I made it through a musical in the pit... now what?

Yesterday, I finished a run with a community theatre group up in PA that was putting on a production of The Little Mermaid. The pit coordinator had gotten a recommendation from one of my band friends, and had reached out last month. I am so glad I took the gig. It paid, not a lot… but I appreciate the honorarium regardless. I rediscovered my love for musical theatre during my time there… mainly as a musician, but also perhaps as a singer. My voice is a bit broken, but I can still do a little… maybe one day…

Playing in a pit band/orchestra is a lot different than in a conventional ensemble. There’s a lot of chaos at play with trying to keep the music with the pace of the actors on stage, as well as cuts or jumps when we have to speed things up or a scene change that takes a bit longer than we were budgeted for. This was very jarring for the first one or two times through, but eventually I got a feel for the actors’ pacing in scenes as well as started to memorize the book so that I could watch them while playing to help bring more out of their performance through my own. It’s an amazing feeling when the band and the actors really connect in a scene - it’s absolutely magical. It’s a feeling I haven’t had in a long time, and I want to feel that more.

Playing in conventional performance ensembles generally doesn’t have the same kind of magic, unless it’s a mixed performance medium like marching music. The movement and music are usually crafted together in a way to maximize general effect. This choreography is usually so rehearsed that the performers are doing it like second nature and begin to act as one organism… when that synergy clicks - that’s when a performance takes on a whole new feeling for me. I still remember music and drill from some of my more impactful experiences - like playing in front of the crowd at WVU, or when I was part of the Baltimore Ravens’ Marching Band. The emotional experience of being in front of so many people while performing, and not even having to think about my movements or the music allows me to get lost in the experience and that’s my drug. Sadly, marching is no longer a possibility for me because of my decrepit knees.

So, playing shows is the next best thing. I wish I had gotten back into it sooner. The playing is challenging and tiring, but I usually feel so happy and fulfilled afterward, that the pain doesn’t last long. I need to get more opportunities, so I can chase that high. The good thing about this addiction is it’s actually beneficial for me since it gets me out of the house, forces me to meet and work with new people, sometimes the jobs actually pay something (not a requirement, but certainly welcomed), and patrons are more likely to stop by the pit to offer compliments and congratulations than with my ususal performance opportunities.

I’ll still do bands, orchestras, and chamber groups… but I think musicals might be where I want to focus more on for the next year. I still want to plan a recital, but I have to find a good accompanist I can trust and is reasonably priced - a challenge in this economy.

Anyway, another day and another writing. I’m finding my happy a little more every day… until next time! ❤️