confuoco

Hi Tony,

Was wondering if you could comment on the current Broadway situation with the strike. As I understand it the stage crew guys and gals are on strike and so the musicians go with them. Any hopes of this being resolved soon. I imagine this must be one of the worst times of year for these productions to go down with all the holiday visitors.

kadleck

Well, it's all pretty ugly. The stage hands have certain "minimums" as do (or did) the musicians. They feel that they need a certain number of people to load in a show, move scenery, etc. without it becoming dangerous. The producers feel that the stage hands could do the same job with less people & they resent being told how many people to hire (like they felt with the musicians).

Missing Thanksgiving week (one of the busiest) is a HUGE blow to the producers, so now I'm sure they are in this for the long haul, possibly until Christmas week or later.

In addition to all of us being out of work, chances are that some of the weaker (less attended) shows will probably close as a result.

We are required to show up for every performance and "sign in" in order to get our "strike pay" which is $30 per show. Many of us live far away, and I know that personally it costs me $37 to come into NYC, so it's actually a loss. But the point is to support the stage hands too.

It's really a mess but things could always be worse!

Tony

trumpetdoc

In addition,

Today's newspaper reports that the producers have "stockpiled a $20-million strike fund, what's considered Mutual Assistance Plan insurance..." which makes it look like they planned on being in it for the long haul. So it does look ugly. And don't forget that it trickles down to the subs (musician and otherwise) who depend on the holiday busy season for their living as well.

Leon

tatakata

Have the stage hands backed you guys up in the past when the musicians went on strike? Hope you guys get back to work soon.

kadleck

The stagehands did back us in 2003 when we went on strike. That strike only lasted for 4 days as the mayor put pressure on both sides to resolve. Our mayor has a laissez-faire attitude this time & I'm not sure why. He should step in.

Leon is correct. All of this trickles down. Subs also get hurt as do restaurants, hotels, parking lots, etc... Broadway is a huge industry for NYC, and according to the producers the city is losing 15-17 million dollars per day.

Tony

bnbtrpt

What I dont get is why the mayor came to you guys a few years ago and said you must absoulutely figure this out because its costing everybody WAY too much money. That was only like four days. Hasn't this been going on for over a week? Is he scared to get caught up with their union or something?

Khora

Last time he was in the middle of his first term, and so was thinking about re-election. He can only serve 2 terms, so re-election isn't a factor this time around.

Of course he should step in this time too, but his personal incentive isn't as great this time.

Or maybe I'm just completely jaded at this point.....

confuoco

Saturday, 24 November 2007

Talks to Resume as Broadway Stagehands Strike Enters Week Three


NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Striking stagehands and theater producers have agreed to return to the bargaining table Sunday, one week after negotiations collapsed and kept most of Broadway dark during the lucrative Thanksgiving holiday week _ the second full week of no performances.

The meeting was announced Saturday by Charlotte St. Martin, executive director of the League of American Theatres and Producers, and was confirmed by the stagehands union.

``We are glad they accepted our invitation to negotiate,'' said Bruce Cohen, a spokesman for Local 1 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.

More than two dozen plays and musicals have been closed since Nov. 10, when the stagehands walked off the job.

A settlement was believed to have been in the works last Sunday after a marathon weekend of negotiating, but the talks ended abruptly with producers walking out. No negotiations were held during Thanksgiving week, one of the best weeks for Broadway business.

The complicated contract dispute has focused on how many stagehands are required to open a Broadway show and keep it running. That means moving scenery, lights, sound systems and props into the theater; installing the set and making sure it works; and keeping everything functioning well for the life of the production.

The producers want a flexible number; the union wants a set number and ample compensation for any concessions made.

The negotiations have been protracted. They began last summer, with each side preparing for the worst.

The producers set up a $20 million strike emergency fund, taking a couple of cents out of each ticket sold over the last several years to pay for it. The money would help struck shows struggling with the costs of a shutdown.

The union, too, has its own fund _ benefits of more than $4.1 million for its members as well as another $1 million allotted for members of other unions affected by the walkout.

Meanwhile, one shut musical _ ``Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!'' _ came back to life Friday after its reopening was ordered by state Supreme Court Justice Helen Freedman.

The judge said she believed the show's production company would be irreparably harmed if the $6 million holiday musical wasn't permitted to resume its limited run, which ends Jan. 6.

Eight other shows, whose theaters have separate contracts with the league, remain unaffected by the walkout: ``Pygmalion,'' ``The Ritz,'' ``Cymbeline,'' ``Young Frankenstein,'' ``Mary Poppins,'' ``Xanadu,'' ``The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee'' and ``Mauritius,'' which closes Sunday as scheduled. All off-Broadway productions are open, too.

Schwab

I want to see some Dave Stahl action in Drowsy Chaperone. I was going to check it out last Tuesday, but the strike killed that plan.

tatakata

Just checked out Dave Stahls website. WOW!