Equity might allow 6 show weekends. — Page 2

The Rockettes don't do every performance.

son of robbie, the Palm Springs Follies's choreography might surprise you. But I tried to acknowledge some of the reasons why it isn't perfectly analogous: it is an ensemble show (the principal singers may sing half-a-dozen solos plus numerous ensemble numbers, but they aren't playing Evita or Elphaba) and the cast gets a couple of months off every summer. (On the other hand, the PS Follies performers are senior citizens.)

But I thought the most important point was the two days off per week. (I worked in marketing and we would have loved to schedule an extra show or two each week during High Season, but the director-producer was adamant about the two days off.)

And like the contract speculated above, the performers didn't do six shows EVERY weekend, but a certain number of weekends per year.

I completely agree with you iluvtheatertrash. Can't you imagine singing Next to Normal, Aida, Jersey Boys, etc 6 times in three days!!?? Unreal.

Equity sucks as and never has a backbone big enough to stand up to idiot producers. Equity, do something for once in your existence. They are leaving it up to a vote to the members of equity but don't let it even come to a vote. Just ****ing so no flat out. Christ...

having worked in my share of non-equity theaters, I have performed 6 shows over the course of 3 days. It's exhausting and I just don't see it flying.

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Maybe it would just mean more alternates in lead roles, or more shows set aside for understudies.

In London, many West End shows add in a ninth show during holiday weeks, including Wicked, Jersey Boys and a few more of the big ones. Typically at the extra matinee the understudy for the central character goes on, but not always, obviously Londons normal schedule is different, but the last school holiday week gone, Wickeds schedule was Monday: 7:30, Tuesday: 7:30, Wednesday: 2:30, 7:30, Thursday: 2:30, 7:30, Friday: 7:30, Saturday: 2:30, 7:30 They have never had any problems, it works VERY well and of course brings in those important extra monies!

Well, it does mean you get two one show day, then two two-show days, than another one day show before yet another 2 show day... it is better... but not much!

Maybe they can juggle things around to do: Saturday 1pm, Saturday 5pm, and Saturday 9pm.

You do realize these are people and not robots, right?

I can't believe how many are in favor of this. That this is good simply because it means one more show for you to see on the weekends is short-sighted and narrow-minded. It's not as easy as hiring an alternate for a lead- most of the leads would end up needing alternates, more swings would have to be hired to cover for overworked and increasingly injured ensemble members. More cast members means higher running costs, so shows will be more expensive to mount, they won't run as long, and ticket prices will be higher to make up for it.

If you feel so desperately that you need to see theatre every waking hour for 3 days, try something off-Broadway or off-off-Broadway with alternate hours. But don't support this, then come online and complain that Alice Ripley was out again, or that her voice sounded terrible when she was in, or someone was mean to you at the stagedoor after a Sunday evening show- or worse, didn't come out at all- because they were too burnt out after 6 shows to deal with it.

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Updated On: 11/17/11 at 08:44 PM

I think it's a terrific idea, especially during the holidays. Everybody knows it's the time of year when there are almost no cold, flu or other respiratory viral infections going around. So, man up, performers. You want fame? Well, fame costs.

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I think with a 6-show weekend, a producer would put on standbys, alternates, and understudies at least for one of the performances (pending the demand of the role). In this situation, the chorus would be the ones hurting the most.

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TERRIBLE idea. Eight shows a week is brutal enough as it is.

Yeah it's just an overall bad idea. I wonder what this would mean for the other unions. I believe the orchestra at Mary Poppins (and any other show with 5-show weekends) already is paid overtime for their fifth weekend show. I'd imagine crew would be getting overtime too. That's a lot of people getting overtime pay.

I'm glad Sarah Brightman isn't alive to see this.

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