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

[Emile Damico <oatss_oatflakes@xxxxxxxxx>]

I've done four productions of "Big River".
In the first one the producer said my advice to you
is always be on time. He said, "I knew this great guitar player Jimmy Bruno who was playing in a
show in LA except he was always late". He didn't know
I knew Jimmy and that he had moved back to 
philly. I told him jimmy was back and he said,
have him give me a call I'll get him tickets to the show. LOL

Don't forget the bass harmonica part. !!!

The pit orchestra only rehearsed once, but the
River Rats on stage players went to a few rehearsals for stage blocking.

Emile


On Monday, April 7, 2014 12:33 AM, Richard Trafford-Owen <richard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
 
A couple of years ago I was part of an original theatre piece that was primarily a solo performance, but with band. There was a lot of engagement with the band. I was in the band and had quite a few lines in addition to playing. It was a lot of fun and we were awarded best of San Francisco fringe, which was a huge honour.

The biggest difference between acting and being in a band for me was the importance of consistency. Not hitting marks throws off all the other performers.


> On Apr 6, 2014, at 12:03 AM, Robert Hale <robert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 
> 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!)
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>