Charlottetown Festival orchestra to be cut

The orchestra at the Charlottetown Festival will have one-third fewer members next year with the number of musicians being cut to 13 from 19.

Confederation Centre officials said a change in the score of Anne of Green Gables -The Musical early next year will mean it can be presented with a reduced orchestra.

CEO Jessie Inman said the change will make it easier to tour the musical and allow the theatre to keep tickets at a reasonable price.

"We are continuing to look at ways to reduce the cost of the production so that we can continue to offer visitors and Islanders reasonable ticket prices here at the Confederation Centre of the Arts," she said Monday.

"This will save quite significantly, in excess of $100,000 per season."

Inman, who recently took over the job as CEO, said the reduced orchestra size won't impact the experience of theatre-goers.

"I think the magical theatre experience that we have offered to our patrons of Anne -The Musical  for so many years will be maintained. The integrity of that score will be maintained, and I don't believe that our patrons will have any lesser experience," she said.

" I think it will be as beautiful as always."

Inman said no other cuts are planned.