Musicians vanishing from big musicals amid click-track takeover
Source: afr.com
- Musicians are vanishing from big Australian musicals as shows switch to pre-recorded tracks instead of live bands.
- Only 4 of 15 current major productions use live orchestras, down sharply from past decades.
- This shift cuts costs but sparks fears over job losses and declining music standards.
Musicians are disappearing from Australia's blockbuster musicals like Hamilton and Wicked, replaced by digital tracks to save money. Industry figures, composers, and players argue this erodes the live experience that defines theatre. It matters because it threatens hundreds of jobs and the quality of shows audiences pay top dollar for.