Every musical needs a steady hand at the wheel, a leader that can shape and guide the production through rehearsals and tech and make opening night a success. The director of the show must wear many hats. Sometimes calm, sometimes fierce, sometimes both, but ultimately they must gather the people onboard the ship, and be responsible for the journey and destination. But there are also directors that add choreography to their plates and have to successfully do the work of 2 people in a production. Today on March 27th, World Theatre Day, we talk about this process with one of Vancouver's most wel ..read more

During the 40s and 50s, the so-called Golden Age of musical theatre, it was common to hear songs from Broadway shows on the airwaves. These songs were the "pop music" of the day. Audiences would know a Rodgers and Hammerstein tune before they even stepped foot in a theatre, since they were often played on the radio or sung at parties.   This, however, is not the case today. The songs of musical theatre, while still popular among many, have not become quite as mainstream as today’s pop music.   But there are still many, iconic songs over the years that have made it on to the pop chart ..read more

It seems like in every city there are production companies popping up everywhere that want to produce shows that speak to them. But not every company has the budget, or space to produce a broadway size show. In New York the shows that really bring in the audiences are big budgets in big theatres with big casts and big orchestras. In Vancouver there aren't many companies that have large budgets or spaces to produce such big shows. So there is a movement to rethink or reimagine large broadway shows for the small stage and in some cases just a small room. In Vancouver Studio 58 at Langara College ..read more

What is the Broadway sound? During the "Golden Age" of Broadway, it was easy to say: Big and brassy, 18 to 25 players at least. But now, money is tight, musical styles have changed, and shows now tour a lot. Money is being made by the rights companies like MTI, Tams Whitmark and Sam French renting out the rights to Broadway shows to high schools and local theatre companies. But how can you find the quality of player locally, and money to pay for the orchestra sizes of the past? Most producers just simply don't budget enough and want to spend money on musicians. I think as a music director I sp ..read more

We can't all escape the cutting review, but lots of us have had glowing reviews and have felt the elation and validation from the carefully crafted words of a reviewer. But do reviewers make a difference? Should we put stock in the reviews as theatre patrons? Will it help an actor get more work? Less work? On this episode of From the Pit I talk to Jerry Wasserman one of Vancouver's most respected reviewers about these questions and more ..read more

Musicals in their current form have been around almost 100 years now, but I still hear people refer to musicals as cheesy, fluffy, always happy. You hear talk of jazz hands in conversation as if it was the single defining dance step. Some actors talk of musical theatre as if it was the illegitimate son of the theatre world. Let's face it... Musicals get a bad rap…But why? On this episode Ryan and I will discuss the status of Musical Theatre in the media and the general public. Join us From the Pit ..read more

Putting on a musical is a big undertaking. Big budgets, big casts. And directing a musical is an equally big task.   Where would you start? How do you make the show a success? Is directing a musical the same as directing a play?   On today's episode we talk with Sarah Rodgers, one of Vancouver's busiest and most sought-after directors. We ask her about her process, her directing philosophy, and much more on From the Pit ..read more

Auditions… Just hearing the word can cause an actor to break out into a sweat. Nothing gets the heart racing like walking into a big room with scary people staring back at you from behind a long table. Now is your chance to be a fly on the wall! Today on "From the Pit," my guests and I talk about auditions We'll offer some tips and share some of our pet peeves to help you get a clearer picture of what it's like at auditions. So grab your number and wait in the hall, because you're on deck ..read more

Overtures. Once a required mainstay of Musical Theatre shows, they aren't as common now, but show still use them. On today's episode… our first show. We discuss the overture. Will it survive much longer, should it continue, does it still have meaning and purpose? My guest and I will discuss this and more about Musical Theatre along the way ..read more

Stairway? No Way! Music Directors, Choreographers, and Directors! I want to know… What song do NOT want to hear in auditions anymore, and why do you want it to die? What song do you LOVE to hear, and what is it that makes you want to hear it again and again? Answer in the comments below! I will try and include as many of the answers in an upcoming From the Pit podcast episode! Okay actors can answer too ..read more