Equity might allow 6 show weekends.

#1

Equity might allow 6 show weekends.

Posted: 11/17/11 at 2:02pm

So from what i hear, theres talk of a change to the current contracts for Broadway shows. In this new one, 6 shows in 3 days would be allowed (2 shows on fri/sat/sun). Wonder if this is going to leave us with 2 showless days in a week. I don't believe it would be an all year thing. Probably just around holidays. Wonder what the actors think about this.

Thoughts?

#2

Equity might allow 6 show weekends.

Posted: 11/17/11 at 2:08pm

To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if some of the bigger shows (WICKED, Lion King, ect.) do that PLUS the shows during the week (with one day off)

---

"Life in theater is give and take...but you need to be ready to give more then you take..."

#3

Equity might allow 6 show weekends.

Posted: 11/17/11 at 2:09pm

I don't like it. It has to be tough on your voice to do 6 shows in 3 days. That just seems like too much.

Updated On: 11/17/11 at 02:09 PM

#4

Equity might allow 6 show weekends.

Posted: 11/17/11 at 2:11pm

Those witches over at wicked would be calling out left and right i feel.

#5

Equity might allow 6 show weekends.

Posted: 11/17/11 at 2:15pm

If it were a temporary thing during the holidays and it adhered to the 8 show a week rule, then I could probably muscle through in a musical.

If it were a full time thing, I think that would be a greuling schedule for many shows. Not letting your voice/body rest properly between shows is a recipe for understudy disaster.

#6

Equity might allow 6 show weekends.

Posted: 11/17/11 at 2:21pm

It would only become permanent if a friday mat sold better than what... a Tuesday night. Cant see that being the case, but i also dont produce theatre. 6 shows in 3 days does sound like alot. Imagine if youre seeing show 6 of that. The cast would just be running on fumes right?!

#7

Equity might allow 6 show weekends.

Posted: 11/17/11 at 2:24pm

This is a brutal schedule and unless it were conceded to be a seasonal concession, I think Equity should fight against it.

#8

Equity might allow 6 show weekends.

Posted: 11/17/11 at 2:28pm

I doubt it's going to be a full time thing. There is no way they should expect a cast doing that many shows in such a short span of time. Yes...the holidays might be okay cuz it will only be a short few weeks (which will be ROUGH...and pushing it to the max for those poor cast/crew) but doable if the cast take extra care of themselves....and have some understudies on hand.
But full time? No...I could see another strike if that becomes a possibility.

---

"Life in theater is give and take...but you need to be ready to give more then you take..."

#9

Equity might allow 6 show weekends.

Posted: 11/17/11 at 2:30pm

I'd love to see Patti after a 6 show weekend. I bet she'd just be in a GREAT mood!

#10

Equity might allow 6 show weekends.

Posted: 11/17/11 at 2:30pm

I've done five-show weekends (not on Broadway, but of physically exhausting shows) and it's ROUGH. Yes...by show number 5, you're basically running on empty and letting muscle memory take you through it.

For a short period of time (the few weeks around X-mas/New Years), I'd probably be able to muscle through (especially if you end up having Mon/Tues/Weds afternoon off). But extending it beyond then is going to damage the producer's product immeasurably.

#11

Equity might allow 6 show weekends.

Posted: 11/17/11 at 2:31pm

ooo strike sounds scandalous.

#12

Equity might allow 6 show weekends.

Posted: 11/17/11 at 2:31pm

I would LOVE to see her after a 6 show weekend...the carnage would be amazing.

---

"Life in theater is give and take...but you need to be ready to give more then you take..."

#13

Equity might allow 6 show weekends.

Posted: 11/17/11 at 2:32pm

I'd just assume that the matinees would have alternate performers on.

#14

Equity might allow 6 show weekends.

Posted: 11/17/11 at 2:34pm

Adding alternates to long-running shows could end up being a contractual nightmare. But at least the lawyers will be making money!

#15

Equity might allow 6 show weekends.

