Every spring, my high school alma mater does a musical. Most years, my trumpet and I go back to help out with the pit orchestra. It’s a lot of fun to sit in an overheated underground hole with a bunch of pubescent musicians- it’s like a show in itself! I have learned a few things about adolescents. Namely that they are wiggly and they talk a lot. But also that if you hit your head on an exposed beam and yell an expletive or six, they instantly think you are hilarious and a genius. I fit right in down there.

This year it’s the upbeat and sparkling Sweeney Todd. Today will be my first rehearsal and I’m interested to see how they get around the heavy, Sondheim-iness of the whole thing. I’m no expert, but I’m pretty sure there’s a filthy prostitute in there somewhere, along with a handful of swear words. Not that the kids in the pit will mind that. I’m just not sure that the high school parents are going to be too thrilled with the content.

I will keep you posted in the coming weeks on any notable shenanigans.

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