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what have you been in the pit for?

69K views 170 replies 76 participants last post by  Erik713 
#1 ·
im currently doing reed one for beauty and the beast.
its amazing. :D
 
#122 ·
Drowsy Chaperone - Conductor
Swing!- Reed 1 (soprano, alto, bari, flute)
Fame- Reed (soprano, alto, tenor, flute, clarinet)
Thoroughly Modern Millie- Reed 2 (clarinet, soprano, alto, flute)
Wizard of Oz - Reed 2? (tenor, clarinet, flute)
City Of Angels- Reed 4 (bari sax, bass clarinet) and flute from Reed 1
Cinderella - playing flute/clarinet reading from the piano score (very interesting gig, but the show lasted less than an hour)
Annie - Reed 1 (soprano, alto, flute, clarinet, piccolo)
Once On This Island - Reed 1 (picc, flute, alto flute, clarinet, soprano sax)

hopefully many more to come
 
#123 ·
Annie
Sweeney Todd
The Music Man
Brigadoon
Guys & Dolls
two original productions doubling sax/flute/keyboards.

Hoping to build up my clarinet chops and be able to get more pit work now that I'm playing regularly again.
 
#124 · (Edited)
I'm in the midst of last-minute-subbing for Bells Are Ringing; this puts me at ~~70 different titles now. Time to update the list . . .

ETA: OK, I think I'm missing a couple but the list (with helpful reminders from Bret Pimintel's excellent site) comes out to 71 titles:

1776
1940's Radio Hour
42nd Street
70 Girls, 70
Ain't Misbehavin'
Amahl and the Night Visitors
Annie
Annie Get Your Gun
Assassins
Babes in Arms
Baby
Bells Are Ringing
Brigadoon
Bye Bye Birdie
Cabaret
Camelot
Candide
Carousel
Cats
Chicago
Chocolate Soldier, The
Chorus Line, A
Cinderella
City of Angels
Company
Dames at Sea
Damn Yankees
Drowsy Chaperone, The
Evita
Fiddler On the Roof
Finnian's Rainbow
Flower Drum Song
Follies
Funny Girl
Funny Thing Happened On the Way To the Forum, A
Grand Hotel
Guys and Dolls
Gypsy
Hello Dolly
How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying
Into the Woods
King and I, The
Kismet
Kiss Me Kate
Li'l Abner
Mack and Mabel
Mame
Man of La Mancha
Meet Me in St. Louis
Merry Widow, The
Music Man, The
My Fair Lady
Nine
Oklahoma
Oliver
On the Town
Once Upon a Mattress
Pajama Game, The
Perfectly Frank
Peter Pan
Phantom
Rags
Ragtime
Show Boat
Sound of Music, The
South Pacific
Student Prince, The
Sugar
Sweeney Todd
Sweet Charity
West Side Story

A few of these were sight reading 1 performance (Brigadoon, City of Angels, Li'l Abner, Peter Pan); a bunch have been done in multiple productions. One (Company) didn't make it to opening - it was cancelled 2 nights before - but I'm still going to count it. Some were so long ago that I remember doing the show but almost no details . . . :(
 
#127 ·
I just finished a short 3 performance run of OZ....and I cheated; being the only clarinet player, I transposed the thing to alto sax. Much easier and the MD was fine with it.

I love OZ. Have done 2 productions of it. Will probably do it again sometime.
 
#126 ·
Just finished playing "9 to 5"...very fun show! two reed books: picc/flute/clar/alto and flute/clar/tenor/bari/bs clar. I just bought a new low A bari sax for this show...good thing too, there were tons of low A's! Classic bari and tenor sax parts, and some fun solos on tenor. I want to do more shows now so if anybody needs a sub or a player in the MA area I play piccolo/flute/alto flute/bass flute, soprano/alto/tenor/baritone sax, and clarinet/bass clarinet.
 
