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Musicals without live music?
A thread
https://thegenderlessblob.wordpress.com/2021/04/24/musicals-without-live-music/
A thread
https://thegenderlessblob.wordpress.com/2021/04/24/musicals-without-live-music/
If I were to name one industry which has suffered the most over the last year's flurry of unexpected closures and strict distancing measures, I would have to say theatre.
Theatre, already considered a somewhat dying art, saw a complete ban on performances in the march of 2020, and has barely had an opportunity to recover since.
While attempts have been made to take it online, or to hold performances outdoors, the cost of running a theatre or theatre company can barely be covered.
As the majority of the arts council's funding was invested in larger companies and theatres, many local theatres and amateur groups have been forced to close.
The Phantom of the Opera is Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1986 hit musical concerning a Soprano's obsession with a mysterious genius living in the labyrinth below the Paris Opera House.
His adaptation of the 1910 novel of the same name has achieved immense success, winning Olivier and Tony awards, and being the first production to achieve over 10,000 performances on Broadway, making it the longest-running show in Broadway history.
The Phantom of the Opera is also the third longest running show on the West End, after Les Misérables and Mousetrap, so when many heard the news of Phantom's closing, they were understandably disappointed.
In the June of 2020, Cameron Mackintosh announced that he and Lloyd Webber had made the decision to permanently close the show. This meant that the 33 year run would be officially coming to an end.
However, many speculated how 'permanent' this move would be, as Mackintosh had done a similar thing with Les Misérables on the West End, in order to replace it with the smaller touring show.
When a production runs continuously, performers from the original cast are often payed royalties for every subsequent performance in that run, whether they are performing or not.
By closing the show, Mackintosh has effectively reset this, and we have since learned that the show will be returning to the West End.
Like we have seen with Les Misérables however, it will be the smaller, touring version of the show which returns to the London stage, with limited cast and set, and perhaps most notably, a reduced orchestra.
“All 27 members were released from their contracts while Her Majesty’s Theatre was undergoing refurbishment, with hopes they might be rehired.
Now, while 14 musicians can re-audition for the show’s return on 21 July, 13 of the jobs no longer exist.” – Maddy Shaw Roberts - Classic FM:
For many, a big part of Phantom is its large orchestration. The musical itself is based upon an opera singer, and so a large pit orchestra seems fit to accompany.
Where before the pandemic the show had a 27 piece orchestra, it will return with only 14, meaning the unexpected job losses of 13 musicians.
There will be NO live Brass, Percussion Oboe or Harp on the new show, and so it will return with synthesised sounds played on a keyboard, or as pre-recorded tracks.
“The modern instrumentation… will give this timeless score the freshness of a new musical.” – Phantom of the Opera press release
Phantom did boast one of the largest orchestras on the West End, but like with many other shows, it is being reduced.
The pit at Her Majesty's Theatre on the West End has even seen an expansion over lockdown, leaving enough room for the original orchestra to fit socially-distanced. Unfortunately, that orchestra may never return.
British-based Percussion education provider PercWorks say: 'This is an extremely sad and worrying time for the West End and the industry as this move has left many of the musicians in extreme financial hardship and has raised concerns about the future of orchestras in the West…
…End.' The move has been made somewhat on the sly, with only Classic FM and iNews picking up on the move. Lloyd Webber has been hailed as theatre's saving grace headed out of Lockdowns, with his new Cinderella premiering on the 14th July.
His older productions, however, evidently don't seem to be getting the same publicity.
“ We are sad and disappointed by the move.” –
Horace Trubridge, general secretary of The Musicians’ Union
“ We are sad and disappointed by the move.” –
Horace Trubridge, general secretary of The Musicians’ Union
The musicians at Phantom have called for fans to make a noise on social media, to raise awareness of this and many other shows being reduced. While things for the industry may be looking down at the moment we can hope for a thriving theatre scene in the near future.
This thread can be read here: https://thegenderlessblob.wordpress.com/2021/04/24/musicals-without-live-music/
