Pit Orchestra

Has anybody here played in the orchestra pit for any musicals or operas? I've played for quite a few shows now, and I think those have been some of my best musical experiences. I highly recommend it. It's so fun and exciting! And if you have, what have been your favorite shows to play for? :rockon:

Which instrument do you play?

I played cello, and played for one play in high school, but never got a chance in college. It's one of my great regrets.

Yay, another string person! I play violin. :)
What show did you play for? Do you still play cello?

Yay, another string person! I play violin. :)
What show did you play for? Do you still play cello?

I played for "Man of La Mancha." I scarcely remember any of the songs since I don't particularly like that show, but it was moderately fun.

I played for 8 years in total, but unfortunately it's been another 9 years since I've played it. In fact, that's to the day as of last Wednesday.

Playing in the pit orchestra for musicals was one of the most rewarding experiences I've had as a musician. I wish that I was still doing it...

My primary instrument is the cello and that is what I've always played for pit. The best shows I played for were Fiddler on the Roof, Beauty and the Beast, and Into the Woods. My high school band director refused to buy anything other than the original Broadway scores hah, so we were forced to push ourselves beyond our capabilities. This made me a better musician than I could've imagined!

After a hiatus of 25 years I was aked to play for musicals back in the 1980's. The first one I did was South Pacific. The first violins were way up in the high positions (7th?). Anyway, I practiced before our first rehearsal and then found that the rest of the violins were not playing it as written but playing an octave lower! I met a lot of really nice people "in the pits" and soon after was also playing in a string quartet just for fun.

Now I play viola in a symphony orchestra and am having a wonderful time. This past concert was really easy for us violas but we deserved a break since the previous concert we had done The Moldau from Ma Vlast by Smentana and The Hebrides-Finagal's Cave by Mendelssohn? Anyway, we were always the rushing waters and we really got a workout that time.

I think musicals are a lot of fun to do but I don't have as much time to spare now so I rarely get to jump back in the pit these days.