Klarinet Archive - Posting 000819.txt from 2001/02

From: Richard Bush <rbushidioglot@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] In memoriam: Another local musical theater folds
Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2001 18:02:54 -0500

Dear Bill,

I realize your pain. Producing musicals with a "live pit" is a very
expensive proposition. I know because I do woodwind doubling. I have seen
fewer venues remain viable and pit size shrink inversely proportion to
synthesized sounds replacing real instrument sounds and sectional synergy
coming from sections. It seems the first thing to go is the string section,
possibly the harp before that.

Unfortunately, much of the general public can't tell the difference.

Hope something will come up with some rising sun. In the mean time, learn
piano.

Yours Truly,

Richard Bush

William Wright wrote:

> There's nothing new about such deaths, but I would like to observe
> that one of our local groups had to fold because it couldn't compete
> with large touring shows. This means one less artistic outlet for
> local citizens, some of whom earned a substantial part of their living
> performing here.
>
> This particular group mounted large Broadway-style shows such as
> Man of La Mancha and Fiddler On The Roof and an occasional large show
> written locally, with full sets and orchestras and casts. The bottom
> line was that it costs too much to create performances of this size that
> must be disassembled and discarded after a few weeks, whereas as a
> touring group can recoup the investment by travelling far and wide. So
> the group has given up on performing, and it has changed itself into a
> booking agency for large touring shows such as Stomp and Chicago and a
> spin-off of Cirque du Soleil and so forth.
>
> ....oh well, we still have a symphony orchestra and a grand opera.
> But the Grand Opera is none too healthy financially either, and the
> symphony orchestra hires mostly 'big city' types who come to our town
> for a night or two and then go back home.
>
> ....that's life
>
> Cheers (a bit sadly today),
> Bill
>
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