#129 ·
I haven't done THAT many pit orchestras...but since I have the "unusual assortment"...
Man of La Mancha - Bassoon, Bb Clarinet
Sweeney Todd-Bassoon
Guys & Dolls - Tenor Sax, Bb Clarinet
Anything Goes - Tenor Sax, Bb Clarinet
Titanic - Basson, Eb Contra Alto Clarinet (Reed 5)
Once Upon a Mattress - Bass Clarinet
Young Frankenstein - Bassoon, Bass Clarinet, Bari Sax, Bb Clarinet, Flute (Reed 3)

Most of these were "1 week runs"......1 orchestra rehearsal, one dress rehearsal, then the show for 3 or 4 performances. As others have stated, builds up your sight reading chops in a hurry. I got the music for Young Frankenstein 2 days before the first rehearsal. Add in some strange cuts by the music director, and I have NO time to change instruments.....kind of makes it a challenge to go from Bass Clarinet to Bari Sax in ONE BEAT.
 
#131 ·
I'm in the middle of 'Fiddler on the Roof'.
I don't know if I should be peeved or not, but our MD has taken my killer clarinet solo and is playing it on soprano sax.
He thinks it sounds better than Klezmer style clarinet.
 
#133 ·
We have the opening for Anything Goes tonight and we close tomorrow. I'm on reed 2, 3, 4 and violin 1.
I've done Oklahoma on clarinet
Little Women Reed 1
Les Miserables on the clarinet book, I think it was reed 3
Miracle on 34th Street reed 1
 
#137 ·
Lord I don't know how some of you remember all these! I can't come up with a complete list no matter how much I rack my brain. Once I was walking thru a rather nice hotel on my way to a dress rehearsal and I couldn't for the life of me remember what show I was playing. As I made my way thru the lobby, in stark contrast to the well dressed hotel patrons I noticed an older Asian gentleman strolling along in full make-up, a garter belt, bra, and fishnet stockings... then it hit me- La Cage aux Folles!
 
#139 ·
I have bigger things to worry about than having one 'killer' solo taken away, and the show has long since closed. Besides...
I'm too much of a 'professional' to walk out on a show knowing that they won't be able to find another clarinetist to play without being paid. :)
 
#141 ·
Been a while since I posted here, I'll update my list while I'm thinking about it.
World Goes Round - acted
Babes in Arms - acted as Seymour Fleming
Seussical the Musical - 1st trumpet
West Side Story - 2nd Horn
42nd Street - horn
Peter Pan - horn
All Shook Up - reed 3: Bari Sax (transposed the bass clarinet to bari sax...was only used on 2 songs I think)
South Pacific - 2nd horn
Cinderella - 1st French horn + a bit of 2nd trombone when needed...it was a very reduced pit.
White Christmas - Reed 5: Bari sax, Bb clarinet, Bass Clarinet
Gypsy - 2nd trumpet / horn (the 7 piece brass section was reduced to only three players)
Seussical the Musical - reed 5: bari, clarinet, bass clarinet (a student played bassoon)
Sweeney Todd - horn (reduced orchestration)
Aida - horn
Phantom of the Opera - 1st horn (sadly we only had one trumpet, one horn, and one trombone out of the original 9 or 10 piece brass section. We copied a bulk of the 2nd/3rd horn book into the trombone book)
Parade - horn

And in a few weeks, I can add two more shows to my list:
Fiddler on the Roof - accordion/celeste (on keyboard)
Children of Eden - horn
 
#142 ·
Annie, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Kiss Me Kate!, The King and I, Annie Get Your Gun, The Music Man, West Side Story, and South Pacific

A funny thing happened in South Pacific...the show was done in the auditorium/theater at Fredericksburg High School in Texas, and during the "Wash that Man..." number where she washes her hair on stage, she managed to flick shampoo from her hair into my eyes! Should've bought a lottery ticket after the show!
 
