Re: Broadway is dark, musically anyway

Date: 11 Mar 2003 09:13:14 -0800
Newsgroups: rec.arts.theatre.musicals
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email-address-deleted (Carp75) wrote in message news:<email-address-deleted>...
> They do say you can't get rid of people. Shouldn't a producer, late in a
> show's run, be able to cut the chorus in half to reduce running size? Or hire
> non-equity actors for some tracks? (Audiences on the road have proven that
> they don't know/don't care about the difference.)
>
***This was done once that I'm aware of, with the transfer of Beauty
and the Beast (and the show suffers tremendously for it). But, let me
just point out that the entire reason Equity exists in the first place
is to secure REAL working conditions and perks for actors. Without
Equity contracts, maybe two or three production companies actually
give their actors health coverage or any kind of real salary. My
roommate was offered a chorus position in Troika's My Fair Lady tour.
They offered her $300 a week plus housing, no per diem for food. No
health care, no benefits in any way (including pension). They would
be charing somewhere from $45-75 per ticket. You tell me who's
scalping who. Broadway will just have to always remain under Equity
contracts in order to provide its employees with real employee
benefits and treatment.
FWIW, I am a non-working Equity actor (at the moment) and, while I
supported my union's decision to not cross 802's picket line, I am a
little disappointed that they made no waves or threats to do so until
4 pm on Friday afternoon. I think a little bit of a threat from
Equity and IATSE to shut down Broadway might have helped everyone
reach an agreement earlier and would have salvaged the weekend for the
thousands of visitors and patrons of Broadway.
On the other hand, I wonder if off-Broadway had an exceptionally good
weekend?
Eric