Movin' Out (although suspended above the stage for much of it.) Spring Awakening Chicago
Lots of them.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
Lots and lots of shows, but off the top of my head:
Cabaret Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson The most recent La Cage revival Jersey Boys Urinetown Rock of Ages Swing! Fosse (at least for the finale) All Forbidden Broadway shows (although it's just a piano)
I am really torn on having the orchestra onstage. I feel like there needs to be a reason for it to be onstage. Having an onstage orchestra for Catch Me If You Can was probably one of the worst decisions ever. It slowed the show (a show about a CHASE) to a snail pace. Plus it looked like the orchestra was in an oversized laundry basket.
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
Broadwayphreak, I think the orchestra onstage for CMIYC made sense because the format of the TV variety show calls for it-much the same way Spring Awakening, where the songs are supposed have a concert feel, and Cabaret, which is, well, a cabaret, use musicians onstage. :)
I'm not saying they were the first, but in their day (1960s/70s), NO STRINGS and I LOVE MY WIFE were famous for not only putting the musicians on stage, but for using them as part of the staging and action.
And of course, FOLLIES calls for an on-stage "party band" that plays as well as the unseen orchestra.
In memphis did they have two different orchestra platforms? In the club it was just the basic five piece then during the finale it was a full orchestra. Do you know if they have two different orchestras?
Slightly related question. When did Broadway orchestras get so small? Specifically, when did the minimum musicians in a Broadway show get whittled down from the beautiful Golden Age era orchestrations to 8 people?
Someone I met insists it's the fault of the trend of putting orchestras onstage but none of these examples comes before the 1990s and I can't imagine the musicians union let it happen that quickly.
Like a firework unexploded
Wanting life but never
knowing how
The Last Five Years revival this year had the orchestra onstage, and the tour of Chess that came through Toronto 2 years ago had the actors also playing instruments onstage.
"Slightly related question. When did Broadway orchestras get so small? Specifically, when did the minimum musicians in a Broadway show get whittled down from the beautiful Golden Age era orchestrations to 8 people?
Someone I met insists it's the fault of the trend of putting orchestras onstage but none of these examples comes before the 1990s and I can't imagine the musicians union let it happen that quickly."
I couldn't say an exact year, but it was a fairly steady decline through the 70s and 80s as some shows began adopting a more contemporary sound and thus needed smaller orchestras (you don't need a huge string section for a show that has a rock influenced score, for example). The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas famously battled AFM over the orchestra minimums since their country style band employed less than was required at their theatre. They ended up having to pay those extra people who were not playing, and required those people to show up and sit at the theatre to earn those checks.
Along with the rise in the contemporary sound you also had the rise in electronic instruments, especially synthesizers, giving the impression that certain instrument sections could be reduced or eliminated completely in order to save money, and, to a lesser extent, space.
I would definitely disagree that it was a result of shows trying to put the orchestras onstage.