Is The Pitt a Musical?

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Have you come across television shows that essentially function as extended movies, lasting for ten hours? Well, imagine a production that stretches over fifteen hours, more akin to a grand stage play or an immersive art experience like Sleep No More. Now consider The Pitt, where even the star Noah Wyle and the best boy were dressed in scrubs during Warner Bros.’ TV press day. As John Wells, the producer, explained, this was crucial for the set’s expansive and open layout: “Everyone on the set wears scrubs because the set is so large that you’re often found in the background of shots. The crew members are frequently unintentionally included as well.

As a movie critic, I found “The Pitt” to be remarkably authentic in its portrayal. The set, modeled after Pittsburgh’s Allegheny Hospital, is meticulously detailed, even down to the peculiar blend of Egyptian, Corinthian, and Celtic columns gracing the waiting room. The scale is immense, with endless bays ready to accommodate the series’ gruesome medical dramas that seemingly befall its unfortunate characters.

For Isa Briones, transitioning from “Hadestown” to her role as Dr. Trinity Santos was smoother thanks to the show’s theater roots. She noted, “Many of us have theater backgrounds; it seems like this TV show was tailor-made for us.” Unlike most TV productions, “The Pitt” follows a sequential shooting schedule, which is beneficial given the extensive blood spatter on the floor that could present challenges in maintaining continuity. Indeed, there’s an overwhelming amount of blood involved in this series.

Briones remarked, “Everything seems to be just a dress rehearsal.” He explained, “We’re always performing. It’s as if we never leave the stage because we often play supporting roles in other people’s stories. And our handling of trauma scenes is so meticulously practiced. It’s like a dance, it’s choreographed. We rehearse it over and over again until it becomes second nature to us. Then, there’s barely any time between rehearsing and shooting. So it feels like we’re on stage.” In essence, the show is like a musical, and its trauma scenes are the dramatic dance numbers where everyone appears drenched in blood at the end, much like in Sunset Boulevard.

Just as actors on a long-running Broadway play make their marks on the set, the cast of “The Pitt” has begun to customize their spaces. Katherine LaNasa, who portrays charge nurse Dana Evans, shared, “I have my desk and personal items stored inside it.” Working in a large, open ER-like set contributes to the authenticity of our performances, as we grow increasingly comfortable with our surroundings. It’s amazing how one can remain calm even amidst scenes involving severe injuries like a foot degloving!

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2025-02-13 09:53