Interesting Child Actor Treatment in the current non-union Wizard of Oz tour

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 5/3/09 at 8:08pm

Now that the non-union Wizard of Oz tour is in Chicago, it got reviewed by the Chicago Tribune where they negatively commented on the child actors in the show. In response, a parent of one of the kids wrote back detailing the treatment the kids have been given. Interesting stuff:

http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/the_theater_loop/2009/05/wizard-of-oz-a-parent-of-a-munchkin-responds-.html#more

The original review:
http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/the_theater_loop/2009/05/if-this-wizard-of-oz-only-had-a-heart.html#more

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 5/3/09 at 8:08pm

I thought this was going to be about the fact that the kids aren't getting paid, which I thought was outrageous when I first heard about it (I know someone whose child auditioned).

Updated On: 5/3/09 at 08:08 PM

[beltingbaritone]

Posted: 5/3/09 at 8:23pm

I wonder what they meant exactly when they said, "the show expected all rehearsals to be done at our expense."

[sgv123]

Posted: 5/3/09 at 8:28pm

maybe travel?

[defyingravity07]

Posted: 5/3/09 at 8:30pm

approximately $400 in vocal and dance instruction not counting travel costs

Holy sh*t though. I mean really? No pay OR food? That can't be legal. It isn't like NETworks is this hole in the wall production company, they are a big name in the Non Union world. Why would this be allowed? Updated On: 5/3/09 at 08:30 PM

Posted: 5/3/09 at 8:52pm

Wow- I seem to recall a very similar story (Right down to the leftovers getting pitched) about another tour- was it Joseph?

[blaxx]

Posted: 5/3/09 at 9:07pm

I wonder what they meant exactly when they said, "the show expected all rehearsals to be done at our expense."

She means there was no compensation whatsoever for rehearsals, transportation, breaks, meals, etc.

I actually can't believe the story. I understand if they require volunteers to cut costs, but you must treat these volunteers like royalty, not like stray dogs.

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 5/3/09 at 9:36pm

From the comments section:

We saw the show thursday nite. After all their hard work, the munchkins did not get as much as a mention in the program. We think they deserved at least that much.

This part makes me angry as well. These kids worked hard-- they deserve to see their names in print.

[JazzSquare55]

Posted: 5/3/09 at 9:37pm

This is TERRIBLE.

they needed a production assistant responsible for handling this type of stuff.

Someone dropped the ball...

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/3/09 at 10:03pm

I have no first hand knowledge of this particular situation but after reading that parent's letter, I couldn't help picturing some Stage Mothers I have known.
Actually most are smart caring proud nuturing parents, but you also have many who can't see the forest for the trees.
Why is this the first time this has come up?
Did the company really tell them they had to take singing and dancing lessons and pay for them?
If this is all true, then complaints should be made and taken seriously.
But any parent that desperate to have their child perform even under such conditions has to take a step back and think about what really matters.
I would like to see the producer's response and answer to the complaints.
They got some explaining to do.
Updated On: 5/4/09 at 10:03 PM

[PianoMan2]

Posted: 5/3/09 at 10:21pm

First things first - there are 2 sides to every story, and some stage mothers are nuts and will spew lies if they feel they have been wronged. None of us know the reliability of this woman or what her circumstances were.

I wonder why the other parents didn't make a bigger fuss over this earlier. They know that they have to spend money on head shots and resume, why would they think they should be expected to perform for free - the work is the payoff of the investment!

On the other hand, assuming this is true, the producers have some explaining to do. If you can't afford to pay people and the incidentals (on a non union tour at that), then maybe you shouldn't be doing a tour! Or do something tiny like Springer Opera House or Nebraska Theater Caravan.

I expect that we will hear from the producers at some point, since this has been printed now they will hopefully be sart enough to try and do some damage control!

I too have always heard good things about NetWorks Updated On: 5/3/09 at 10:21 PM

[defyingravity07]

Posted: 5/3/09 at 10:33pm

I just don't know if I believe this. I have heard that NETworks has always treated it's casts to the best of their ability.

[lightguy06222]

Posted: 5/3/09 at 10:54pm

i recently applied for a job with NETworks!

Not that any of you care, but my fingers are crossed. They ARE the ones touring South Pacific next season!

[dramadude]

Posted: 5/3/09 at 11:14pm

All that I can say is thank goodness Networks operates under some Equity contracts... at least for South Pacific's sake.

[tourboi]

Posted: 5/3/09 at 11:53pm

Having worked on one of their tours, I can attest that they do take good care of the folks traveling with the show. I'm more inclined to think this is a disgruntled stage mom. But, I would like to see the company's response.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 5/4/09 at 12:35am

I have to agree with what CurtainPullDowner said.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 5/4/09 at 12:53am

Well, I just want to keep this short and sweet. I don't know the workings of this tour, so I can only say so much.. What I CAN comment to is to what this mother says..

