BWW Blog: Christopher Vo of ON THE TOWN - Sitzprobe!

I experienced my first Broadway Sitzprobe this past weekend! The nerdy Asian boy in me needs to explain what a sitzprobe is, for those who don't already know. Sitzprobe (pronounced zits-probe) is a German-derived term literally meaning "seated test or seated trial." Of course, the sitzprobe process is widely used across the various performing arts. In the musical theater world, it is when the orchestra members and the actors meet for the first time and do a seated run-through rehearsal of the show. Up until Saturday, we had been listening to our rehearsal pianists and drummer. From what I understand, the score is tremendously difficult to play on the piano, as it was written to be performed by a huge orchestra. So here's a shout-out to our talented rehearsal musicians who have been holding down the fort for us during the past several weeks.

Led by our incredible music director and conductor, James Moore, our whopping 28-piece orchestra breathed new life into our Helluva Show. The room was filled with the entire cast and creative team (the sound design team was poised with their laptops at their own table), producers and co-producers, and others from the On The Town family. We were all abuzz with excitement as James introduced the members of our orchestra and the cast. Our head producer, Howard Kagan, was thanked for hiring more musicians than the union agreement required. In this day and age of financial strain, it is a very bold (and righteous) choice. The 28-piece orchestra truly blew us away with its rich, full sound and intricate nuances that we don't get to hear from the rehearsal piano and drums. And when our amazing principals and knockout ensemble members joined forces with the orchestra, we had a sitzprobe session that got everyone jumping out of their seats for a standing ovation. Jackie Hoffman, who plays the role of Madame Dilly, said it best in one of her tweets. "OMG this orchestra and score. @OnTheTownNYC is the revival that will revive Broadway!"

Speaking of Jackie Hoffman and Twitter, you MUST follow her. I get a good belly chuckle on a daily basis just reading her tweets. And my diaphragm is in constant spasm from sharing the stage with her. There isn't a funnier tweeter on Broadway than @JackieHoffman16. An interview with Jackie Hoffman is to come in a future post to this blog. In the meantime, get your tickets to On The Town today and hear the stellar orchestra for yourselves! Previews start this upcoming Saturday, September 20!!!