Broadway's Lost Treasures

[Wanda Richert]

Posted: 3/29/07 at 2:44pm

Hi, guys...Wanda again ...Wishing you all an Empowered Thursday!

*I'm re-sending my final post from last night...for some reason it didn't go through.*
It read:

Hi, again everyone...Wanda here...

This is difficult to answer everyone individually, so let me close this evening by saying it is important for you all to know that very shortly this will be unfolding, and you will be reading information that is directly from our legal counsel. I'm sure you will all be made aware of Mr. Smiley's findings along with us. We still don't know exactly where the "truth and nothing but the truth" lies, and it is not appropriate for me to say anything more at this time. Mr. Smiley is doing his job, and we will all be aware of his findings in the very near future.

I can't stress enough the fact that the biggest question here is: Why is it OK for Chris Cohen to be splitting his income from these SALES of the DVDs with his family and taking care of his mom?...who by the way, passed away in 2004...where did the monies that were going to her end up for the past three years she has been gone? Who gave Cohen the authority to do so without our permission? THOSE are the things we are trying to uncover. AFTRA won't return my phone calls...and Cohen has just flat out ignored me for months. Why the avoidance from all the parties involved with the initial deals?

It is important for these works to be seen around the world...OF COURSE it is!...that's not the point. My comment about The Lincoln Center Library was only as an example of what "used to be"...there were no .com's, and computers, and cell phones, and cds, and dvds in existence all those years ago...the Library was the only place to view the show...and those tapes were not allowed for public viewing for TEN YEARS after their entry into the archives unless you were a member of the cast. Times have changed, however, and this needs to be addressed by our unions, so that a fair agreement for the future can be reached for all of us. We count on them, pay our dues, and they owe us their protection. The 42nd Street Album is just another example of this for me. It was an album...a vinyl album...now IT, AS WEll, is being sold on the internet, chopped up into many other compilation CDs also being sold everywhere. I have my original contract right next to me now that still hasn't been honored for my percentages..and that was twenty six years ago...I have gotten the run around on that too! I mean, we all know we are in the theater because we LOVE it...it's our passion...but Passion doesn't pay the rent. This is Show "Business"...and although things can get ugly at times in any business...that is a
"what is" that needs to be grasped and handled when necessary...no matter how many feathers get ruffled. I just feel it is time for integrity to make a huge comeback.

Lastly...the verdict of "GREED on the part of the performers" has absolutely no place in this suit, and it saddened me greatly to see so much of that judgment directed toward both myself and my Oh So Talented BLT friends today as I read through this board. EVERY ONE of our BLT group has remarked exactly this:

"The most wonderful thing in all of this...forget the money... is that there are so many of us that have lost touch over the years and life transitions we have all gone on to make, that being able to reunite, even under these circumstances, and reminisce of the Broadway we were all a part of and remember with such joy...has absolutely been the biggest blessing!"

I fully embrace hearing from any of you who would like to contact me personally about this situation, or just have me answer the more personal questions I didn't get to (that's for you PalJoey)
you can contact me at:
www.myspace.com/broadwaybabyinc

Send me a friend request..or just message me...I'll get back to you as soon as I'm able.
Love and Light to you all!

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 3/29/07 at 2:47pm

It is the same one we have been responding to below, right?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/29/07 at 2:53pm

With the same question you've been dodging in every thread: Did Actor's Equity make arrangements with Cohen to distribute these DVDs or did they not?

Why have you refused to answer that question, Wanda, in all 3 threads?