JChenault
Well-Known Member
My theatre is working on a remodel to ( among other things ) put in an orchestra pit into our converted movie theatre. Our musical director just returned from a trip to NYC and made the following observation:
The day after seeing Book of Mormon in NYC, I had a vision of ‘Biblical proportion’ while trying to nap. I want to share it with you and ask that we at least give it consideration.
While attending numerous shows in NYC this past week, I realized that at no time were we listening to natural/acoustical sound (from actors or musicians). Everything is amplified. In some cases I saw individual mics on individual instruments in the pit. That implies that the sound is mixed in a sound board and then amplified to the audience. As a listener, you really can’t tell where it is coming from at the level it is produced.
We all know that theaters historically were built with orchestral pits because they wanted the “natural” sound to come from the stage area with the voices. They didn’t have amplification as we do today. That is no longer a relevant issue in our world of modern acoustics and amplification. Also, there was space dug out under stages for other reasons and it was a logical solution to put the musicians under there too.
I was suddenly struck to consider if our project was based upon historical tradition or practical contemporary needs and I realized that perhaps we can actually make do without an orchestra pit and consider another option.
My suggestion is to put the orchestra into the sound booth room on the second floor with sound proofing walls and a new (floor to ceiling) glass or Plexiglas wall to the auditorium so actors can see the conductor and vice versa. Since I am one of the main beneficiaries of a traditional pit, after consideration of this new idea, I believe I could really live with this option with no loss in the quality of our productions.
There are prototypes of this scheme in successful use. The Westchester Broadway dinner theater (which we attended this NY tour) has the orchestra in a side room. We have also seen it in several Las Vegas theaters. I’m certain there are other examples as well.
Now the idea of putting the orchestra behind a glass wall at the back of the house seems wrong for a number of reasons - but what do you guys think of putting the orchestra in a dedicated separate room, and pipe in the sound as opposed to having an orchestra in a pit and amplifying as necessary.
Have any of you worked in such a venue? What do you see as the advantages and disadvantages? ( For the record -ballpark guess would be $200,000 to $300,000 savings if we go with the orchestra room approach)
The day after seeing Book of Mormon in NYC, I had a vision of ‘Biblical proportion’ while trying to nap. I want to share it with you and ask that we at least give it consideration.
While attending numerous shows in NYC this past week, I realized that at no time were we listening to natural/acoustical sound (from actors or musicians). Everything is amplified. In some cases I saw individual mics on individual instruments in the pit. That implies that the sound is mixed in a sound board and then amplified to the audience. As a listener, you really can’t tell where it is coming from at the level it is produced.
We all know that theaters historically were built with orchestral pits because they wanted the “natural” sound to come from the stage area with the voices. They didn’t have amplification as we do today. That is no longer a relevant issue in our world of modern acoustics and amplification. Also, there was space dug out under stages for other reasons and it was a logical solution to put the musicians under there too.
I was suddenly struck to consider if our project was based upon historical tradition or practical contemporary needs and I realized that perhaps we can actually make do without an orchestra pit and consider another option.
My suggestion is to put the orchestra into the sound booth room on the second floor with sound proofing walls and a new (floor to ceiling) glass or Plexiglas wall to the auditorium so actors can see the conductor and vice versa. Since I am one of the main beneficiaries of a traditional pit, after consideration of this new idea, I believe I could really live with this option with no loss in the quality of our productions.
There are prototypes of this scheme in successful use. The Westchester Broadway dinner theater (which we attended this NY tour) has the orchestra in a side room. We have also seen it in several Las Vegas theaters. I’m certain there are other examples as well.
Now the idea of putting the orchestra behind a glass wall at the back of the house seems wrong for a number of reasons - but what do you guys think of putting the orchestra in a dedicated separate room, and pipe in the sound as opposed to having an orchestra in a pit and amplifying as necessary.
Have any of you worked in such a venue? What do you see as the advantages and disadvantages? ( For the record -ballpark guess would be $200,000 to $300,000 savings if we go with the orchestra room approach)