Which shows have conductors only

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 5/16/17 at 12:41pm

What shows on Broadway have conductors where that's their only job and they don't have to play a keyboard or piano? 

[10086Sundays]

Posted: 5/16/17 at 12:57pm

Sunset Blvd.  Although that's a special case due to the size of the orchestra.

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 5/16/17 at 12:59pm

Don't a lot of them?

[Lot666]

Posted: 5/16/17 at 1:11pm

To be clear, are you suggesting that it's common for conductors to also play an instrument? The only time I can recall ever seeing a conductor functioning also as a member of the orchestra/band was in The Great Comet.

[Willie4316]

Posted: 5/16/17 at 1:12pm

Lot666 said: "To be clear, are you suggesting that it's common for conductors to also play an instrument? The only time I can recall ever seeing a conductor functioning also as a member of the orchestra/band was in The Great Comet."

Perhaps I'm wrong, I also thought I saw a conductor playing for Book of Mormon and DEH

[AC126748]

Posted: 5/16/17 at 1:14pm

It's quite common on Broadway for conductors to also play an instrument, usually keyboard or piano.

Off the top of my head, these are the shows right now where the conductor does not double as a musician: Hello Dolly, War Paint, Wicked, Miss Saigon

[trpguyy]

Posted: 5/16/17 at 1:22pm

Off the top of my head, these shows have "stick conductors," (not conducting from the keyboard).

Cats

Phantom

Sunset Blvd

Wicked

Miss Saigon

Aladdin

Lion King

Hello Dolly

[Lot666]

Posted: 5/16/17 at 1:22pm

AC126748 said: "It's quite common on Broadway for conductors to also play an instrument, usually keyboard or piano.

Off the top of my head, these are the shows right now where the conductor does not double as a musician: Hello Dolly, War Paint, Wicked, Miss Saigon"

If I'm not mistaken, you can add the conductor for Phantom of the Opera to the list as well.

[Justin D]

Posted: 5/16/17 at 1:30pm

Add Kinky Boots and Manna Mia to the list of keyboard playing conductors

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/16/17 at 1:32pm

Conductors who play keyboards are called Musical Directors.

CHICAGO doesn't have a Conductor but a Musical Director as they are behind the piano while conducting the orchestra.  

[trpguyy]

Posted: 5/16/17 at 1:38pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "Conductors who play keyboards are called Musical Directors.

CHICAGO doesn't have a Conductor but a Musical Director as they are behind the piano while conducting the orchestra.  "

That's not correct. "Conductor" and "Music(al) Director" are titles that have nothing to do with a piano or a baton. The Conductor (capitalized) is typically the person who most often conducts the show (usually the Music Director). The conductor (lowercase) is whoever happens to be conducting that particular performance, whether it be from behind a keyboard or standing on a podium holding a baton. Most of the time, the Music Director is the conductor. Sometimes, the Associate Music Director is the conductor, or it could even be an outside sub.

 

Edit: For example, Kristen Blodgette is credited as the Musical Supervisor, Musical Director, and Conductor for Sunset Boulevard, and she conducts on a podium with a baton. On Cats, she is credited as both the Music Supervisor and Musical Director, but William Waldrop is the Associate Musical Director and Conductor.

Updated On: 5/16/17 at 01:38 PM

[Lot666]

Posted: 5/16/17 at 1:49pm

PThespian - I just PM'd you a question.

Updated On: 5/16/17 at 01:49 PM

[trpguyy]

Posted: 5/16/17 at 1:55pm

To my knowledge, Leslie Stifleman is the Music Director and Conductor on Chicago, which is conducted with a baton (not from a piano). She was the original pianist for the revival and has been with the show off and on (mostly on) since 1996.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 5/16/17 at 2:02pm

Legally Blonde and Spring Awakening (the original, no clue about the revival) both had conductors that also played the keyboard/piano. 

[trpguyy]

Posted: 5/16/17 at 2:10pm

adamgreer said: "Legally Blonde and Spring Awakening (the original, no clue about the revival) both had conductors that also played the keyboard/piano. "

Sean Grandillo (Bassist/Voice of Otto) was also credited with the title of Conductor for the Spring Awakening revival, quite possibly the youngest Conductor ever on Broadway.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 5/16/17 at 2:26pm

PThespian said: "Brody, I will take another look when I work there on Thurs. 

I work there every Thurs (when SOR is dark), every other Tues (when I'm early), and other random performances when I'm early at SOR (i.e. this past Sun mat). 

EDIT: Per the Chief Usher, who has worked the show for years, the Conductor at Chicago is not behind a piano and does not conduct during the show. "

I assume that last is a typo. Otherwise sign me up for that job.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 5/16/17 at 2:26pm

PThespian said: "Brody, I will take another look when I work there on Thurs. 

I work there every Thurs (when SOR is dark), every other Tues (when I'm early), and other random performances when I'm early at SOR (i.e. this past Sun mat). 

EDIT: Per the Chief Usher, who has worked the show for years, the Conductor at Chicago is not behind a piano and does not conduct during the show. "

I assume that last is a typo. Otherwise sign me up for that job.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 5/17/17 at 1:20am

Anastasia has a stick conductor.