#147 · (Edited)
I played alto sax for the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Lot of sitting around, since we split up the reed part 3 ways.
 
#149 ·
What can I say? I love pits! I just had to reply...

2016 – Legally Blonde – piccolo, flute, oboe, cor Anglais, clarinet, alto saxophone
2016 – Little Mermaid - drums
2016 – Pippin – flute, oboe, cor Anglais, clarinet, bass clarinet
2016 – Nice Work If You Can Get It – oboe, cor Anglais, clarinet, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone
2015 – Curtains– oboe, cor Anglais
2015 – Snoopy! - drums
2015 – Beauty and the Beast – oboe, cor Anglais
2015 – Anything Goes – oboe, cor Anglais, tenor saxophone, clarinet
2015 – The Secret Garden - oboe, cor Anglais
2014 – Titanic - woodwinds
2014 – A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum – clarinet, alto saxophone
2014 – West Side Story – piccolo, flute, clarinet, tenor saxophone
2014 – Wizard of Oz – oboe, cor Anglais
2013 – Les Miserables – drums
2013 – How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying – oboe, English horn, saxophone, clarinet
2013 – Annie – oboe
2012 – Fame – drums
2012 – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – drums
2012 – Damn Yankees – reeds
2011 – Footloose – flute, clarinet, tenor saxophone
2010 – Barnum – conductor
2009 – 7 Brides for 7 Brothers – conductor
2008 – Damn Yankees – oboe, English horn, clarinet, tenor saxophone
2008 – Anything Goes – oboe, clarinet, tenor saxophone
2008 – How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying – conductor
2007 – The Secret Garden piccolo, flute, oboe
2007 – Victor Woo: Average Asian American, NYC Fringe Festival – tenor saxophone
2007 – Tarzan (sub), Richard Rogers Theater – oboe, English horn, clarinet, tenor saxophone
2007 – How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying – oboe, English horn, clarinet, alto saxophone
2007 – Falsettos – oboe, flute, clarinet, alto saxophone
2007 – How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying – piccolo, flute, clarinet, alto saxophone
2007 – A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum – clarinet, tenor saxophone
2006 – Carousel – clarinet
2006 – My Favorite Year – conductor
2005 – The Wizard of Oz – soprano and bass clarinets, alto saxophone
2005 – Wonderful Town – soprano and bass clarinets, alto and tenor saxophones
2005 – Bye Bye Birdie – clarinet, alto and tenor saxophones
2004 – 1940’s Radio Hour – clarinet, tenor saxophone, stage role
2003 – Rags – clarinet, alto and soprano saxophones
2002 – Guys and Dolls – drum set
2002 – Chicago – musical director, conductor
2001 – Iolanthe – conductor
2000 – Babes in Arms – tenor saxophone
 
#151 ·
Wow - I'd love to get back in the pit! Where can I find the books to practice from?

Or even a list of what parts are in the different books??

(and of course I have to do some general doubler's practice - if it matters, I'm good on French horn; pretty good on low saxes, bass guitar, and peckhorn; OK on euph, flugel, sarrusophone, and tuba; fair on C and alto flute; have dabbled some with bassoon and bass clarinet; no oboe, and no clarinet.)

Thanks!
 
#152 ·
The definitive source for woodwind parts is Bret Pimentel's database:https://shows.bretpimentel.com/ For individual shows, you can just go to the license holder's website and there you can find the full orchestration(s).

Clarinet will be part of just about every double* so I'd suggest working on that if you want to focus on woodwinds. If you play the low saxes well, then bass clarinet in addition.

*Just about to start rehearsals for City of Angels on Reed 4, which has fewer than 40 bars on clarinet; if it's not too exposed or critical, I might just play those parts on bass clarinet an octave up.
 
