. Big shows like Les Mis or Phantom could NEVER work with an onstage orchestra. Spring Awakening I don't think could have worked with a pit orchestra. Half the idea of the show is to have everybody onstage at all times (except when their character dies) and I'd think that includes the band. Not to mention, putting the band under the stage would probably mute the edginess of the sound that resonates the theme of bitch of living. Most (not all, don't ping me on that) rock operas, now that I think about it have their bands on stage for that exact reason.

Sometimes, even if the band is in a pit, the conductor is still a part of the show and interacts with the cast, like in Curtains.

I don't know if the musicians like it. They have to be around for all the numbers and the show itself and can't take breaks or eat snacks, which was the case when they're unseen-and this I know from both experience and stories from my band directors. The aforementioned actions would be too distracting for audience members.

In the end, the choice of the band on stage has to come from the director and what kind of look and feel they want to purvey for the audience. If they want to make it more realistic, they hide the band, like in In the Heights. If the story revolves around musicians, they show the band in order to convey the message of music, like Rent or Rock of Ages. If the show is minimalist and/or avant garde, they also show the band to keep the audience from forgetting that they're watching a play.

So, in conclusion, I don't have a take on the band on stage until I see the show in question. It is then I can give my full critique. Personally, I miss the sounds of fully orchestrated pit orchestras but the fact is most musicals aren't arranged for pit orchestras anymore and to me that's sad.

[LiveUnscripted]

Posted: 8/11/09 at 9:07pm

I thought that having the band on stage in Chicago was distracting. Especially during the dance numbers, when they had the majority of the company moving around in the small space between the band and the edge of the stage, it seemed really cramped and wasn't that aesthetically pleasing. But I was also in the balcony, so I don't know if it looks better from the orchestra.

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 8/11/09 at 10:27pm

I agree that it depends on the show. In Rock of Ages, having a band onstage really works because of the concept of a musical with 80's rock songs. It works with rent because they're like a small rock band, and they don't take up too much space.

[CSonBroadway]

Posted: 8/11/09 at 10:28pm

I don't know what all of you crazies are talking about, but...

The latest Grease revival was amazing.


....INCREDIBLE!

[adamgreer]

Posted: 8/11/09 at 10:31pm

Chicago, Wonderful Town, and Gypsy all had their orchestras onstage because they were transfers of Encores productions that weren't re-staged when they went to Broadway.

I don't think this has been mentioned yet, but the Roundabout's Cabaret with the orchestra above the action was incredibly effective. Particularly at the end when the curtain went up, and they were no longer there.

[bwaybri2]

Posted: 8/12/09 at 8:33pm

humbugfoto:

Coming from a 'pit' director, I don't have a problem with the vernacular that we use on equity/non-equity road shows - thank you very much -

ask any any musician who plays for a musical and they will all tell you that we have:

pit parties
pit rehearsals
pit potlucks
we are going to run it with the 'pit' -

so it can be called many things -

"better to be thought a fool than open your mouth and remove all doubt"

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 8/12/09 at 8:38pm

I do hope the orchestra isn't on stage for Finian's Rainbow. I think the show would benefit having from the entire stage open.

[jonmbway4652]

Posted: 8/13/09 at 12:14am

i think it works very well for certain shows. i thought it worked extremely well in movin' out and chicago