Post Gazette: "When those big voices are rocking out or belting power pop ballads in 'Rent,' the unsung heroes are right there onstage with them.
Instead of a pit orchestra, 'Rent' calls for a house band, which in the case of the Pittsburgh Musical Theater production, includes Paul Thompson, who started playing with PMT 18 years ago, at age 18."
4 comments:
I've been a big fan of shows which utilize the orchestra in interesting ways, and putting them on stage with the actors does create a really interesting dynamic which emphasizes the music as directly integral to the storytelling, but (a) this article didn't really say much of anything, and (b) my director mind pops on when reading this and wonders about the actor-band relationship on stage. Especially in Rent, when the instruments used have such distinctive voices, are they being used in such a way that they push story along, and do the actors interact with the band? Is this concert, or is it life with a soundtrack? Putting the band on stage almost adds an obligation to incorporate them into the narrative, and I have certainly seen shows where the band exists in an island in the middle of the stage and the show falters more than if they were just hidden away.
I find all too often in show the band is just trapped back in some out of the way spot or in the pit. Musicians add a wonderful dimension to a show, and if they are backstage it seems to be too close to just using a recording. As everyone seems to like bringing up, in some ways showing the orchestra or band is very "Brechtian". When I saw Rent on Broadway, the band was onstage. Some of the time they just faded into the background, but most of the time they just added life to the show.
I sensed from this short article with pictures the real joyful moment in working on a musical. When musicians and actors are sharing the time through the music, that is the moment when the essence of musicals is truly sparkling.
I always enjoy watching musicians(at least the hands of conductors) along with the actors and dancers on stage. I love musicals because they are interacting to create one grand scale of artistic form. It may be only me who enjoy taking a close look at every aspect of the show such as the conductor, FOH staffs, lights and scenery other than actors, even when I am one of the audience.
If we go to see musicals, we will see at least one or more people come up to the pit to peek at musicians. Yes, the musicians are also part of the show in musicals and audience is certainly enjoying their play.
I think having the band onstage is a great idea and really is a great way to incorporate the live music elements of a musical onstage. I remember in a production of Chicago my high school but on a few years ago, we had a live band onstage, and during the show, the conductor actually got involved in the some of the action of the story. The actor/band relationship is one that I think could definitely benefit from having the band onstage and I think it would be good for both sides, as well as the audience in some cases.
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