L.A. Theater question (Can you help me, Dame?)

[beacon1]

Posted: 7/9/04 at 9:40am

I know Broadway does the 8 performances a week thing...but what about in L.A.? Typically, how many performances are held per week?

Dame?

[ckeaton]

Posted: 7/9/04 at 10:21am

I'm going to make an assumption here... but I'm not Dame. :)

The 8 show a week construct is enforced by Equity... This applies to just about everything (including sitting productions, LORT, and tours) so often you will find 8 shows a week generally with Mondays off. The most frequent incarnation of the schedule is:

Traditional 8 show, Monday's off:
TUE-E, WED-M, WED-E, THU-E, FRI-E, SAT-M, SAT-E, SUN-M.

But, a newer schedule has been Sunday's off:
MON-E, TUE-E, WED-M, WED-E, THU-E, FRI-E, SAT-M, SAT-E.

Anyway you mix and match them, there needs to be one rest day, and a max of 8 shows a week. L.A., NYC, or Kansas City.

Posted: 7/9/04 at 10:31am

A big distinction in the LA metro area is that weekday matinees are rarely (if ever) done. The big Equity houses usually still do 8 shows a week, but both matinees are on the weekend - makes for a VERY long weekend for the performers.

[DAME]

Posted: 7/9/04 at 1:29pm

usually 8 shows a week for the equity shows. No midweek matiness . And the weekend schedule usualy ( but not always) is Friday night, Saturday mat and evening. Sunday Mat and Evening.

[beacon1]

Posted: 7/9/04 at 1:43pm

Thanks, Dame, and everyone else who answered this question.

I've always wondered because LA theater doesn't seem to get a lot of publicity at this end of the country.

[DAME]

Posted: 7/9/04 at 1:49pm

We have a few theaters that do alot of wonderful original work. Mark taper being one of them. ( Did you know that Master Class, Anges In America, jellys Last Jam, and Kentucky Cycle were all done their first?) We also have the houses that host the national tours. And theres tons and tons of small 99 seater theaters. Some do great stuff and alot do really bad stuff.

[BWayBoy88]

Posted: 7/9/04 at 4:34pm

Didnt the Big River revival start at the Mark Taper also?

[shira467]

Posted: 7/9/04 at 4:54pm

Speaking of "Master Class", it's playing at the Odyssey Theater around Olympic/Sepulveda here in Los Angeles. I plan on seeing it.

Posted: 7/9/04 at 5:18pm

Yes, BIG RIVER was from the Taper. South Coast Repertory is also the home to many new plays. A couple seen this year in NYC started there over the last couple of years - INTIMATE APPAREL and THE BEARD OF AVON.

[shira467]

Posted: 7/9/04 at 5:38pm

Intimate Apparel is going to be back at the Taper, in case anyone is interested!

[KarenNYC]

Posted: 7/9/04 at 9:57pm

Also, on the rare occasion that there is a weekday matinee, it's more likely going to be on a Thursday and not a Wednesday.

And to add to the other part of the discussion, lots of shows have their pre-Broadway runs in L.A./San Diego, such as The Full Monty and Millie (those were at the Old Globe in San Diego), plus Into The Woods, Amadeus, and even Martin Guerre ended its pre-Broadway tour in L.A. before the whole thing got scrapped. There's also August Wilson's Jitney, but that was Off Broadway.

~Karen
(originally from L.A.)

Updated On: 7/9/04 at 09:57 PM

Posted: 7/9/04 at 10:15pm

If there's a list going, might I add: WIT, QED - and maybe most importantly to some on this board, BARE. Oh, yes, there's also the upcoming JEWTOPIA. Not to mention, in San Diego they're starting the process of DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS. Updated On: 7/9/04 at 10:15 PM