Meet the musicians of BACK TO THE FUTURE! The traveling musicians of the Broadway tour Back to the Future: The Musical perform in a different city every few weeks, which presents challenges to living a “normal” life. Read more about the challenges and rewards of a mobile musical life with reflections from Matt Doebler, Jaren Angud, Emily Orr, and William (Bill) Leary.

Road Life is the Good Life. Born and raised in Las Vegas by musical parents, a life in music was never not an option for drummer and percussionist Paul Hannah of Local 500 (Raleigh, NC). Asked why he has stuck with the touring life, Hannah posits two reasons: “First, playing Broadway shows is the closest I can get to the type of environment I grew up in, in Vegas. It’s a production show and a star vehicle in one. Second, when touring, I’m playing music six days a week for an entire year. If you love playing, touring is the way to be playing all the time.”

Broadway tours embracing positive change. Prior to joining the Frozen tour, Julie Ferrara of Local 802 (New York) held three Broadway chairs and subbed on more than 30 shows. Since leaving the Broadway pits, however, she has not just embraced touring—she has taken an active hand in helping improve the lives of her theater musician colleagues currently working on national tours. “Most pit orchestra musicians get on tours with the hope of eventually making it to Broadway,” says Ferrara, "instead, I worked on Broadway for 14 years before entertaining the opportunity to go on the road.”

TAKES HER SHOT. Lily Ling, member of Local 149 (Toronto, ON) and music director for the “And Peggy” tour of Hamilton, on the changing face of Broadway, mentorship, music education, and making a career in music. Lily Ling is the first female music director and conductor of a Hamilton touring company. A self-described “double immigrant,” Ling first moved with her parents to Vancouver, British Columbia, from China as a young girl. Today, she is living and working in the United States, where she serves as music director for the “And Peggy” company of Hamilton, one of the juggernaut’s three touring troupes.

The Best of Both Worlds - on Broadway and Touring with Lawrence Goldberg. Music Director takes Broadway's Anastasia on tour. Music director, conductor, and keyboardist Lawrence Goldberg of Local 802 (New York City) has worked on dozens of Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, as well as national tours. Since wrapping up work as music director for A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder in 2017, he’s been subbing for Phantom of the Opera and the Cats revival on Broadway. Over the summer, he conducted Anastasia on Broadway once a week in preparation for his role as music director for the touring show. We sat down with Goldberg shortly before that tour began on October 9.

Career Theatre Musician goes on the road with the Aladdin tour. The Local 76-493 (Seattle, WA) member has toured under the AFM Pamphlet B Agreement for 25 years. Faith Seetoo of Local 76-493 (Seattle, WA) has spent most of her adult life on the road as associate conductor with more than a dozen touring Broadway shows, among them: The Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon, Mamma Mia!, A Chorus Line, and Newsies.

On The Road With Beautiful. As music director for the touring musical Beautiful: The Carole King Story, Susan Draus of Local 802 (New York City) feels a bit like her career has come full circle. Draus, who was playing music before she was old enough to read, always knew it would be a big part of her life.

Exploring Life In The Pit With Traveling Musicians. The job of pit musicians is unique in many ways. Eric J. Stockton (guitar), Nick Williams (keyboard/associate conductor), and Shannon Ford (percussionist) of Local 802 (New York City) are touring with Beautiful: The Carole King Story.

On The Road With The Lion King. A behind-the-scenes look at the life of seven touring theatre musicians working under an AFM Pamphlet B contract. (L to R) Pictured above are percussionists: Rueven Weizberg, Stefan Monssen, and Mike Faue.