Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread- Page 60

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/5/18 at 6:26pm

There is a lovely video of Jeff Loeffelholz channeling Barbara Cook.  This is the first time I've ever heard J. Loeffelholz perform.  https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Original-CHICAGO-Revival-Cast-Member-Jeff-Loeffelholz-Passes-Away-20180705

[morosco]

Posted: 7/5/18 at 6:42pm

Can anyone explain exactly how a "run of play" contract works?  Is every original cast member under a "run of play" contract or only some members?  If it is only with some members of the cast, what determines who gets a contract like that?

What about standard contracts?  When someone is cast in a Broadway show, isn't it usually a specified term of time ( months, 12 months)?  After that time period their contract will be either renewed or not renewed if there is just cause?

I'm guessing that  what further complicates this whole thing is that probably no one expected the show to run for 20 years?  Which brings up another thought, how does someone's age play into a "run of play" contract?  At some point will the show determine that an actor is to old for a role and that could be considered just cause?

Are run of play contracts still an option for an actor?  It just seems like a crazy thing to offer an employee.  

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 7/5/18 at 6:53pm

"Run of the Play" is an old golden Broadway era definition of an agent negotiated clause in Equity Contracts that indeed gives performers exactly that. It essentially refers to a special waiver in principal contracts, not chorus contracts. Ensemble members traditionally never had 'run of the play' contracts. And famously producers like David Merrick would fire cast members on a whim.

But -In the early 1980s after Martin Charnin took that to an extreme and fired almost all the ensemble of the musical ANNIE on Broadway, AEA changed their rules making it extremely difficult (essentially impossible) for producers to fire actors on chorus contracts without due cause. You don't really need a 'run of the play' clause in your contract as a chorus person on Broadway, because you more or less have one when you sign.

I don't believe that Equity has stipulations about 'age' in their contracts - I think the wording is essentially that a performer is expected to maintain their appearance. When a child, for example, grows 3 inches in a year, they aren't maintaining the appearance they were hired under and its a given that they can be replaced.  But as I mentioned above, I know for a fact that the producers at WICKED have had to buy out contracts of ensemble members they feel have aged out of their tracks.  

It's again very difficult to terminate a chorus contract without due cause.

Updated On: 7/5/18 at 06:53 PM

[morosco]

Posted: 7/5/18 at 7:02pm

Thanks for the insight QueenAlice.

On a side note, this reminded me of when George Lee Andrews was suddenly let go from PHANTOM.  But it appears that he was on a six month contract which over the years had been renewed over the years over 40 times.  Why wouldn't he have been on a run of play contract?

After 9,382 Performances, Actor to Leave ‘Phantom’

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 7/5/18 at 7:11pm

It's unlikely that George Lee Andrews who played a relatively small principal role would have been offered a run of the play contract. And he likely didn't want one. He would have made more money renegotiating his contract every six months. 

The old joke used to be that if you were any principal woman in a David Merrick show you had to negotiate for a run of the play contract. I can't remember who it was - maybe Carole Deamas - who was fired by Merrick twice and had run of the play contracts in both instances and ended up making a really good Broadway salary for nearly a decade, despite never appearing in a Broadway theatre.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/5/18 at 7:18pm

For those of you  who might be willing to be of assistance, here is the link to the  GoFund Me page in memory of Jeff Loeffelholz and in support of his partner.  https://www.gofundme.com/celebrate-jeff039s-vibrant-life

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 7/5/18 at 11:21pm

So touching to see so many Chicago alumnae donating to the GoFundMe, it's a testament to Jeff's meaning to the Chicago family.

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

Posted: 7/5/18 at 11:48pm

The light that comes out out of tragedies that effect the Broadway community—this, the Ruthie Ann Miles tragedy, Jerad Bortz from Wicked’s horrible accident, Eric LaJuan Summers cancer diagnosis as examples all in the past year—is you see the true sense of support and community come out; the messages of “we never worked on a show together, but we’re both members of this community and we rise and fall together.” That is support. That is community. Because some of those generous people currently in ehows, I can guarantee they walked up to the Equity deputy in their show and said, “We need to talk about rule 34.”

Professional actors are aware of criticism and understand how to take. Look at the notes they take at a rehearsal or notes session with dance captain or MD sometime. But no one—no matter your job, be it McDonalds or on stage—has the right to belittle, harass, or purposefully humiliate another human. I work in a Y5-8 school and so many of the social emotional learning activities we do at every grade level, from Y5 pre-K to 8th come back this notion of you don’t treat people like.

As others have posted, mental and emotional abuse are Far too in the business. It happens everyday.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/6/18 at 5:00pm

Be mindful of the fact that although we often express personal opinions about things,some of those opinions can have possible legal ramnifications for BWW.  That, in turn, can have permanent consequences for this thread. In other words, please be careful of what  you say and how you say it.  Peace.

