It is the opening night of the 2023 Joan and Marvin Rosenberg musical, “Into the Woods.” The lights have not yet dimmed and the audience is still getting seated as vocal music and theater teacher Sammy Grob begins to conduct the pit band. The flute rings out a simple melody that will be heard the next two hours. The play is just beginning, but the light wispy flute is already contributing to the anticipation the audience has for the show’s start.

When it comes to the important roles in musicals, most think of the singers and actors. Some think of the tech crew. However, few consider the pit band. The pit band plays a major role in the production of a musical, working to ensure that the actors and singers are appropriately accompanied. 

Grob serves as the pit band leader, where his primary job is conducting. However, recruiting musicians is also a key piece of his work. Grob said that the musicians volunteer to be in the pit band rather than audition.

“Oftentimes it’s self-selecting. Students will reach out and volunteer, especially in the past,”  Grob said.  “For instance, nearly all of the students in the band this year are repeating people I’ve had before, or have played with before.”

The band is composed of eight students and two paid professional musicians. This year’s band features two keyboards, two guitars, an electric bass, drums, a trumpet, trombone, a saxophone, a flute and a violin. The professionals play the trombone and the trumpet.

Participating in a band like this offers an experience completely unlike  playing solo, according to junior Alma Medvedofsky, a flutist for the pit band.  The band is a machine that cannot function if the pieces are not in sync with one another.

“I usually play solo, but I also sometimes play with accompaniment either by another flute or by a piano.”  Medvedofsky said. “But that’s very different. When you’re a part of the pit orchestra, you’re not alone. You have to be in tune with others, and you can’t just play by yourself. It’s not the same thing.”

This year, the music in “Disaster” is mostly jazz and rock music, meaning that Medvedofsky has less to do, given that she plays flute and piccolo, which are not heavily featured in those genres. Even with fewer pieces, Medvedofsky still practices often. 

Scheduling for rehearsals is an important part of the pit band, as they are typically about two hours long. They occur once every two weeks from early in the school year until early December, when rehearsals become more frequent. This is a substantial commitment, but one that’s worth it, according to Spieler.  Now in his second year with the pit band, sophomore David Spieler plays bass for this year’s musical, “Disaster.” 

“It is a great opportunity to get experience playing with a group of people and playing in musical theater,” Speiler said.  “If you take it seriously, it can be really helpful.”

Spieler said that the band learned over 30 songs for this musical, excluding the transition pieces and incidental music pieces. Different musicians practice different amounts, but Spieler said he practices the bass part of musical pieces for an hour per week.

Although the musicians spend countless hours practicing, they know that no amount of practice could make things go perfectly. As live musicians, they are also reliant on a whole host of uncontrollable variables. According to Grob, sometimes things need to be improvised, and that is among the skills most important to someone in the pit band.  

“Playing in a pit is not about playing perfectly; it is about how you keep going when you make mistakes,” Grob said.