off stage singing

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 9:21pm

so i was just wondering... in shows like Phantom of the Opera when the ensemble sings stuff not on stage... are they in a room somewhere just singing or how does that work? are there any other shows that do it? i think Lion King is one... just curious... thanks

[morosco]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 9:26pm

Many shows use offstage vocals. Here's a backstage shot of one of the four MAMMA MIA sound booths.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 9:30pm

That would be my ideal job.

Updated On: 12/9/04 at 09:30 PM

[morosco]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 9:45pm

The original productions of PROMISES PROMISES, THE WIZ, and COMPANY all had "pit singers" to give the show a sound and style that hadn't been heard before in a live musical. PROMISES, PROMISES and COMPANY only used those singers in the pit (no onstage appearance). Other shows like A CHORUS LINE, DREAMGIRLS used otherwise idle offstage actors to sing in order to augument the singers onstage. CATS, and STARLIGHT EXPRESS also had singers that never appeared on the stage (unless they were also an understudy). I'm sure there are plenty more examples. Updated On: 12/9/04 at 09:45 PM

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 9:50pm

Yeah, I wanna be one of those singers who never appears onstage! How do I get one of those jobs?!

[morosco]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 9:52pm

"Yeah, I wanna be one of those singers who never appears onstage! How do I get one of those jobs?!"

That would be sweet wouldn't it? Come as you are, do your thing, and BOLT!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 9:54pm

Totally sweet. I would do that and still work my day job. Seriously. Anyone reading this. I am AVAILABLE!!

[wildcat]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 10:16pm

Although it can be hair raising if you are a "booth" singer and an understudy. I know of people sitting offstage eating sandwiches with their hair in curlers, humming along, and five minutes later they get thrown onstage for an injured Grizabella. And that's just the MEN!

[jmaclover]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 10:18pm

Hairspray does...

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 10:18pm

LOL, wildcat. But I don't want to be an understudy - STRICTLY a pit singer, thanks!

[Plum]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 10:21pm

I understand the sentiment. I always wanted to play in the pit orchestra, not perform on stage.

Of course, there was never a viola part in my high school musicals. But that's another story.

[Amneris]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 12:06am

brooklyn has a broom closet backstage for their pit singers hehe.. , MAMMA MIA has 4 sounds booths behind that blue backdrop as shown earlier in the thread , a lot of shows also have "pre-recorded" vocals such as hairspray which is called a sweetner. Um Saturday Nigh fever had the vocals in a sound booth down in the pit.

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 4:27am

pre-recorded vocals, eh? i've always wondered what would happen if the stage manager or whoever was in charge fu**ed up and the pre-recorded stuff didn't match.. which makes me wonder... for Beauty and the Beast... when they do the narration, is the music pre-recorded or does the orchestra play to the narration... anybody know if something like this ever happens when the pre-recorded music really messed up the show...

[Jon]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 9:03am

I believe in A CHORUS LINE, some of the dancers who are cut in the opening number become offstage singers for the rest of the show - since, apparantly, it is too hard for the folks onstage to actually sing and dance at the same time.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 9:17am

I echo Rathnait's sentiments - HOW does one audition to become an offstage voice? Anyone have a clue?

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 9:26am

If I knew, I wouldn't be sitting here!! Okay, I would. I wouldn't give up this job but I would LOOOOVE to do both!!!

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 9:38am

honey - I'd GLADLY give up my day job to sing off stage in a show (especially if I liked the show and it was a gauranteed long run)...but I'd rather be On stage, of course!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 9:41am

Well I'd be afraid to give up my day job. Took me too long to get the perfect one! But I would be so very thrilled to sing in a pit as well. I'm sure I could work something out here for Wed. mats.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 9:46am

well if you can figure out a way for ME to find the perfect day job - praise God and Hallelujah is what I'd be shouting. Not to sound negative (which I try my best not to do) but at my day job, I get taken advantage of royally - and barely even compensated for it...it gets old quick. (not unlike myself...lol)

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 9:50am

Darling, it took me 42 years to find mine. I don't have that kind of time to find one for you too!

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 9:54am

figures...selfish dyke...lol....nah - I'll find something good next year after the holidays - if this one doesn't kill me first!
Now I'm off to help decorate the office for Christmas - whoo hoo!

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 9:55am

"anybody know if something like this ever happens when the pre-recorded music really messed up the show... "

The theater I work for uses pre-recorded music and during Aladdin it just stopped in the middle of "Whole New World"
The actors playing Aladdin and Jasmine just sang a-capella through most of the song, and got a standing ovation when they finished.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 9:58am

God'll get you for that, redhot.

[wildcat]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 11:03am

When the pre-record gets out of sync with the orchestra...
There was a gruesome moment one night during the opening number of "FAME" (Australian production) when the pre-record dropped out for about eight bars then came back in again. Half the cast kept dancing to the live band while the other half tried to keep up with the click track. It's a wonder no lives were lost...

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 12:14pm

thats enough of a reason right there not to use click tracks.