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So this guy sues because there was no orchestra....
Published: 7/10/2009 4:28 PM
Last Modified: 7/10/2009 4:28 PM

Came across this story from the Times of London the other day, about a fellow in Manchester who attended a performance of a musical of "The Wizard of Oz" and ended up suing -- and winning -- because the production was performed to taped music.

Read the story: Bring Back Real Bands

Of course there are exceptions to the rule of "live performance includes live music." Some contemporary ballets are set to pieces of electronic music collages (anything by Merce Cunningham) or pre-existing recordings (Twyla Tharp's "Nine Sinatra Songs," to name one example) that would be difficult to impossible to reproduce with an on-stage or in-the-pit band.

But live music is an essential part of a theatrical performance. Tulsa Ballet's "About Tango" program in 2008 had a large tango band on stage with the dancers that made these brand new ballets crackle with vivid life. The just-concluded Light Opera Oklahoma found ways to make sure the music for its production of "The Gondoliers" -- presented in one of the PAC's smaller theater that had little room for musicians as well as actors -- was performed live. The innovative and whimsical way the handful of musicians performed this score added greatly to the general fun of the show, which sold out most of its performances.

And speaking of the Wizard of Oz, the upcoming production of "Wicked" will be accompanied by a six-piece touring ensemble, augmented by nine local musicians.

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ARTS

James D. Watts Jr. has lived in Oklahoma for most his life, even though he still has people saying to him, "Don't sound like you're from around these parts." A University of Oklahoma Phi Beta Kappa graduate, Watts has received the Governor Arts Award, Harwelden Award and the National Conference of Christians and Jews Beth Macklin Award for his writing. Before coming to the Tulsa World, Watts worked for the Tulsa Tribune.

Contact him at (918) 581-8478.

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Archive

Past Articles By James D. Watts Jr

2/15/2013		'Concept/OK' exhibit ends Saturday
2/14/2013		Symphony to host piano soloist
2/14/2013		Broadway tours bring 'Shrek,' improv musical to Tulsa area this weekend
2/14/2013		Arts roundup: Improv reigns at several upcoming theater events
2/14/2013		'Lion King' returns to Tulsa PAC June 4
2/12/2013		Review: Signature Symphony reprises '100 Years of Oklahoma Music'
2/11/2013		Tulsa Symphony's concert salutes diverse American music
2/10/2013		Cherokee artist weaves messages into baskets
2/10/2013		Tesla Quartet set for Tulsa residency next week with variety of activities
2/10/2013		Jim Murphy wins 2013 Anne Zarrow Award
2/10/2013		LBJ chronicler Robert Caro to speak at TU on Tuesday
2/9/2013		Theater review: Playhouse makes "Barefoot in the Park" believable

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