#155 ·
Cabaret (twice)
Thoroughly Modern Millie
Nunsense
Anything Goes
Wild Party (twice) - the Andrew Lippa version - rough story, great music!
How to Succeed in Business... (twice)
Evita
Sweet Charity
Meet Me in St. Louis
25th Annual Putnam County Speeling Bee (twice)
Cinderella (Rodgers and Hammerstein)
Curtains (so much fun!)
The Wiz
Hairspray
Man of La Mancha
Drowsy Chaperone (if you get the chance, play this show!)
White Christmas (twice)
Wedding Singer
Pirates of Penzance
Legally Blonde (twice)
Kiss Me Kate
1940's Radio Hour
The Full Monty
Fiddler on the Roof
The Music Man
Annie (four times and counting...)
9 to 5
Avenue Q (another "must do" show)
Les Miserables
42nd Street
The Wizard of Oz
Spamalot (insanity on the stage!)
Young Frankenstein
The Producers
Nunsense A-men
Bonnie and Clyde (a little known show. The music was great. I'd recommend playing it if you get the chance.)
Mame
The Addams Family (twice)
The Unsinkable Molly Brown
Catch Me If You Can (another fun show)
Joseph and the Amazing Tecnicolor Dreamcoat
Big Fish
All Shook Up
Heathers
Currently doing Shrek and will end the year with Cats

Played a combination of all the reed books that called for piccolo, flute, alto flute, clarinets (Bb, A, Eb, Bass), saxes (soprano to Bari). Currently learning oboe, but am definitely not show ready.

I could never take on the role of Music Director as others have - that is impressive!!

Love the pit!
 
#156 ·
It's been a while since i've posted on this, so i'll update my list (in reverse chronological order):

Shrek (2016 tour)-Reed 2 (flute/clarinet/bass clar/sop sax/tenor sax/bari sax)
Elf (2015 tour)-Reed 3 (flute/clarinet/bass clar/bari sax)
Seussical-Reed 3 (flute/clarinet/bass clar (sub for bassoon)/bari sax)
Little Shop of Horrors-Reed 1 (flute/Eb clar/Bb clar/tenor sax)
Flashdance (2014/2015 tour)-flute/clarinet/sop sax/alto sax/tenor sax
Urinetown-clarinet/bass clar/sop sax/alto sax
Crazy For You-Reed 2 (picc/flute/Eb clar/Bb clar/alto sax)
Gilligan's Island (yes unfortunately this exists...)-flute/clarinet/bass clar/tenor sax
You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown-MD/rehearsal pianist
Fame-flute/clarinet/sop sax/alto sax/tenor sax
Grey Gardens-Reed 2 (flute/clarinet/bass clar/sop sax/tenor sax)
Willy Wonka-sop sax (sub for oboe)
Threepenny Opera-Reed 2 (clarinet/tenor sax)
Beauty and the Beast-Reed 3 (flute/clarinet/bass clar)
The World Goes 'Round-flute/clarinet/sop sax/alto sax
Anything Goes-Reed 1 (flute/clarinet/alto sax)
Grease-tenor sax
Sunday In The Park w/George-split Reed 2 (clarinet/alto sax)
Footloose-flute/clarinet/tenor sax
West Side Story-split Reed 1 (clarinet/alto sax)
 
#169 ·
It's been a while since i've posted on this, so i'll update my list (in reverse chronological order):

Shrek (2016 tour)-Reed 2 (flute/clarinet/bass clar/sop sax/tenor sax/bari sax)
Elf (2015 tour)-Reed 3 (flute/clarinet/bass clar/bari sax)
Seussical-Reed 3 (flute/clarinet/bass clar (sub for bassoon)/bari sax)
I've only had a bari for a few years, so haven't done many bari books but the Shrek Reed 2 and Seussical Reed 3 were absolute blasts!

What's it like playing on tour? How long did you have to be on the road?
 
