where is the conductor in A chorus line?

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where is the conductor in A chorus line?

Posted: 7/17/07 at 9:30pm

After seeing a chorus line several times, I have questions on the orchestra and conductor of the show. Where are they?

Are they behind the stage? To left or right? How does the conductor perform when he or she cant see anything on stage? Is there a video camera to assist the conductor?

re: where is the conductor in A chorus line?

Posted: 7/17/07 at 10:01pm

I believe, but do not quote me on this, they are under the stage.

re: where is the conductor in A chorus line?

Posted: 7/17/07 at 10:09pm

Yes. The orchestra plays from a sound proof "bunker" in the basement of the theatre which is built much like a recording studio. The conductor can see the stage via a video monitor. But what's especially unusual (for a show this day and age) is the fact that the cast cannot see the conductor. There are no video monitors on the balcony rail for the cast to see the conductor. This is due to the fact that the reflection of the video screens in the mirrors would be distracting for the audience.

Updated On: 7/17/07 at 10:09 PM

re: where is the conductor in A chorus line?

Posted: 7/17/07 at 10:13pm

I believe the setup was the same when Brooklyn ran there a while ago.

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re: where is the conductor in A chorus line?

Posted: 7/17/07 at 10:15pm

Actually, it's not unusual at all. Many shows do not use TV monitors on the rail. Actually, at TARZAN, I learned that Natasha Katz, the lighting designer, insists on no monitors, as it changes the ambient light inside the house.

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re: where is the conductor in A chorus line?

Posted: 7/17/07 at 10:19pm

"Actually, it's not unusual at all. Many shows do not use TV monitors on the rail."

Interesting. I thought ACL would be just about the only one. Now I know better. Thanks for the info!

re: where is the conductor in A chorus line?

Posted: 7/18/07 at 12:06am

That is just so sad. That means the audience is hearing nothing but recorded music - even if it's only for a moment, it's canned. There is just nothing like a live theatre orchestra. Nothing in the world. Radiating up from the pit like a warm blanket and enveloping the audience is cool.

Piped in from speakers is fool.

If that's kosher, can canned music be that far behind?

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re: where is the conductor in A chorus line?

Posted: 7/18/07 at 12:13am

Wasn't Brooklyn's orchetra sitting upstage behind the set?

re: where is the conductor in A chorus line?

Posted: 7/18/07 at 12:13am

Allofmylife, do you understand the general concept of A Chorus Line? The music isn't canned, it's being piped in live. Why would it make sense for there to be an orchestra down in the pit below the stage where an audition was taking place?

#10

re: where is the conductor in A chorus line?

Posted: 7/18/07 at 12:16am

What are some other examples of musicals for which the actors can't see the conductor? I don't recall ever having seen that setup. (I have not seen ACL or Tarzan.) It must be very difficult for the actors.

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#11

re: where is the conductor in A chorus line?

Posted: 7/18/07 at 12:18am

allofmylife- Do you even know what you are talking about? A Chorus Line does not have an orchestra for the same reason that it does not have an intermission.

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#12

re: where is the conductor in A chorus line?

Posted: 7/18/07 at 1:09am

There is a HUGE differene between having an orchestra be piped in via another location in the theatre rather then the typical pit. Avenue Q has it's orchestra in a small room right by the stage. I know that a lot of small theatre that house musicals do this because they don't have typical pit space. In these theatres it is important of there to be a moniter because that is the only way an actor can see the musical director. A Chorus Line I can understand why they wouldn't have one. But, most shows these days do. It is not always needed due to the fact that some actors that are closer to the front of the stage can just look at the pit. But, it is harder if your let's say in a huge ensamble number and in the back.

I recall speeking to one of the cast members of the show at a benifit we were both at. She was telling me that it is not only hard for the actors on stage but hard for the people in the "pit" as well.

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#13

re: where is the conductor in A chorus line?

Posted: 7/18/07 at 5:36am

Someone i know who toured in the first UK production told me that when they played a theatre in Darlington the orchestra were in a function room above a bar next door to the theatre at the back . With all the extra wireing etc the first performance there was 1hr late going up.

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#14

re: where is the conductor in A chorus line?

Posted: 7/18/07 at 9:37am

EDIT: Double Post

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Updated On: 7/18/07 at 09:37 AM

#15

re: where is the conductor in A chorus line?

Posted: 7/18/07 at 9:37am

When I saw CATS last month in Japan in CATS Theatre, since there's no orchestra pit, they put a tiny little light on the balcony, and a green light flashed for every first beat, and the red light flashed for all the other beats, and they only had it working only when they NEED the conductor's cues. (like fermata, rests, and long notes that are held) Once a song got going and established a rhythm, the lights stopped blinking.

I thought it was pretty clever of them.

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#16

re: where is the conductor in A chorus line?

Posted: 7/18/07 at 9:39am

A lot of the older theaters don't have the monitors. The conductors still use one hand to conduct the musicians, the other to conduct the singers.

#17

re: where is the conductor in A chorus line?

Posted: 7/18/07 at 9:40am

Do you suppose the cut dancers sing the rest of their stuff with the pit band down there? I mean it would help because the conductor could direct SOMEONE during the big ensemble numbers, and everyone on stage can just follow...

#18

re: where is the conductor in A chorus line?

Posted: 7/18/07 at 9:43am

No the rest of the cast sings backstage. The have a microphone right in the wings.

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