Re: [Harp-L] How Musical Theater differs from Blues gigs and jams

[The Iceman <icemanle@xxxxxxx>]

I did this production in Dearborn, Mich back in the early 90's. Semi professional production. Visionary director and open to ideas.


I pitched the idea of opening the show like this...


Dark theatre...Curtain opens to the sound of a lone harmonica. Light hits harmonica player, dressed in Huckelberry Finn's "boys" outfit - straw hat, shorts, ragged shirt, etc. as he slowly strolls from stage left to center stage improvising on the diatonic. As he hits his spot on center stage, there is a short pause, then plays the opening notes to that Intro piece. On the downbeat, all lights come on as dancers and musician flood the stage for that spirited opener, as well as orchestra joining.


It was a great mood original style opening and the director went for it, so for a week of performances, I began the production in just this fashion. 


Too much fun.


The Iceman



-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Hale <robert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: harp-L list <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sun, Apr 6, 2014 9:16 am
Subject: [Harp-L] How Musical Theater differs from Blues gigs and jams


Working Harmonica this month in a  Mesa, Arizona (Phoenix) production of
"Big River, the story of Huckleberry Finn" (11 songs by Roger Miller - Dang
me)

   1. Lotsa rehearsal! Three 3-hour weekly rehearsals preceding show open,
   plus tech-week run throughs with full cast and dialog
   2. Lots of sitting quietly and waiting for your cues. Lots.
   3. Helps to be a treble clef reader (Gotta count those measures when
   laying out!)
   4. Read it, play it correctly, and do it every night
   5. Try not to sneeze or cough (we are not in an orchestra pit, but
   visible to the audience throughout, and mic'd)
   6. Be agreeable to frequent changes right before each show -  "play
   more, play less, improvise" where there is no score to read
   7. Bring sticky tabs and pencils - Directors will add repeats or cut
   sections out of your book. Then you must erase it all when you return the
   rental books
   8. Sight read and sing tenor to a four part hymn, reinforcing the
   on-stage singers (finger-in-ear to keep the pitch - no monitors)
   9. Buy a Trump (jew's harp) in the right key, although no one else
   thinks that would matter
   10. Bring all your diatonics, because they may ask you play on a tune
   that did NOT call for harp in your score, or change the key for a singer

So yes, it's all very different, and still very fun and  challenging.
Meet lots of great new friends in cast, crew, and band/orchestra.
In Mesa theater, the pay is not stunning when looking at your hourly rate,
but you get to update your resume and and website.

If you get the opportunity, do it!
I would love to hear what others have encountered in Musical Theater.

Robert Hale
Spiral Advocate (Fanatic!)
Learn Harmonica by Webcam
Low Rates, High Success
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