 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: DougR
Date: 2006-06-13 13:11
If anyone caught the Tonys Sunday night, you heard a live (LIVE!) orchestra, playing (apparently effortlessly, with split-second precision and spot-on intonation) material all over the stylistic map from umpteen current Broadway hit musicals, plus tons of incidental music. The reed section alone covered legit ensemble as well as big-band stuff, plus some really tasty rock tenor.
I'm curious about who was in the orchestra, and how the reed books were split up, & thought I'd post the question, since some regular BB contributors (ahem, Mr. Moses?) might have actually played the show.
It was the kind of musical performance (quite apart from what was happening on stage) that makes you want to shed, shed, shed with the hope that someday..........
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2006-06-13 13:50
Hi DougR:
"I'm curious about who was in the orchestra, and how the reed books were split up, & thought I'd post the question, since some regular BB contributors (ahem, Mr. Moses?) might have actually played the show."
The band did sound great on Sunday night at the TONYs.
The Reed section did not include me this year, I'm busy at WICKED.
They were:
Alto 1: Lawrence Feldman
Alto 2: Eddie Salkin
Tenor 1: Lou Marini, Jr.
Tenor 2: Dennis Anderson
Bari : Ron Janelli
All great NYC Local 802 AFM freelancers and Broadway musicians.
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
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Author: DougR
Date: 2006-06-14 01:39
Thanks, John!
they were just astonishing. I'm really glad to know who was who.
doug R
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2006-06-14 14:48
"Who were the on stage musicians for Sweeney Todd?"
You can check the 2005-2006 SWEENEY TODD website for the names of the actors in this most recent revival of SWEENEY. All the actors in this new production "play" instrument on stage. They are not "stage musicians", they are actor/musicians, and have been used to replace the usual pit musicians which are in most Broadway shows.
In our original 1979 production of SWEENEY TODD, there were 25+ MUSICIANS in the pit, none on stage. Actors such as: Len Cariou and Angela Lansbury played the leading roles, and did not play any instruments.
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2006-06-14 18:27
John, if you don't mind my asking, in the new production did the actors actually play their instruments, or were they doing the Milli Vanilli thing and 'lip-synching' to a recorded band? If they were actually playing, how would you say they did?
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Author: DressedToKill
Date: 2006-06-14 19:02
They were actually playing. I've seen the show several times, and my friend Donna Lynne is in the cast. (She plays Pirelli, and is the flutist. She studied flute, voice, and piano at Eastman before studying theatre at Carnegie Mellon.) Manoel (Toby) is also an extremely gifted violinist, having been playing since the age of five...
Some are better than others, but they all do a very respectable job of playing their instruments.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2006-06-14 20:01
Thanks, D_T_K_. I wonder if the actors/musicians were represented by Actor's Equity or the AFM, or both, and did they get any 'doubling fees' for both acting and performing as musicians? Dumb questions, perhaps, but I'll bet their contract negotiations were interesting! Still, it seems like a somewhat underhanded way of once again depriving professional musicians of their livelihood.
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2006-06-15 04:59
"Still, it seems like a somewhat underhanded way of once again depriving professional musicians of their livelihood."
Thanks, David, you're exactly right!
The actors/musicians did replace a normal Broadway pit orchestra in the current SWEENEY production, and it was a move to save money. The actors were advised to join Local 802, as they were already members of Actor's Equity. They are being paid as actors, with some additional pay for "performing" on their instruments.
BTW:
Patti Lupone is listed in our Union book as a TUBA player, just in case your local group needs one...!
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
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Author: Max S-D
Date: 2006-06-15 18:01
Is that Lou Marini who played in the Blues Brothers band/Saturday Night Live?
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2006-06-16 00:24
"Is that Lou Marini who played in the Blues Brothers band/Saturday Night Live?"
Yes, Max S-D, the very same guy. He's based here in NYC, but does lots of gigs on the road with the big stars. He's a great studio player, and when he plays with us at the NY Pops, it's a real treat...!
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
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