[@z5]

Posted: 7/6/18 at 6:35pm

Damn, you seem more concerned and obsessed with your thread than anything. Is this like your greatest accomplishment? Someone tragically died and all you plea for is the fate of your obsession thread.

[A Director]

Posted: 7/6/18 at 10:58pm

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "Be mindful of the fact that although we often express personal opinions about things,some of those opinions can have possible legal ramnifications for BWW. That, in turn, can have permanent consequences for this thread. In other words, please be careful of what you say and how you say it. Peace."

Patti LuPone FANatic,  Really?  Your ridiculous thread is more important than someone's life?  Guess you don't have much going on in your life.   This thread should have been closed long ago.  I feel the same about this musical.

 

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/6/18 at 11:22pm

First of all, it's not a ridiculous thread.  Many people who post here comment on things they like about the show and things they don't care about the show.  I posted this before the story broke all over, with the names and circumstances of the people involved.  Also, I made my comments because of an email I received from a moderator. That moderator made some valid points.  What has happened is truly shocking and disturbing.  I hope that justice will  prevail.   Jeff Loeffelholz was loved and appreciated by many.   There are some Dueling Duet videos on YouTube that show his brilliance.  I've seen some of them.  They are remarkable.  If someone thinks that this thread is more important than a human life, then that's a mistaken impression on their part.  

[BeadleDeedle]

Posted: 7/6/18 at 11:25pm

In a thread discussing the possibilty of a man being bullied so bad he turned to suicide, A Director and @z5 decide to bully the OP. Truly despicable.

[@z5]

Posted: 7/6/18 at 11:33pm

No - it's pointing out the ridiculousness that the fate of an online thread is seemingly more important and the point of the conversation than the tragedy in reference. It's prioritizing importance and the sad realization that this seems to be of more concern than an innocent individual gone too soon, for reasons we may or may not know at this time.

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 7/6/18 at 11:40pm

I didn't see it as "bullying the OP" at all. Merely trying to say that trying to steer the conversation away from its current point (at least that's what it seemed like from here) seemingly illustrates that the thread is of greater importance to them than the discussion at hand. It seems that was the wrong impression, but it is what I initially thought, and seemingly what @z5 and A Director thought as well. No one is bullying anyone.

[MosaicOwl]

Posted: 7/6/18 at 11:43pm

Has anyone considered that the OP of this thread wants to protect it from being deleted from the mods because he wants information and thoughts on Jeff's tragic suicide to remain online and searchable?

None of you know this, but I am a family member of Jeff's, and the OP messaged me privately to offer condolences to Jeff's family and friends. He is not heartless to this matter.

[antonijan]

Posted: 7/6/18 at 11:45pm

Why didn't Chicago have a Pride Playbill for 2018 (I checked and couldn't find one) maybe...they are cutting cost? How are their grosses recently? It would be sad to think that Jeff was bullied to drum him out and save money.

[BeadleDeedle]

Posted: 7/7/18 at 12:10am

@z5:
“Damn, you seem more concerned and obsessed with your thread than anything. Is this like your greatest accomplishment?”

A Director:
“Guess you don’t have much going on in your life”

That’s bullying. You didn’t have to say these things. You chose to be cruel. I’m sure the OP doesn’t need me sticking up for them but how about you guys go get a life.

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 7/7/18 at 12:22am

MosaicOwl said: "Has anyone considered that the OP of this thread wants to protect it from being deleted from the mods because he wants information and thoughts on Jeff's tragic suicide to remain online and searchable?

None of you know this, but I am a family member of Jeff's, and the OP messaged me privately to offer condolences to Jeff's family and friends. He is not heartless to this matter."

That was a very nice thing for him to do. And indeed, I think I can speak for all of us when I say all of our thoughts are with all off Jeff's loved ones. It sounds like he was a pure light. 

[ethan231h]

Posted: 7/7/18 at 12:23am

antonijan said: "Why didn't Chicago have a Pride Playbill for 2018 (I checked and couldn't find one) maybe...they are cutting cost? How are their grosses recently? It would be sad to think that Jeff was bullied to drum him out and save money."

they had a pridebill and either way the pride play bills are done by Playbill not the show. 

[NoName3]

Posted: 7/7/18 at 1:56am

How about a little appreciation?  Jeff as Mary Sunshine, 1997.

 

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/8/18 at 10:13pm

Michelle De Jean will return to "Chicago" as Roxie  Hart from July 12 -- September 20.  I've seen her in that You Tube video.   Charlotte D' Amboise will stay on as Roxie until July 10.  (per Telecharge)

[JBradshaw]

Posted: 7/8/18 at 10:40pm

It’s Jeff but David’s vocals 

 

NoName3 said: "How about a little appreciation? Jeff as Mary Sunshine, 1997.

 

"

 

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/12/18 at 12:57pm

I am eager to see the video footage of the cast of "Chicago" in today's Bryant Park performance.  

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/14/18 at 1:18pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/BWW-TV-CHICAGO-Paints-the-Town-at-Broadway-in-Bryant-Park-20180714