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Dirty Dancing - Ryan McCausland

Ryan McCausland's percussion setup for the National Tour of Dirty Dancing at the Eisenhower Auditorium at Penn State in University Park, Pennsylvania.

Read Ryan's write-up about the show, below the photos.

Ryan McCausland's percussion setup for the National Tour of Dirty Dancing at the Eisenhower Auditorium at Penn State in University Park, Pennsylvania.Ryan McCausland's percussion setup for the National Tour of Dirty Dancing at the Eisenhower Auditorium at Penn State in University Park, Pennsylvania.Ryan McCausland's percussion setup for the National Tour of Dirty Dancing at the Eisenhower Auditorium at Penn State in University Park, Pennsylvania.Ryan McCausland's percussion setup for the National Tour of Dirty Dancing at the Eisenhower Auditorium at Penn State in University Park, Pennsylvania.Ryan McCausland's percussion setup for the National Tour of Dirty Dancing at the Eisenhower Auditorium at Penn State in University Park, Pennsylvania.Ryan McCausland's percussion setup for the National Tour of Dirty Dancing at the Eisenhower Auditorium at Penn State in University Park, Pennsylvania.Ryan McCausland's percussion setup for the National Tour of Dirty Dancing at the Eisenhower Auditorium at Penn State in University Park, Pennsylvania.Ryan McCausland's percussion setup for the National Tour of Dirty Dancing at the Eisenhower Auditorium at Penn State in University Park, Pennsylvania.Ryan McCausland's percussion setup for the National Tour of Dirty Dancing at the Eisenhower Auditorium at Penn State in University Park, Pennsylvania.Ryan McCausland's percussion setup for the National Tour of Dirty Dancing at the Eisenhower Auditorium at Penn State in University Park, Pennsylvania.Ryan McCausland's percussion setup for the National Tour of Dirty Dancing at the Eisenhower Auditorium at Penn State in University Park, Pennsylvania.Ryan McCausland's percussion setup for the National Tour of Dirty Dancing at the Eisenhower Auditorium at Penn State in University Park, Pennsylvania.Ryan McCausland's percussion setup for the National Tour of Dirty Dancing at the Eisenhower Auditorium at Penn State in University Park, Pennsylvania.Ryan McCausland's percussion setup for the National Tour of Dirty Dancing at the Eisenhower Auditorium at Penn State in University Park, Pennsylvania.Ryan McCausland's percussion setup for the National Tour of Dirty Dancing at the Eisenhower Auditorium at Penn State in University Park, Pennsylvania.

"I based my setup for this show on Miles Lassi’s (add link) setup for the original tour. This tour of Dirty Dancing uses eight musicians: 2 Keys, Guitar, Bass, Drums, Trumpet/Flugel, Reeds, and Percussion. Originally six of the eight musicians were supposed to be visible in costume on large band platforms onstage but the platforms were cut due to spatial constraints. The band now plays remotely offstage or in the pit when it’s available.

Because the orchestra is meant to play a role in the show, many of us were worked into certain scenes and have onstage appearances during certain numbers. I play the cajon, bongos, and djembe out onstage using wireless IEMs to hear our Musical Director and the rest of the band.

This is one of the most fantastic companies I’ve ever been lucky enough to work with."

The setup for this show is mostly hand percussion and consists of:

  • Three Congas
  • Bongos
  • Djembe
  • Cajon
  • Large Shaker
  • Small Shaker
  • LP One Shot Shaker
  • Egg Shaker
  • Guiro
  • Mounted Tambourine
  • Bell Tree
  • Mark Tree
  • Triangle (on the Miller Machine)
  • Small Cowbell
  • Large Cowbell
  • Castanets
  • Temple Blocks
  • Agogo Bells
  • Orchestra Bells
  • Vibraslap
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Foot Tambourine

Dirty Dancing - Tour - Ryan McCausland
March 2018

Ryan McCausland's percussion setup for the National Tour of Dirty Dancing at the Eisenhower Auditorium at Penn State in University Park, Pennsylvania.

"Conducting a National Tour is incredibly challenging, but so rewarding. Stepping on to the podium with a new orchestra every few weeks really keeps you on your toes. Every player responds differently so you are constantly adjusting to get the desired result. I would compare it to playing a multi-percussion piece where the instruments are constantly moving."
"After a grueling four years at SUNY I still had one theory class left to finish. I was really depressed. A classmate of mine recommended me for a tour of a Broadway show. This completely changed the course of my life."
"When I first got the call to start working on Ain’t Too Proud - The Life And Times Of The Temptations, I was curious about which era the show was going to focus on. Their career began in the early 1960’s and they’re still releasing albums today."
"The timpani tunings are the real challenge of The Little Mermaid. Changing pitches must be done by feel, that was my biggest challenge. Memorizing the mallet parts was also very necessary."
"As you can see in the pictures, I prefer to have as much 'stuff' right in front of me, as close as possible. Because there are so many instruments close in, I have mounted a music stand off of the tom mount.
"Different from the tour, the original Broadway production had acoustic drums, an acoustic set of timbales, and an acoustic tambourine - the tambourine is now programmed in the SPD-SX."
  • 2 min read

Gene Krupa's drum solo from "Gene's Blues" from the album Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich released November 1955.

Steve Jordan's drum solo from the title track of the album Casa Loco.
Robbie Ameen's drum solo from the track "Spring Fling".

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