Posted: 11/17/11 at 2:35pm

A good assumption. But that bugs me, because it means producers are making out while actors would be losing money for calling out. Sounds like a bum deal. I wonder if they would be getting something good in return. Maybe more sick days...???

#16

Equity might allow 6 show weekends.

Posted: 11/17/11 at 2:39pm

Updated On: 11/17/11 at 02:39 PM

#17

Equity might allow 6 show weekends.

Posted: 11/17/11 at 2:43pm

My understanding is that a 6 show weekend would be allowed up to 12 times a year. And it would be followed by 2 full days off. I think for certain shows it would be perfectly reasonable. But I do worry about the health and safety of performers in the athletic/high intensity choreography shows like Spiderman and How To Succeed...

My friends in equity are split on this - some think that they got a very good deal in most other aspects of the contract and think that the 6 in 3 won't be implemented all that often - so they will vote yes. Others are dead set against any discussion of the 6 in 3 and will vote no. Tricky stuff...

#18

Equity might allow 6 show weekends.

Posted: 11/17/11 at 2:46pm

I think they should split the difference. 9 times a year with no more than 3 weeks in a row.

#19

Equity might allow 6 show weekends.

Posted: 11/17/11 at 2:49pm

Davey, do u know if there was a concession/trade-off for that?

#20

Equity might allow 6 show weekends.

Posted: 11/17/11 at 3:03pm

I bow to the opinions of actors on this, but when the Fabulous Palm Springs Follies was still a 3-and-a-half hour show and the cast ranged in age from 57 to 84, they did 6-show weekends and even 9-show weeks during the height of the tourist season.

But they were absolutely religious about giving the actors two days off per week. (And to be fair, it's an ensemble show and shuts down completely every summer.) Dance injuries and vocal problems were surprisingly rare, particularly given the age of the cast.

***

Isn't WICKED still more or less selling out? Why would they trade an evening performance for a Friday matinee? Are afternoon shows no longer cheaper?

#21

Equity might allow 6 show weekends.

Posted: 11/17/11 at 3:11pm

As an audience member, I'd love this because it would mean I could see more shows in a weekend while I'm in the city. But as a performer, I would imagine that I'd be totally drained and susceptible to illness due to exhaustion, even. Though perhaps more full days off could be enticing. There are some roles (Elphaba, Elle Woods, etc) in which an alternate wasn't/isn't used that would probably make it impossible to even attempt that schedule, so hopefully if it does come to fruition, it would be seriously thought-out in each individual show's case. If Wicked did this, it would be just plain irresponsible.

---

"Art, in itself, is an attempt to bring order out of chaos."-Stephen Sondheim

#22

Equity might allow 6 show weekends.

Posted: 11/17/11 at 3:14pm

Oh boo hoo hoo. Did they ever see the schedule that the Rockettes do over at Radio City Music Hall? When they can perform as many shows as those girls do, then they can whine about 6 show weekends. Until then, tough titty said the kitty but the milk's still good.

--the ghost of Ethel Merman

---

If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

#23

Equity might allow 6 show weekends.

Posted: 11/17/11 at 3:16pm

I think comparing Rockettes to Broadway performers is a bit much.

---

"Life in theater is give and take...but you need to be ready to give more then you take..."

#24

Equity might allow 6 show weekends.

Posted: 11/17/11 at 3:20pm

Haha gotham. Anyway, those girls don't even do every show. Whoops.

#25

Equity might allow 6 show weekends.

Posted: 11/17/11 at 3:25pm

The Rockettes perform for two months. Two months. Yes...they work hard...but they perform that show for two months. TWO MONTHS.

And though I'm not familiar with the Fabulous Palm Springs Follies, something deep inside tells me they're not executing Ashford, Marshall or Trujillo-level choreography. I think asking someone to play Elphaba, Finch or Effie six times in three days is ridiculous. Would I attempt it for three weeks? Sure. And hopefully, all would be fine.