My research here is following the pattern of a career in music direction: dry spells where you have to get creative with your time, and periods that are so busy it feels there is hardly time to breathe. I have not had a direct observation of a show in a week or so, but today I received 4 updates on shows that I could sit in on. I will be sitting in on Hamilton, Les Mis, Something Rotten!, and Wicked in the next week.
Yesterday, I got to interview David Loud and Brian Usifer. Both were extremely informative and helpful for my project. David Loud was especially interesting to me as a lifelong music director and original cast member of Merrily We Roll Along back in 1981. He has music directed many Kander and Eb shows, as well as the original Ragtime. It was fascinating to talk to him about the evolution of the field and how his job has changed over time. He has worked with some of the most amazing people in theatre history and I am very lucky to have him involved in my research. Brian Usifer was very helpful too, coming from a vast musical education that encompassed classical, rock, jazz, and pop music.