Ensemble (musical theatre)
{{Short description|On-stage performers other than the featured players.}}
File:Thoroughly Modern Millie at The Muny in 2012.jpg features the lead actress (in yellow) with a large ensemble.]]
In musical theatre, the ensemble or chorus are the on-stage performers other than the featured players. Ensemble members typically do not play named characters and have few or no spoken lines or solo parts; rather, they sing and dance in unison. An ensemble member may play multiple roles through the course of a show.
Origin
The modern musical chorus descends from the chorus line, associated with early 20th century theatrical revues such as Ziegfeld Follies. The chorus line was typically composed of women (dubbed chorus girls or chorines) performing synchronized dances in a line.
Composition
In the 2018–2019 season, ensemble sizes for Broadway productions ranged from 9 (for Hadestown) to 55 (for The Lion King).{{cite web|url=http://www.theensemblist.com/blog/2019/7/11/the-state-of-the-ensemblist-report-2018-2019|title=The State of the Ensemblist Report 2018-2019|website=The Ensemblist|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190915175320/http://www.theensemblist.com/blog/2019/7/11/the-state-of-the-ensemblist-report-2018-2019|archive-date=September 15, 2019}} Ensemble sizes on Broadway have generally decreased over time, possibly due to cost-cutting.{{cite web|url=https://www.dancemagazine.com/broadway-dance-ensemble-2644828564.html|title=Why Broadway Ensembles Are Shrinking—And What It Means for Dancers|date=January 16, 2020|author=Lauren Wingenroth|website=Dance Magazine}} Many modern musicals feature no ensemble at all, such as Girl from the North Country and Six.
Within the ensemble there exist certain specialized roles. The dance captain is an ensemble member who leads routine dance rehearsals once the show has opened and teaches choreography to new ensemble members. An ensemble member may also understudy a principal role, meaning that they play that role when the regular actor is unable to. A swing is a performer who is prepared to step in for a number of ensemble roles (known as tracks).{{cite web|url=https://www.berklee.edu/careers/roles/ensemble-dancer-theater|title=What does an Ensemble Member (Musical Theater and Opera) do?|website=Berklee.edu}}
Recognition
Major theatre awards such as the Tony Awards and Olivier Awards do not recognize ensemble members. In 2018, the Actors' Equity Association, the main union representing theatre performers in the United States, announced a campaign urging the Tony Awards to create two new awards for best ensemble (defined as the entire cast of a production), and best chorus. Similar awards exist in some regional theatre award ceremonies, such as the Jeff Awards in Chicago.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/11/theater/new-tony-awards-actors-equity.html|title=Actors Push for Two New Tony Awards: Ensembles and Choruses|date=April 11, 2018|author=Michael Paulson|newspaper=The New York Times}}
See also
- Corps de ballet, a similar designation in ballet
References
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