I've done my share of pit orchestras

Favorite Musicals? by Kittythekatty on 2013-10-27 01:19:00 UTC Reply

As I type out this message, I am currently sitting in an orxhestra pit waiting for the songs I play in. (I play the Clarinet, B flat) What musical? Annie.

So that brings up the question. What are your favorite musicals?

My favorite? by OpinionedAngel on 2013-10-28 19:26:00 UTC Reply

Wicked, hands down.

If given the chance, I'd also like to see The Lion King, or The Book of Mormon.

The only problem is figuring out when a good time would be...
Favourite Musicals by Storme Hawk on 2013-10-28 13:30:00 UTC Reply

My two favourite musicals (both of which I've had a part in when we did them at school/college) are Grease and Pirates of Penzance, I probably prefer Pirates but Grease has a special place in my mind after I performed parts of it (including a badass Grease Lightning routine) in front of over a thousand people at the nearest theatre.
I'm gonna list a favorite musical as well as a fav opera... by Herr Wozzeck on 2013-10-27 21:50:00 UTC Reply

...mostly 'cause I've always been an opera junkie myself more than a musical theater one. Even if they are technically the same thing.

So... my favorite musical would probably be Sweeney Todd. Not only is it a really intense musical, but everything about the score is just... Oh man, I could hum that score forever. Besides, I am a bit... stringy about it. (And no, I'm not a piccolo player, 'cause I'm not piping hot.)

As for favorite opera... Hands down, Alban Berg's Wozzeck. If Sweeney Todd is intense, then Wozzeck is even more so. Wozzeck, while it might not be everyone's cup of tea (it's an incredibly dissonant work and you do have to get used to Berg's non-tonal language) it's absolute pure genius in every single way. Love it, love it, love it, and I would murder kittens if it meant I could see it live.

I'm quite the opera junkie myself... by Elcalion on 2013-11-02 02:16:00 UTC Reply

Haven't seen Wozzeck though. I'm a Wagnerian (I'm actually seeing the Ring in six weeks time!), but getting into Janacek operas as well. My great regret is not seeing Shostakovich's Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk the one time it's been staged in Australia in recent years.

It technically counts as work for me too, because my day job is designing concert halls and opera houses.

Elcalion, acoustical

Oh, you haven't lived, good sir. by Herr Wozzeck on 2013-11-02 02:51:00 UTC Reply

Here, I'll link you to a really good filmed production of Wozzeck to get you started. It's close to the stage directions, brilliantly sung, and just great all around. (The interpretation in the orchestra is a little on the clinical side, but it gets the complexities of the score across very well.) So here you go:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlHpLH0-NMU

If you're a Wagnerian, you'll probably latch on pretty quickly. Just keep in mind that you may need to get used to the harmonic language, mainly because it's a very dissonant score. You did mention Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, though, so I think you should be good for Wozzeck. (Fun anecdote: Berg oversaw a performance of Wozzeck that was staged in Leningrad in 1927. A young Shostakovich was present at that performance, and was profoundly affected. In fact, Shostakovich probably would've gone in this direction if Stalin hadn't been such a twat.)

And also, oh cool, a fellow internet Wagnerian! Unfortunately, I haven't had the opportunity to see a Wagner opera live. I got to see two of the Metropolitan Opera's broadcasts of their recent production of the Ring, though, and that was an incredible experience.

This is a hard question... by mage-of-eternal-time on 2013-10-27 18:52:00 UTC Reply

I like Wicked, Anything Goes, The Music Man, Phantom of the Opera, A Very Potter Musical (can that count?), Aieda, and Mamma Mia!. Mamma Mia! holds a special place in my heart because that was the first musical I saw.

If I could only choose one, though, I'd choose Phantom of the Opera.
Cats, which I just saw a stage performance of yesterday.(nm) (nm by Legacy on 2013-10-27 17:06:00 UTC Reply
Ooooh. :D by Cassie on 2013-10-27 09:41:00 UTC Reply

I have a few favourites, but the top ones are The Lion King (which I saw this January), Wicked (which I saw last month) and the Very Potter Musical series. :D
I've done my share of pit orchestras by Elcalion on 2013-10-27 07:52:00 UTC Reply
Hmm, let's see, I've played in pit orchestras (violin and viola; in one memorable amateur show where we couldn't get an oboe I actually played the oboe and cor anglais parts on violin/viola!)

The list, to the best of my recollection, is:
- Godspell
- The Mikado
- Aspects of Love
- Les Miserables
- Dracula Triumphant (it was a flop, which is why no-one's heard of it!)
- You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown (where in addition to violin and viola, I had to play alto recorder, tambourine and kazoo!)
- South Pacific
- The Producers
- West Side Story
- Into The Woods (I actually only just played that show last weekend!)
I may have done one or two more, but if so I've forgotten.

My favourite musicals that I've done were Les Mis, Producers and West Side Story, all for different reasons. Les Mis has the best story (Act II is so intense), Producers is just simply good fun, and West Side Story has some amazing music, possibly the best music in any musical.

Including shows that I haven't played, Wicked is a big favourite (Defying Gravity is such a great showpiece), and I'm quite a fan of Next to Normal, which I saw earlier this year when a friend was playing in it.

Elcalion, musical

Oh hey, I've done pit orchestra too! by Herr Wozzeck on 2013-10-27 21:52:00 UTC Reply

Granted, I've done more opera pit than musical theater pit, but hilariously, I did some musical theater pit as well on violin and viola, even if I can only count the number of musicals on one hand!

As a Theatre professional... by Phobos on 2013-10-27 05:52:00 UTC Reply

I have been in my fair share of musicals. "The Wizard of Oz", "Fiddler on the Roof", "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown", "Footloose", "Schoolhouse Rock Live!", "Little Shop of Horrors", and "Threepenny Opera", to name all of them. So, I do have a fondness for them.

What is my favorite, though? That is a difficult question. Let me try to break it down.

Musical I would most like to star in: "Jekyll and Hyde" I sing a mean "Confrontation" and I know I can do better than Hasselhoff.

Musical I would like to star in opposite my brother (he was the Seymore to my Audrie II in Little Shop): "Les Miserable" With him as Valjean and me as Javert. Our "Confrontation" (odd that that title keeps coming up) is formidable. Also, I am looking for any excuse to bring this look back:

Musical I just like to listen to: "Avenue Q" (NSFW) What can I say? I am a big fan of raunchy puppets. Also, I like to poke fun at Neshomeh with "What Do You Do With a BA in English?"

Other musicals I think are worth checking out:
"Aida" I saw it on-stage when I was in high school. It is a classic 'choice vs fate' story and the music is great, with a few exceptions (I'm looking at you "My Strongest Suit"). This one is overlooked most of the time, and I think that's a shame.

"Urinetown" If you are looking for ridiculous meta-humor, look no further (It starts out with a song called "Too Much Exposition"). I never got to see it, but the soundtrack spells out the story clearly enough.

"I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change" This one is a series of short scenes that explore various aspects of relationshipes; from first date to growing old together. It is often hilarious and sometimes touching. Worth a listen, if you get the chance.

"Songs for a New World" This is another series of songs without a central plot. They all revolve around the moment of decision. Do you take a stand, back down, run away, or something else?

-Phobos, who is still waiting for someone to write a leading role for a bass.