Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Finding an orchestra

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   I am a fairly new director for youth theatre. We have done two very successful musicals with performance cds. Now, we're looking to do

"You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown" where there is no performance cd.

We'd rather not just have a piano player. How do you go about finding a small orchestra? Is it expensive? And how do you rehearse thoroughly without the orchestra there at every rehearsal? Thanks for your input.

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Guests Guest	Topic: Finding an orchestra Posted: 10/29/01 at 9:49am
	I am a fairly new director for youth theatre. We have done two very successful musicals with performance cds. Now, we're looking to do "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown" where there is no performance cd. We'd rather not just have a piano player. How do you go about finding a small orchestra? Is it expensive? And how do you rehearse thoroughly without the orchestra there at every rehearsal? Thanks for your input.

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Guests Guest	Posted: 10/29/01 at 1:11pm
	There are a lot of sources for musicians, check you local high schools, colleges, and music schools. If you have stores near by that sell music, or musical instruments, ask if there is a place you can post a sign saying you are looking for musicians. Cost can be a problem. My theater is in a very populated suburban area and there are any number of places musicians can go to get a payed job, so we have no choice but to pay our musicians. We pay at the low end of the scale, usually $200-$300 per piece for a 4 week run, more if you want them to play a lot of rehersals. As for rehersals we usually have a rehersal pianist who plays all the rehersals (and also the shows). This person gets payed more since they have to be there more often. Our musical director then has a couple rehersals with the full orchestra starting 2 weeks out from opening. We generally don't have the full orchestra playing for normal rehersals until the start of production week at the earliest, and sometime not until the last 2 or 3 rehersals. Dan
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Guests Guest	Posted: 10/31/01 at 1:11am
	Our community theatre did this show a year ago as our first production. We had two pianists who shared the work. An orchestra is not always necessary for a musical and especially not for this one. To rehearse an orchestra while you are rehearsing the cast is compicated. You can get a perusal copy of this and have your pianist start working on it. By the time you are ready to begin auditions, your pianist will already kow the score. It would not be so easy with a band. Break a leg and check out our website for pictures of our production at www.irplayers.homestead.com
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Guests Guest	Posted: 11/10/01 at 11:58pm
	This issue can make or break your musical. I produced "Annie" last year with volunteer musicians, and I nearly lost my sanity trying to make everyone happy. My biggest tip: Do not try to find volunteer musicians during football season! I know lots of band directors who would usually volunteer for a pit orchestra, but they all had conflicts with our date. Other tips: Find pianist who will learn the music up front. Find a conductor who has experience.
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