[Trombone-l] Pit Stories

[Harlan Feinstein]

On Dec 5, 2008, at 2:04 PM, Clay McCarter wrote:

> I've really enjoyed reading about players experiences with Wicked.   
> Anyone
> else out there playing in a pit for a show?  I'd love to hear  
> stories about
> your past and present gigs.

The story I've got is a past production of West Side Story.  The  
director approached the music director during one of the dress  
rehearsals, asked him to play a given song faster (don't remember what  
song).  The MD [wisely] replied that the orchestra couldn't hold it  
together much faster.  The director told him (well within the  
orchestra's hearing), "I don't care WHAT it SOUNDS like, play it  
FASTER!"

--Harlan