The stairs down to the pit orchestra were dimly lit, the smell of stale popcorn hung in the air. Descending into the pit was a minuscule adventure, dodging the various musicians scrambling before rehearsal. Underneath the stage, the ceiling was covered in multicolored signatures of the seniors who played in years past. Complaints on the lack of space were shouted out, but the musicians made the best of it.
“We’re going to arrange it like a jazz band,” director Brian Nutting said.
Seats moved accordingly while the actors and actresses tested their mics overhead. A hodgepodge of sounds filled the room as warm- ups began. Scales, excerpts from the opening number of “Guys and Dolls” and tuning notes floated out of the pit and up to the world above.
“Half the people apparently think what’s being played is a professional recording,” senior viola-turned-violin player Vineet Kamat said. “Other people don’t even know that pit even exists, and most people think that there is some professional pit we’re paying that’s being brought in.”
There was a collection of live performers underneath the stage playing the soundtrack of “Guys and Dolls.” Out of the 31 musicals put on by Troy Theatre Ensemble over the past few decades, 28 of those musical soundtracks were performed by a student orchestra. Pit is composed of those in Symphonic Band as well as Symphony Orchestra due to the limited number of spots. The musicians go through an audition process, then rehearsals begin.
“We had auditions a few months back and, after winter break, we started rehearsing about twice a week with each other,” junior flute player Elayna Sabelhaus said. “Just a few weeks ago, the singers started to come in [to sing] with us.”
Like audience members, pit members also had their favorite songs.
“My favorite number has got to be ‘Havana’. It’s got such a nice Latin twist to it,” Kamat said. “Whenever we’re resting, I find myself just grooving to the beat.”
“Guys and Dolls” is known for its up tempo and energetic music, which can be challenging to perform.
“I can’t really pick one [song] because there is challenging parts in each song,” senior violinist Sang Yoon Moon said.
While being in pit unites this group of students, there are many reasons why the musicians joined. Some pit members found it was just another way to keep up their passion of playing music.
“I love my instrument, I love music, I love viola, and violin actually has given me some insight on how to play viola,” Kamat said.
Others found it to be a fun after school activity where they could not only play music but stay connected with their friends.
“I love hanging out with my friends and we all decided to do it together,” Sabelhaus said.
Some students were needed to fill the instruments quota.
“There’s not a lot of upperclassmen who play saxophone in Symphonic [Band], so they needed someone,” sophomore saxophone player Jenna Youness said. Youness is one of the four underclassmen in pit, which is mainly comprised of juniors and seniors.
Leading up to the show’s opening night, rehearsals started around 2:30 p.m. and were led by Nutting. Nutting selected the piece he felt they needed to run through and made any changes he deemed fit. The rehearsals also required collaboration with the cast.
“Sometimes the singers from the musical come down and sing with us,” Youness said. “They tell us what they want to rehearse, if they want us to take it faster or slower, change this or that.”
The members gave buddy bags to one another once a week during the running of the show, filled with snack food, candy and trinkets.
“I play pit for the food,” Moon said.
For some pit members, playing in the show is a feeling of being a part of something bigger than just the music.
“It’s fun to be part of a musical; I’m not much of an actor or singer so when I can join through music, it’s cool,” Youness said.