Why Do Broadway Stars Lip-Sync in Macy's Parade?- Page 3

[Mooo]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 9:45pm

The Macy's Parade is actually pretty interesting to watch down by Macy's. We went there a few years ago and were surprised to see people coming out of their trailers to perform then dissapearing when they were done. I always had the impression that they marched in the parade then stopped and sang in front of Macy's. While they wait downtown for the parade to reach them (parade starts at 77th and ends at 34th) they just keep shuffling performs in front of the cameras to do their bits. Uptown (38th st. and up) it flows like a real parade with all of the stars (minus Broadway) just riding and waving. When they get to Macy's it's just like a big TV studio. That's why the parade starts to slow down about half way through if you're watching it uptown because the whole thing is being timed out for the TV cameras. Santa has to arrive exactly on time in Herald Square for the TV viewing audience.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 10:02pm

I can list several Broadway performers and shows that have used click tracks.

[AKDPerformer]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 11:03pm

Mary Poppins uses tracks throughout a lot of their dance numbers. Especially Step In Time.

[fbueller]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 1:12am

If a performer lip syncs to another person's performance(i.e., a standby lip-syncing a lead's solo), does the person who recorded the track get paid for the show?

There is a whole lot more lip-syncing than I thought!!

[roadguy]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 5:39am

neddyfrank2,

Do you know what a click track is??? There are no vocals in a click track. It's a timing/synchronizing method in music. If you ever see a conductor in a show wearing headphones, chances are, he/she is listening to a click track, which is basically an electronic/synthesized metronome.


"I can list several Broadway performers and shows that have used click tracks."

[nygrl23]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 3:48pm

"And you are correct about Phantom. Some still have the high notes "plugged" in. The score is so badly written that it is virtually impossible for anyone to sing certain high notes on certain vowels. Sir Webber does NOT know how to write for the human voice...maybe for cats or trains or dead divas..."

Lol! There's 1986 footage on that site that shall not be named of Sarah Brightman rehearsing that particular Phantom number. She's singing an octave lower the whole time.

[Eponine3]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 4:08pm

It is a "not so secret" Broadway Secret that when you see Phantom that the entire "PHANTOM OF THE OPERA" song is tracked. This is in no way a disrespect to the peformers but as someone else pointed out done due to the numerous pairs of Phantom and Christine doubles who are used to create the visual effects in that scene.

Also if you notice.. The recording is always of the Main Phantom and Christine. When the Alternate Christine goes on they still use the same track. When the tour came to my city I saw both Christines and thought it was a little jarring that when the Alternate Christine opened her mouth to sing it was clearly the 6 show Christine's voice track. That is also part of the reason why that song is orchestrated so loudly to help disguise what is really going on.

I don't get upset by it though or look at it as being cheated because it is just a neccessary evil to help create the magic of that scene.

[i_love_megan]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 5:27pm

i was in the parade so i know first hand, they lip syc because they have to they record for the parade or use a previous recording...NEVER THE CAST RECORDING but they cant all be miked because that would be ridiculous but they were actually singing to the recording as well, like the ppl in the audience would be able to hear it its complicated! and yes like i saw the cast of legally blonde and young frankenstein, as soon as they were done performing the just left with their bags for legally blonde so im guessing they jsut went home in their "home made"costumes, but young frankensteing the whole rushed out and i guess went to a trailor to change that was far from herald square because our group waited around the trailors and young frankenstein didnt go to their trailor but other than that they arrive early practice in herald swuare once or twice, then leave right after, no marching or anyhting
Updated On: 11/27/07 at 05:27 PM

[Pianist3912]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 5:30pm

That's more to not wear out the voice I think, rather than her "inability" to hit the "poor-written" song.

[theminutepast]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 9:49pm

I'm going to join in on the discussion about Phantom pre-recording. It's interesting that someone said that the London show has the full song pre-recorded. Seth Rudetsky gave a talk at my college a couple years back and said that when he played piano/keyboard in Phantom, only Christine's high note was pre-recorded. I remember him saying something about how during one performance someone played the wrong sound so instead of that note some other sound was played (can't remember what it was).

So maybe they differ it? Although, it seems unlikely that they would have such variations.