Easier orchestration for high school

[DramaSarge]

Hi all.
I am looking for a musical that will be easy for a smaller high school pit. We've done Seussical and The Addams Family since I've started there. The band director is looking to do something less stressful for the pit kids. We had The Music Man on the docket, but she just said she looked at it and it is hard. Any ideas? Preferably something with a minimum of strings...we don't have any.
Much appreciation!

[SomethingPeculiar]

These are the most-produced high school shows in the past year.

Most musicals could be done with piano, bass, and drums, or with a combo of 5-8 musicians. You may also be able to find adult musicians in your community who are willing to play for a free or reduced rate.

Every high school in America has done Music Man (and most have had student bands)... maybe your band kids need a challenge to wake them up!

[musicals1989]

Orchestrations are not modified for licensing. What you get is what was done on Broadway (sometimes, you’ll get a reduced version, but those are often harder because they are playing more).

Find some ringers to play with the kids.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

There are some really good pre-recorded orchestra tracks for many MTI shows if you get desperate.

[Alex Kulak2]

Beauty and the Beast has a smaller orchestration package. Piano, Synth, Woodwinds, Trumpet, Horn, Violin, Cello, Bass and Percussion.

I don't know how large a cast you need, but The Fantasticks just needs a piano.

[Call_me_jorge]

My high school production of Hairspray had a pretty small orchestra

[broadwayguy2]

I will refrain from a list of musicals, because that could get endless, BUT as stated above, digital music systems can be rented for many shows that can be used to fill out instruments that you lack or parts that are too complex. Many shows have woodwind books that require a player to man 3 or more instruments, but that is easy enough to put a separate student on each instrument. Those two things in concert can simply the task AND pit size without compromising sound. A number of shows also offer a Keyboard part that can be used to replace the strings (Wizard of Oz, Crazy for You, Carousel, among others)

Some shows do offer several licensed orchestrations - Beauty and the Beast and Little Shop of Horrors come to mind, numerous shows from Rodgers and Hammerstein Library - Carousel has two full orchestrations - have alternate orchestrations and two piano reductions... Oklahoma! even has a stringless bandstration available.

Do not be afraid of the licensed orchestrations. Look at the tools offered by the licensing houses that can help you... everything from preprogrammed keyboard patches to digital musical systems.

If you really get into a bind, themtpit.com offers quality prerecorded tracks for a number of shows as well.

Whatever you do, do not resort to simply playing the piano from the vocal book. It may be accurate to measure count, but it is not designed to reflect the orchestration of the show.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Beware those stringless bandstrations for Golden Age musicals!!! I can’t speak for Oklahoma specifically, but for other shows they’re poorly arranged and don’t sound great if you’re not using the full 25-30 players. (Brigadoon is particularly bad.) And they’re weirdly sax-heavy to make up for lack of strings. If you’re reducing an orchestration, it’s usually better to start with the original orchestration and have the piano cover the strings.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Also: Your questions will be better answered in the Theatre Music Directors FB forum, where 7,000 musicians ranging from Broadway pros to high school teachers would be glad to give you tips.

[dramamama611]

Ive never had my music people tell me a show is too difficult for them to tackle with hs musicians. We do, however, hire 2 or 3 local professionals each year to fill in. Its not actually very expensive- we pay 50/rehearsal, and 75/performance. Since they are professionals, they usually only come to our two dress rehearsals.