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Musicals are in two acts and the songs are always sung in the language of the audience. This is different to operas in which the language is the same no matter where it is performed. An opera will traditionally feature classical singers and orchestral instruments.

Wicked has a hugely complex and expensive set, elaborate costumes, large pit band and extravagant dance routines. Not all musicals are on this scale, but other musicals similar in terms of size are Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King and Matilda.

The musical theatre pit band

In musicals, a live band provides the accompanying music to the singing. This is known as the pit band as the players sit under the stage in the pit. There is no set instrumentation for a pit band as this will depend on the musical. For example, The Phantom of the Opera has a classical sound so the pit band uses many more orchestral instruments than We Will Rock You, which is a musical based on the music of the band Queen and so uses rock instruments.

The pit band used for Wicked is large and consists of both orchestral and contemporary band instruments.

• Orchestral instruments:
  • flute
  • oboe
  • bass clarinet
  • bassoon
  • baritone saxophone
  • two horns
  • two trumpets
  • two trombones
  • percussion
  • harp
  • two violins
  • viola
  • cello
  • double bass
• Band instruments:
  • drum kit
  • two guitars
  • three synthesisers.

Synthesisers are very important to the musical theatre pit band because patches can be stored and triggered at precise points in the score. For example, the synthesiser in Wicked impersonates strings, tremolo strings, contrabass clarinet, celeste and bass trombone. Synthesisers can also be used for sound effects if the music requires it.