Equity might allow 6 show weekends.
Equity might allow 6 show weekends.
#1Equity 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?
#2Equity might allow 6 show weekends.
Posted: 11/17/11 at 2:08pmTo 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..."
Broadway Joe
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/15/10
#2Equity 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
#3Equity might allow 6 show weekends.
Posted: 11/17/11 at 2:11pmThose witches over at wicked would be calling out left and right i feel.
#4Equity 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.
#5Equity might allow 6 show weekends.
Posted: 11/17/11 at 2:21pmIt 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?!
#6Equity might allow 6 show weekends.
Posted: 11/17/11 at 2:24pmThis is a brutal schedule and unless it were conceded to be a seasonal concession, I think Equity should fight against it.
#7Equity 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..."
#8Equity might allow 6 show weekends.
Posted: 11/17/11 at 2:30pmI'd love to see Patti after a 6 show weekend. I bet she'd just be in a GREAT mood!
#9Equity 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.
#11Equity might allow 6 show weekends.
Posted: 11/17/11 at 2:31pmI 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..."
#12Equity might allow 6 show weekends.
Posted: 11/17/11 at 2:32pmI'd just assume that the matinees would have alternate performers on.
#13Equity might allow 6 show weekends.
Posted: 11/17/11 at 2:34pmAdding alternates to long-running shows could end up being a contractual nightmare. But at least the lawyers will be making money!
#14Equity might allow 6 show weekends.
Posted: 11/17/11 at 2:35pmA 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...???
DaveyG
Broadway Star Joined: 8/11/05
#16Equity 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...
#17Equity might allow 6 show weekends.
Posted: 11/17/11 at 2:46pmI think they should split the difference. 9 times a year with no more than 3 weeks in a row.
#18Equity might allow 6 show weekends.
Posted: 11/17/11 at 2:49pmDavey, do u know if there was a concession/trade-off for that?
Gaveston2
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/11
#19Equity 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?
bwayfan7000
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/28/09
#20Equity might allow 6 show weekends.
Posted: 11/17/11 at 3:11pmAs 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
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#21Equity 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.
#22Equity might allow 6 show weekends.
Posted: 11/17/11 at 3:16pmI 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..."
#23Equity might allow 6 show weekends.
Posted: 11/17/11 at 3:20pmHaha gotham. Anyway, those girls don't even do every show. Whoops.
#24Equity 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.
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