#157 ·
Bye Bye Birdie - current show. We open tonight. I'm playing Reed 3- clarinet, tenor sax
Oklahoma - bassoon
Jekyl and Hyde - bassoon
Willy Wonka - bassoon
You're a good man charlie brown - clarinet, sax
Gypsy- clarinet


Musicals that are coming up that I will be playing in
Les Miserables
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
1776
Spamalot
Peter Pan
A Christmas Carol
 
#158 ·
It's been a while since I last posted so here it is again :)
I'm usually playing 6 days a week on a cruise ship including in the pit for hundreds of performances of our variety shows. (2010-2017)

Other show's I've played:
Into the Woods - Reed 1
25th … Spelling Bee - Reeds
Blood Brothers - Reed 1 and I also re-orchestrated my part at the MD's request (aka added clarinet and tenor sax) (2009)
Beauty and the Beast - Reed 3 (2008)
Wonderful Town - Reed 1 and Reed 4 (2007)
Copacabana - Reed 1 and Reed 2 (2007)
Me and My Girl - Reed 1 (2007)

I also play in the band for a musical review style show in which I usually play 4-5 woodwinds and arrange my own parts.

Other Pits / Sitsprobes:
Pits I've sat in for a performance but wasn't contracted for - meaning I wasn't playing, just watching/listening.

A Chorus Line (Stratford Festival) - Stratford, Ontario (2016)
Matilda (National Tour) - Toronto, Ontario (2016)
Phantom of the Opera (National Tour) - Toronto , Ontario (2015)
Cabaret (Shaw Festival) - Niagara, Ontario (2014)
Wizard of Oz, The (Toronto) - Toronto, Ontario (2012)
Pirates of Penzance (Stratford Festival) Stratford, Ontario (2012)
42nd Street (Stratford Festival) - Stratford, Ontario (2012)
Kiss Me Kate (Stratford Festival) - Stratford, Ontario (2010)
Young Frankenstein (National Tour) - Toronto (2010)
Jersey Boys (Toronto) - Toronto, Ontario (2010)
Legally Blonde (National Tour) - Toronto, Ontario (2010)
West Side Story (Stratford Festival) - Stratford, Ontario (2009)
Cabaret (Stratford Festival) - Stratford, Ontario (2008)
White Christmas (Toronto?) - Toronto, Ontario (2007)
Drowsy Chaperone (National Tour) - Toronto, Ontario (2007)
Wicked (National Tour) - Toronto, Ontario (2006)
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (Livent) - Toronto, Ontario (1997)
 
#159 ·
It's been a while since I last posted so here it is again :)
I'm usually playing 6 days a week on a cruise ship including in the pit for hundreds of performances of our variety shows. (2010-2017)

Other Pits / Sitsprobes:
Pits I've sat in for a performance but wasn't contracted for - meaning I wasn't playing, just watching/listening.

A Chorus Line (Stratford Festival) - Stratford, Ontario (2016)
Matilda (National Tour) - Toronto, Ontario (2016)
Phantom of the Opera (National Tour) - Toronto , Ontario (2015)
Cabaret (Shaw Festival) - Niagara, Ontario (2014)
Wizard of Oz, The (Toronto) - Toronto, Ontario (2012)
Pirates of Penzance (Stratford Festival) Stratford, Ontario (2012)
42nd Street (Stratford Festival) - Stratford, Ontario (2012)
Kiss Me Kate (Stratford Festival) - Stratford, Ontario (2010)
Young Frankenstein (National Tour) - Toronto (2010)
Jersey Boys (Toronto) - Toronto, Ontario (2010)
Legally Blonde (National Tour) - Toronto, Ontario (2010)
West Side Story (Stratford Festival) - Stratford, Ontario (2009)
Cabaret (Stratford Festival) - Stratford, Ontario (2008)
White Christmas (Toronto?) - Toronto, Ontario (2007)
Drowsy Chaperone (National Tour) - Toronto, Ontario (2007)
Wicked (National Tour) - Toronto, Ontario (2006)
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (Livent) - Toronto, Ontario (1997)
You forgot Children of Eden! :)
 
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