By Marta Bazdekis
Every spring, the school hosts a musical. This year it is the spectacular The Addams Family. Everyone loves to watch these amazing productions that the school puts on. Every person involved in putting together the show, from the actors to the stage crew, works very hard for months to make it all happen. However, there is one group of people that always seems to be forgotten — the pit orchestra.
I interviewed the fabulous director of The Addams Family musical Mr. DiGiovanni and asked him to comment on just how important the pit is.
“I think the pit orchestra is incredibly important to any musical, especially a high school production. I see the music as another character — it inspires emotion in the audience, helps tell the story, and offers the onstage performers something else to react to. Diana Selenow used to say “acting is reacting” and that has really helped me in directing.”
Mr. DiGiovanni also explained how the pit in a musical brings the whole production together. Musicians create an inclusiveness with the audience, so that the audience feels more connected with the actors. He added, “With live musicians, scenes can evolve over time, and from performance to performance. One night a line might get more laughs than usual, one night we might need to repeat a vamp an extra time or two, and live musicians afford you that possibility.”
I also reached out to the pit conductor of the play Dr. Patterson, to get his perspective on their role. Dr. Patterson has been performing in pit orchestras his whole life, and he is an expert in life in the pit. I asked him how important the orchestra is to a performance.
“It’s tremendously important! Try to imagine a musical without one … so much of the energy, mood, excitement, and creativity of the production would be gone. For a high school production, the pit orchestra offers an extraordinary opportunity for instrumental musicians to be involved like their on-stage acting, singing, and dancing peers.”
The pit orchestra in a musical is what ties the show together. Of course there is always the option of using recorded music; however, it is not the same experience for the audience and the cast to hear recorded music when you can have it live. Live musicians are people who care just as much about the production, so it is bound to make the show better when you have more people who put effort into it.
Dr. Patterson said, “Irvington is very fortunate to have an enthusiastic, committed student pit of twenty-five musicians, grades 7-12, playing the full orchestration. Their job is to fully and convincingly transport both cast and audience into the fantastical sound-world of the show, from the opening notes of the overture to the last measures of the curtain call.”
It is no question that live musicians make the musical better, but it is not easy work. The musicians must work hard to make sure the technique and style can fully have an affect on the audience. Despite the hard work, it is a terrific experience to work with peers who care just as much about the production as you do.
I asked both Mr. DiGiovanni and Dr. Patterson their favorite experiences, and they did not hesitate when answering. Dr. Patterson recalls that his favorite memory was when his high school did West Side Story in his sophomore year.
“I was invited to join the pit orchestra. Little did I know at the time that we were tackling one of the most difficult Broadway scores ever written … I only saw it as a fun challenge and an amazing chance to be part of a community effort. I’ll never forget that on opening night, our high school orchestra teacher, Miss Anderson (one of my biggest inspirations), whispered to us right before the show ‘Good luck! The audience is all excited!’ … I was nervous, but also electrified by the imaginative possibilities of it all, how we were transporting people into a new realm.”
On the other hand, Mr. DiGiovanni says that it isn’t just one particular memory he is fond of.
“My favorite memory, however, is not one single memory; it’s remembering all of the performers with whom I worked. We spend so much time together during a production, and we get to make these incredible connections with each other and with the art form. Those are the moments I most cherish.”
Being a member of the pit is always an amazing and fascinating experience that lasts a lifetime.
On that note (pun intended), we encourage you to come see the spectacular performance of The Addams Family this weekend from Friday to Sunday! Make sure to pay attention to the “other” actors – the musicians.
Tickets for sale at https://irvington.booktix.com/
