Long ago, even nonmusicals often had live pre-show and intermission music. Maybe curtain call and exit music, too. I think this is part of the reason why even nonmusicals were expected to hire musicians.
In any case, I would think that if any producer did something like require the house musicians to play for nonmusicals, it would have been in the lobby or a lounge, at least if there was a big enough lobby or lounge, not in a bathroom.
Btw, house musicians were sometimes notoriously mediocre players. Relatives and friends of theatre owners.
If anyone is confused, theatres used to have four house musicians, who got paid whether there was a play or a musical, and who would be expected to play in the pit if there was a musical (or a play that employed live music). |
