Pippin Sitzprobe
Sitzprobe is German for “seated rehearsal,” and in musical theater, the sitzprobe is the first time that the singers and the orchestra rehearse together. Our favorite Broadway podcast host Seth Rudetsky created The Broadway Sitzprobe Experience, an event open to the public at the New York Public Library of Performing Arts (at Lincoln Center).
The sitzprobe was for Pippin, one of my favorite musicals. The lead vocalists included original cast members of the 2013 Pippin revival Andrea Martin (Tony Award winner for Berthe), Terrence Mann (Tony Award nominee for Charlemagne), and Charlotte d’Amboise (Fastrada). Julie McBride conducted the orchestra, and, as an unexpected treat, veteran Fosse dance captain Lainie Sakakura performed the Manson Trio dance number. The orchestra and chorus members were talented, up-and-coming musicians and singers who lacked Broadway experience. The sitzprobe was an opportunity for experience, exposure, connections, and mentorship.
I loved this “peek behind the curtain” and the chance to learn more about how Broadway musicals are brought to the stage. It was wonderful to experience Pippin again, and it was exciting to be in the room with Broadway stars! Kudos to Seth Rudetsky and to MUSE and Maestra for their leadership and generosity in helping artists from underrepresented groups to build careers in musical theater.