"The rehearsals were long and the staging was very difficult. The kids worked extremely hard to perfect it for almost two months. The production company had no plans to work with the kids on stage, in costume, except for 1 hour prior to their first show."

Lady, I saw this show. If you, or your shild, think that the staging for the kids in this show is hard, you are DELUSIONAL. The choreo and staging given to the kids was pretty simplistic and along the lines of what a choir teacher would give the third grade in a Christmas pageant. VERY simple marching steps and the like.. and each actor was CLEARLY assigned two kids that stayed at their side for the entire time, directing them around the stage and prompting them. later in the show, they marched across the stage in a Winkie costume, then ran back on and stood at the sides for the Witch melting. There was NOTHING all that difficult.

As far as long rehearsal length, I DO know that they send a video of the kids' choreography along far ahead to each group so that the group can work ON THEIR OWN AND NOT UNDER THE THUMB OF THE TOUR to learn the show. That is why they specify that the kids cast in teh show MUST belong to an organized performance group or school. Those rehearsals are run by that group.. not the show. Gripe at them.

"There were a few instances where some of the kids were a step out of place on stage or acted like "children" for a brief moment and once again they were threatened to be pulled from the show."

If your kid wants to run around and play like a kid backstage, THEY SHOULD NOT BE THERE. PERIOD. It is not only disruptive, but unsafe. Telling a child to behave or they can't perform is NOT out of line.

"While waiting to go onstage, the catering company threw away trays of food, salads, fruit, without once asking the kids if they would like to have something, let alone the homeless people outside the theater that would have been happy to eat it."

First of all, they don't HAVE to feed anyone unless the turn around time is very close together. Here, it seems that it was. Still, unless in the contract, they aren't obligated to feed the heathens.. or their children. catering specifics are usually laid out in a tour rider and the catering is booked by the HOST VENUE, so take it up with them and the caterer.. If the venue paid for the catering, as commonly done, the venue didn't do it.. not the company. As far as throwing fodo out, so? Once again - blame the catere.. the show didn't say "toss the extras".. and clearly, since this lady gripes that they didn't feed the homeless outside, she just didn't want food to be tossed in general..

[jessica0414]

Posted: 5/4/09 at 12:54am

"Did the company really tell them they had to take singing and dancing lessons and pay for them?"

^ To be fair, I think it was the rehearsal pianist (?) and other rehearsal-related expenses that the parents were paying for, but I agree that it seems odd that the issue is just now coming up. Hopefully the kids and their families weren't treated as poorly as the letter says they were. Tourboi, I'll also be interested to see the company's response.

[tourboi]

Posted: 5/4/09 at 12:59am

It also has to be said that the PRODUCERS likely were not providing the meals, the PRESENTER was. SOMETIMES presenters in each market will provide catered meals. If MSG (the local PRESENTER, not PRODUCER) provided meals for all but the kids... take it up with them, not the show's management.

Secondly, know who the bosses are. She claims that MSG is the producer. They're not. NETworks is. MSG is the presenter and owner of the theatre.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 5/4/09 at 1:00am

Jessica, refer to my post above your's. I do know that OZ sends a video of the kids' choreography to the group to rehearse independant of the tour. With a schedule of one-nighters and split weeks, there is no way that they could send staff ahead to rehearse kids in EACH city for weeks.. especially on the show's budget. they send materials ahead, and the groups rehearse independantly of the tour and then have a put in the day of the show after load-in. That is why the show requires the kids to belong to performance groups and not individual, independant kids. ANYTHING that transpired during the rehearsal weeks is not the fault of NETworks. And clearly, if she complains about a put in the day of the show, the lady doesn't know how touring works.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 5/4/09 at 1:09am

tourboi,
Jinx!

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 5/4/09 at 1:56am

Jesus Christ. Chris' original review is pretty harsh, too. He is actually a former teacher of mine and I trust his opinion. I was actually called in to read/sing for Uncle Henry/The Guard by NETworks for the director, as they are looking for replacements. I didn't get it, but since this is evidently such a terrible production it's obviously for the best! God must have been watching over me

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 5/4/09 at 2:01am

There were a few instances where some of the kids were a step out of place on stage or acted like "children" for a brief moment and once again they were threatened to be pulled from the show. Who was unprofessional now!

How is that unprofessional? Yeah, it's "mean" because they're children, but considering how she kept stressing that the kids all had professional experience, they should have been behaving professionally, not acting like children on stage- even for a brief moment. There are child actors who very professional and capable. I don't think it's the fault of the non-Equity tour managers for expecting that of kids who were cast from a talent agency.

[tourboi]

Posted: 5/4/09 at 2:02am

I trust Chris' judgement about as far as I could throw him. He wants desperately to be the Ben Brantley of Chicago, and no dice. And his reviews are frequently filled with grammatical errors.

For my money, I read Kris Vire, or Chris Piatt in Time Out Chicago.

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 5/4/09 at 5:11am

A friend of mine works as a stage manager for Networks. She has loved them and speaks highly of them. I think there is something very fishy about what this parent has written here.