No Musicals on Broadway

[PamOKW]

I tried to see if this was already posted and I didn't see anything.

The musicians' union that plays for the Broadway shows went on strike today and the actors union has joined them. There will be no Broadway musicals (with the exception of Cabaret) all weekend. Broadway dramas are not effected. Ticket holders will have their money refunded.
Negotiations have not been scheduled so this may go on into next week as well. Hopefully, not.

It was sad to hear them talking to the tourists who had come to NYC to see one or more shows this weekend. Can you imagine waiting months to see "The Lion King" and then having this happen? I hope they resolve the problem quickly.

 

[Serena]

I would be so upset if that happened to me. I hope they get whatever they need settled soon.

 

[allicat]

DH and I were going into the city on Sunday to see Movin' Out.
I got the tickets as Christmas present for him but we had to wait until March to go because that was the first month tickets were even available on a weekend.
Looks like we will be waiting even longer now!

 

[JohnMouse]

The musicians are striking because, I think, because the producers impose a minimum number of musicians for each show. The producers were going to replace the striking musicians with so-called "virtual orchestras", some kind of gadget that simulates an orchestra. Now that the actors union has joined the strike, this virtual thing is moot.

I do hope this dispute is resolved soon.

 

[Claudia1]

I may get flamed for this but I have don't understand the multitude of strikes in our modern society. My FIL was a union leader back in the 30's and 40's and they held strikes for life-threatening work conditions and very serious issues. He has often said that today's strikes ultimately hurt the ones that strike, not the management. Strikes were different back then (according to him).

What are they striking about?

This will affect so many people. I hope it is worth it.

 

[Amzey]

Here are some links to further explanations of the strike:
http://www.broadway.com/template_1.asp?CI=25679&CT=38
http://www.broadway.com/template_1.asp?CI=25677&CT=38
http://www.broadway.com/template_1.asp?CI=25634&CT=38

I support the cause of the musicians, particularly because one of my friends is good friends with someone in the musicians union. It's a bummer because I was going to be at 4 shows this week - Flower Drum Song, Urinetown, Thoroughly Modern Millie and A Little Night Music. Luckily, Night Music will still go on because it's at City Opera.
I hope this ends soon - Broadway is such a big part of my life, it will be a sad week going to just one show. I'm particularly disappointed because I adore Hunter Foster in Urinetown and this was supposed to be his last week - it looks like I will not see him again. It is also supposed to be Sheryl Lee Ralph's last week in Millie, and my ticket for Tuesday night was to see her one last time.

 

[KathleenC]

My 3 sisters, our mother, and 5 of our 6 daughters had plans to meet in NYC to see Thoroughly Modern Millie tomorrow (3/9).

We got the tickets for Millie after having great seats for Oklahoma which then closed 2 weeks ago.

This trip was not meant to be. We won't be able to reschedule this until the fall, probably.

 

[Regina]

You can't have a Broadway musical without a full live orchestra. It wouldn't be the same.

It's a shame that the producers tried to cut corners by limiting the number of musicians. It's unfair to everyone, including the audience.

I see the NYC news, and they interviewed some play-goers who were impacted by this. They seemed disappointed but also very understanding of the situation.

I hope that this gets settled soon.

 

[Amzey]

Aww, Kathleen, Millie and Oklahoma, two of my favorites. I was crushed when OK closed, I was able to sit front row at closing night which was incredible, it was a really emotional night for the whole cast. I hope you can get back to the city in the fall to see Millie, it's such a fun show, very upbeat.

 

[WDWHound]

It's a shame that the musicains union is trying to continue to force Producers to hire more musicians than they may need. If this were about canned music, why don't they just seek to have canned music forbidden? Thats seems like a more direct solution.

Many shows do no not call for a huge, lush Orchestras (especially rock musicals). Why should they have to hire more musicians than they need.

Minimums have been around for a long time. I first heard about them in the early eighties, long before the idea of canned music. It wasn't about preventing canned music then and it isn't now (though the unions are convincing many people that it is). Its all nonsense designed to protect the jobs of the union members and it only hurts the consumer by driving up prices. I don't want to see Broadway shows using canned music either, but I doubt shows that did this would get enough ticket sales to survive, so I don't worry about it.

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

no one can question my love of theater, my love of musicals. it wouldn't be Broadway without live music.

but I do not support this strike. the cost of producing musicals has escalated out of control, and one of the reasons is that producers are forced to pay for a specific number of musicians whether they play or not. I don't believe in paying someone to sit on his behind and NOT play music just to satisfy union rules.

this strike is likely to kill Broadway altogether. and that would be a crime.