Broadway's orchestras are disappearing from the pit
Source: Chris Dalla Riva
Live musical theater has eliminated or drastically shrunk pit orchestras, moving musicians onto the stage as part of the ensemble instead. The change cuts costs but alters the sonic and spatial experience audiences expect from Broadway. Shows like *The Band's Visit* prove audiences will accept the absence of a traditional invisible orchestra if the staging compensates. Broadway's financial model has tightened enough that a full pit—long a defining technical requirement—is now negotiable, even as productions continue winning major awards.