Emma Forgione is an arts and entertainment journalist. She was previously a reporter for American Theatre magazine. She holds a master’s in journalism from Columbia University and a bachelor’s in directing from Muhlenberg College. She is passionate about highlighting the technical artists who work across Broadway stages and Hollywood film sets. She is also a playwright and lyricist whose work has been featured at 54 Below, Pershing Square Signature Center, NYMF, New Musicals Inc., and as a part of the Johnny Mercer Songwriters Project.
Behind the Scenes and Screens of a Broadway Conductor
April 13, 2026
April 13, 2026
A key staple of going to a Broadway show is acknowledging the tuxedo-clad figure at the helm of the stage, waving fervently to signal a crescendo, a ritardando, or a rest. The presence of the conductor reminds us that the instruments we hear in musicals are, well, live, and not pre-recorded karaoke tracks.
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