Play Suggestions: Pit on stage-

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Pit on stage-

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Play Suggestions
Forum Discription: Need help finding a show that's right for your theater? Ask here.
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2708
Printed Date: 4/21/25 at 12:06pm
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Topic: Pit on stage-

Posted By: charlz
Subject: Pit on stage-
Date Posted: 10/03/07 at 8:13am

Does anyone have any suggest for musicals where the pit or a small "featured" pit, could actually play on stage as part of the show? We have some exceptional musicians at our school this year and my musical director and I were hoping to find a way to do something unique to feature them.

Thanks,
Chuck

Replies:

Posted By: Lazy Bee
Date Posted: 10/03/07 at 9:21am

The obvious one is Cabaret.

There is also http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk/cgi-bin/Search_Results.asp?iAR=5&iSc=134&sTh=%5BAny%5D - Big Shot , which as a "house band" on stage. (Downside, male-heavy cast.)

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Stuart
Lazy Bee Scripts
http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk - http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk read complete play scripts on-line

Posted By: Linda S
Date Posted: 10/03/07 at 9:46am

1940's Radio Hour.(They are costumed, and interact with the cast. ) This would be my first choice. Great standards and places for individual solos and band breaks. There is also one character who moves between the pit and the cast.

Tick, Tick, Boom , (They have a few lines, and interact with the cast. )

Grand Night For Singing. (Have a few lines.)

Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 10/03/07 at 10:07am

'FAME'.
It;s all about musicains & performing arts school.

I was going to sugest 'Man of La Mancha', when I did the Aussie Tour, we had a 21 piece orchestra on SR behind a black scrin.
When Cervantes reverted to Quixote, the lights would transpose & the orchestra became visable.
But that is not really featuring muso's as such.

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Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}

Posted By: MartyW
Date Posted: 10/03/07 at 10:15am

Godspell.... Pump Boys and Dinettes...

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Marty W

"Till next we trod the boards.."

Posted By: Dough Boy
Date Posted: 10/03/07 at 10:30am

The Buddy Holly Story.

Posted By: Maus
Date Posted: 10/03/07 at 11:57am

Anything Goes. The band also has a line in the final scene.

Posted By: Topper
Date Posted: 10/03/07 at 2:02pm

Brendan Behan's "The Hostage"
The band is part of the brothel's entertainment.

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"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone

Posted By: Kathy S
Date Posted: 10/03/07 at 10:20pm

There is a western show called "Roadside" by Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones (The Fantasticks) that has some pretty music, good story and a band on stage. I have only read it and heard the CD, but it sounds good to me.

Posted By: charlz
Date Posted: 10/04/07 at 8:56am

All great suggestions. Thanks everyone!

Posted By: pdavis69
Date Posted: 10/04/07 at 5:41pm

A show that has interaction and could be on stage would be Best Little whorehouse in Texas. Although might not be the best bet for a school

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Patrick L. Davis
Fort Findlay Playhouse

Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 10/04/07 at 8:40pm

"Song of Singapore" - entire 1940's Nightclub Band is onstage.

Great staging - wonderful songs - terrific opportunity for the set designer!

Musical

Book by Alan Katz with Erik Frandsen, Robert Hipkens, Michael Garin and Paula Lockheart. Music and Lyrics by Erik Frandsen, Robert Hipkens, Michael Garin and Paula Lockheart.

8 m., 2 f.

With the Off Broadway popularity of this zany recreation of a seedy bar in Singapore, circa 1941, environmental theatre has come of age. When patrons enter, they are transported to those heady days when the band played on while the Japanese invaders approached. The story is a daft parody of old movies that is full of intrigue: fishy stolen jewels, a torch singer whose lost memory holds the key to one of the century's greatest mysteries, a sinister dragon lady, corrupt police, and nonstop funny business. Throughout, the music is hot and the cast never hesitates to reach for a laugh. Whether produced as a hilarious cabaret or a lively piece of audience participation theatre, Song of Singapore is an uproarious hit.

"A madcap audience involving frolic."--- N.Y. Times.

"The music couldn't be better."---Variety.

"Pastiche, parody, and put on---and a good deal of fun."---N.Y. Magazine.

"A gorgeous spectacle.... Theatergoers of the world, delight."-- Time Magazine.

"Has been attracting packed houses ... and rave reviews from virtually every major critic."-- Chicago Tribune.

Terms quoted on application.

Music available on rental

Standard rental package includes:
Piano/Conductor’s Score
Piano II
Reeds
Trumpet/Dobra
Trombone
Guitar
Bass
Drums

Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 10/06/07 at 4:33am

'By Jeeves' has a 3 piece band on stage, it is an improvise Pohmy {British] farce with music. With BBC style 'Kensington gore' accents.
Which might not be your teabag, although the sets & props are improvised as well.

-------------
Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}

Posted By: tblan
Date Posted: 10/21/07 at 12:30am

The Who's "Tommy" is another good one to add to this list.

Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 10/21/07 at 3:38pm

oh - and Pump Boys and Dinettes

Posted By: Linda S
Date Posted: 10/21/07 at 3:56pm

. . .and Swingtime Canteen".

Posted By: drose
Date Posted: 10/21/07 at 6:22pm

Chicago also is wonderful with a band onstage, but the content might not be appropriate for your needs.

Posted By: theatremonkey
Date Posted: 6/04/08 at 2:40pm

when i did youre a good man charlie brown schroeder played the piano, saxophone was in the doghouse, and the other insruments were spread out at the back of the stage it looked great

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theatre monkey

Posted By: spikesgirl
Date Posted: 6/06/08 at 10:08am

Nunsensations!, Chess, Joseph..., Caberet..all good choices for on stage bands.

Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 6/07/08 at 2:42am

For a Musical Farce, with a 3 piece band on stage. You could look at 'By Jeeves' [Music by Laird Andy L' Webber & words by Alan Acykbourn]

http://www.reallyuseful.com/rug/shows/byjeeves/ - http://www.reallyuseful.com/rug/shows/byjeeves/

Nearly all the set pieces are improvised, along with the typical 5 or 6 doors, that seem to be always mandatory in a Farce.

However one may have to brush up, on the 'toffee Nosed Pohmy' accents.

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[western] Gondawandaland
"Hear the light & see the sound!
TOI TOI CHOOKAS
{may you always play to a full house!}

Posted By: whitebat
Date Posted: 8/21/08 at 7:38pm

I've seen "Man of La Mancha" and "Pirates of Penzance" with orchestra onstage. For "Pirates" they built a backless "ship" and had the musicians wear pirate gear. Something like that might work with various large cast musicals. They actually did it because the theater had no orchestra pit!

Posted By: Kathy S
Date Posted: 8/22/08 at 2:53am

Is anyone familiar with the musical, "Sugar" based on Some Like It Hot? There would be an onstage, "all girl" band in that.

Posted By: Linda S
Date Posted: 8/22/08 at 9:06am

I have seen it. A good idea that fell short of the movie.

Linda