Broadway's Orchestra Musicians
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roadway theatre emerged in the 1860s in response to London’s West End. It began consolidating in Manhattan’s Times Square when many theaters were built there in the 1920s. In 1927, Show Boat pioneered the dramatic Bintegration of dialogue, musical score, and choreographed movement. Rodgers and Hammerstein’s blockbuster Oklahoma! kicked off the golden age in 1943, running for 2,212 performances. In recent years, Broadway theatre has attained new commercial heights. According to The Broadway League, the 2018–2019 season grossed $1.83 billion and attracted 14.77 million patrons, one-third locals and two-thirds tourists. Broadway productions support 87,100 local jobs, including singers, musicians, music directors, and arrangers. Six such music professionals have interviewed with The Society of Composers & Lyricists. Their Broadway careers illuminate the expertise, dedication, and collaboration that sustain this classic form of American entertainment. at minimum, amounting to 24 shows available MUSIC one at a time. John has witnessed major shifts BROADWAY’S ORCHESTRA during his career, such as when the union COORDINATOR began allowing players to take up to half of JOHN MILLER all performances off, while still protecting MUSICIANS their positions. As a result, many musicians involved with outside commitments began to Music coordinator John Miller has assembled view Broadway jobs as an attractive option. BY TAREQ ABUISSA the orchestras for some 140 Broadway shows, starting with Barnum in 1980. The key first Anytime a player takes off a show, of course, information a new production will share is a capable substitute will cover their part. The its instrumentation. From there, the music union requires five subs’ names on file per coordinator will be responsible for calling the chair, approved in advance by the conductor. musicians perfect for that show. Discussions John’s experience has led him to take this ensue within the music department, amongst practice yet a step further: he asks for an the show’s conductor, arranger, dance indication of how close each sub is located to arranger, and choreographer. A producer the theatre! With conflicts routinely arising will then expect the music coordinator (or throughout the run, sometimes on only hours’ alternately, contractor) to solve all problems notice, this system helps him make the right that arise independently, within union call the first time. parameters, and hopefully, cost-effectively. What is the highest note the lead trumpet plays?’ And the personality of who the Today’s Broadway pit orchestras are leaner Broadway teams carry vested interests in who conductor is, and which people would really than those of decades past. The average their musicians are. Everyone has a name to work well with that conductor.” number of chairs has dropped roughly in pitch, and players don’t actually audition for half—perhaps from 25 to 12. Producers must these orchestras. John keeps an open mind, Once the players have been selected, their keep weekly operation budgets economical without ever falling back on go-to lists, and contracts will be regulated by the union, while closely adhering to union regulations. carefully assesses each show’s particular needs: much akin to the Actors’ Equity Association. The Local 802 AFM strengthens musicians’ The American Federation of Musicians Local contracts by guaranteeing orchestra “I’m really relentless with the orchestrators. 802 AFM establishes standard pay rates, “minimums,” aiming to resist trends toward If they say, ‘We need someone who can play hours, overtime, and benefits for Broadway using virtual orchestras, prerecorded tracks, flute, clarinet, saxophone, oboe,’ I say, ‘Which orchestra musicians. Further, each player is or production loops. The exact number in has the most priority right now? Is it the flute? obliged to take three weeks’ annual vacation each pit depends on the size of the Broadway 36 I SUMMER 2019 2020 SPRING I 37 theatre. However, exceptions can be granted number. In the 1998 revival of Cabaret, she of deliberate clarity. Composers interested in Broadway orchestra rehearsals are intensive, These days, Rick might know up to a Philip emphasizes the importance of the in special cases, such as a musical clearly based played clarinet, alto/tenor saxophone, and writing for theatre would do well to consider albeit within a limited time frame. In Rick’s year in advance when a new musical is subbing network to get on the radar of other on a rock quartet. keyboards. And in the 2006 production of this musician’s ideal working relationship: experience, the orchestra might convene for on the horizon. He considers how to best players and music contractors. In Philip’s case, Company, more instruments still: oboe, flute, three days of dedicated six-hour rehearsals, accommodate the needs of the conductor and new to the city, he approached a violinist A studio bassist with stunning credits of his clarinet, saxophone, piano, trumpet, and tuba. “I very much appreciate guidance, and people culminating in the cast collectively joining music contractor, touching base with them colleague who had a gig on Broadway. He own, John considers himself no different than She played accordion while singing in the saying, ‘This is what I feel for what I’ve to sing through the sitzprobe. Being in the months in advance: made a modest request for advice...and was the musicians he contracts. He is empathic 2016 production of Natasha, Pierre & the Great written.’ I more often than not prefer when same room as the singers is a highlight of invited to sub on that very show the following to their pursuit of freelance work—new Comet of 1812, and has additionally appeared people just tell me what they really want. the production process for Rick, especially “Are there any people you want to hear that week! Philip was handed the sheet music and established players alike. With only in War Horse, Billy Elliot, Sweeney Todd, and What’s the intention that you’re looking for, when he spots familiar faces and gets a I haven’t sent in to sub for me yet? How can and recalls a “ballistic” learning process. He 38 Broadway musicals running last season, Victor/Victoria on Broadway. and how can I make that come to fruition for chance to reconnect. Once the group moves I make this transition as easy as possible for continued finding substitute work with the decisions must be made. But John cherishes you?” into the theatre, there are usually two early everybody?” show, not only for that violinist, but even on the privilege of giving deserving work to Theatre director John Doyle propelled the mornings of seating setup and sound checks. other string chairs. deserving musicians, often culminating in actor-musician paradigm into the spotlight Technical rehearsals follow, allowing fuller moments of pure musical awe: in England before also introducing it to run-throughs in the house. And finally, only VIOLINIST Subbing in an unfamiliar Broadway chair Broadway. His productions of Sweeney Todd previews remain before the production’s is demanding and dynamic—Philip likens it “The part that’s really beautiful is and Company did away with supporting opening night. PHILIP PAYTON to jumping onto a moving train. The band when you make this call, and you have bands altogether, showcasing an ensemble and its conductor have already run the show this idea of how great this is going to of actor-musicians on stunning, reduced The woodwind demands for some shows have so repeatedly, nuances develop that can sound, and then you hear them play orchestrations. Katrina first encountered this been so unusual that they required skillful be intangible to notate. To help close the for the very first time. It’s a pretty pioneering director in a series of auditions for reconsideration and negotiation. One score gap, Philip might be invited into an earlier emotional thing for me, knowing the 2006’s Company. As usual, she played her own originally called for an oboe d’amore, but Rick performance to “watch the book,” sitting process of the names written on a accompaniment while singing—and in this talked the orchestrators out of it. Not only did next to the player on the target instrument yellow pad. The whole is far greater case, rolled in with a cart full of instruments he not own an instrument, he didn’t know any to observe. Once, while Philip was subbing than the sum of the parts—something and baffled Mr. Doyle by playing them all. doublers that did. Simply as a practical concern, on viola for Spring Awakening, another string really spectacular happens.” The two have become close collaborators on finding subs would have been impossible. In player desperately needed an unusual double: Broadway productions, tours, and workshops, another instance, Rick was able to pull off a violin and electric guitar. Philip was no finding a formidable foil in each other’s feat of reed engineering for the 2002 Broadway Hendrix, but agreed to try his best: ACTOR- talents. Katrina loves playing in these actor- revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Flower musician shows, and has made it known she’ll Drum Song. The team wanted Rick to play a “I learned guitar for around six songs, with all MUSICIAN be on board for anything he asks her to do. kind of Chinese oboe, and even bought him these pedals and all this stuff, and violin was one. But when Rick sat down to play the the rest of it. That was the most stressful week KATRINA When Katrina rehearses with a cast of instrument, he quickly realized: of my life, probably. Once I started doing that, musicians and singers, she says, every day is in a given week, it could be four different YAUKEY a sitzprobe.