MRS. DOUBTFIRE Post-Hiatus Return - News & Discussion Thread- Page 2

[JSquared2]

Posted: 1/2/22 at 7:44pm

ArtMan said: "It was stated in the article that if open and performances are cancelled cast/crew are paid. This way he ain't paying!"

Exactly -- that was my point.  It is NOT stated in the article, but there had been a proposal from the League producers on the table that would have allowed shows to shut down for 8-10 weeks, but everyone would essentially remain on contract -- at a reduced rate of 25-35% of their salaries (which even for an actor making scale would be around $700/week plus benefits).  The unions refused to even consider this -- so now their members get nothing.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 1/2/22 at 7:45pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Alexander Lamar said: "Doesn’t sound like anyone would be getting paid while on hiatus. Did he have to get buy in from the unions for this?"

I ASSUME they are ending the contract of everyone currently employed, and then everyone will be offered their job at the same rate when perfs begin in March."

100% correct.

 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 1/2/22 at 7:45pm

This is the best news I've heard in weeks and I am proud of Kevin for doing this. I was not expecting him to be the leader we need. Hopefully this will lead others to get in line and for the League to make this universal, with a negotiated arrangement with the unions. Disgraceful that we are having to limp into this. 

 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 1/2/22 at 7:50pm

HogansHero said: "This is the best news I've heard in weeks and I am proud of Kevin for doing this. I was not expecting him to be the leader we need. Hopefully this will lead others to get in line and for the League to make this universal, with a negotiated arrangement with the unions. Disgraceful that we are having to limp into this.

"

I met him after I saw Doubtfire and I will confirm: HE. IS. THE. MAN.

[adotburr]

Posted: 1/2/22 at 7:50pm

HogansHero said: "This is the best news I've heard in weeks and I am proud of Kevin for doing this. I was not expecting him to be the leader we need. Hopefully this will lead others to get in line and for the League to make this universal, with a negotiated arrangement with the unions. Disgraceful that we are having to limp into this.

"

So you would rather 115 people out of jobs for 9 weeks vs. the occasional cancelled show once or twice per week? To each their own I guess. 

[Kad]

Posted: 1/2/22 at 7:53pm

JSquared2 said: "ArtMan said: "It was stated in the article that if open and performances are cancelled cast/crew are paid. This way he ain't paying!"

Exactly -- that was my point. It is NOT stated in the article, but there had been a proposal from the League producers on the table that would have allowed shows to shut down for 8-10 weeks, but everyone would essentially remain on contract -- at a reduced rate of 25-35% of their salaries (which even for an actor making scale would be around $700/week plus benefits). The unions refused to even consider this -- so now their members get nothing."

This claim of such an offer makes no makes sense. 

[ArtMan]

Posted: 1/2/22 at 7:54pm

JSquared2 said: "ArtMan said: "It was stated in the article that if open and performances are cancelled cast/crew are paid. This way he ain't paying!"

Exactly -- that was my point. It is NOT stated in the article, but there had been a proposal from the League producers on the table that would have allowed shows to shut down for 8-10 weeks, but everyone would essentially remain on contract -- at a reduced rate of 25-35% of their salaries (which even for an actor making scale would be around $700/week plus benefits). The unions refused to even consider this -- so now their members get nothing."

I read the article in the Washington News Post.  In THAT article, it was stated they would NOT pay salaries.  (I know zero about this site.  However, it is STATED)  I don't post s**t just to post it.

Updated On: 1/2/22 at 07:54 PM

[JBroadway]

Posted: 1/2/22 at 7:54pm

EDIT: wrong thread

Updated On: 1/2/22 at 07:54 PM

[HogansHero]

Posted: 1/2/22 at 7:56pm

adotburr said: "So you would rather 115 people out of jobs for 9 weeks vs. the occasional cancelled show once or twice per week? To each their own I guess."

No. I would rather a few thousand people temporarily out of work for 9 weeks than most of them unemployed permanently which is what will happen when all of these shows close. You can't run shows without an audience, even if you have a cast, so anything but the rich ones will never survive the very dark days of this winter. You just don't understand, and don't seem interested in either omicron or the finances of Broadway. But to each their own I guess. 

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 1/2/22 at 7:57pm

We were not in the midst of a global pandemic when this song was written.  For that reason, the lyrics don't necessarily apply to today's world.  But we ARE in a pandemic, with some 824,000 dead in the United States alone, and the song's question is valid.   

 

  

[adotburr]

Posted: 1/2/22 at 8:00pm

HogansHero said: "adotburr said: "So you would rather 115 people out of jobs for 9 weeks vs. the occasional cancelled show once or twice per week? To each their own I guess."

No. I would rather a few thousand people temporarily out of work for 9 weeks than most of them unemployed permanently which is what will happen when all of these shows close. You can't run shows without an audience, even if you have a cast, so anything but the rich ones will never survive the very dark days of this winter. You just don't understand, and don't seem interested in either omicron or the finances of Broadway. But to each their own I guess."

Wow, you’re very rude. No, I completely understand. Your logic is what I don’t understand. Additionally, I’m not going to be afraid of a virus my entire life. 

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 1/2/22 at 8:04pm

The show was not doing as well as expected, and if they knew they weren’t making money during their busiest season, they wouldn’t make money in January/February. This was a business decision.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 1/2/22 at 8:05pm

The amount of joy on Insta right now on this news is absolutely ridiculous. Ditto when Jagged Little Pill announced their retroactive closing. 

[kidmanboy]

Posted: 1/2/22 at 8:07pm

Some shows will make money this winter. And to close those does not make financial sense and will cost more jobs in the long run. Even this producer is not closing his own Six because it is doing well. 

[joshdog2014]

Posted: 1/2/22 at 8:15pm

One very relevant quote from the NYT article I don’t think I’ve seen brought up:

”McCollum said that if he does not attempt the hiatus, the show would run out of money and be forced to close within three weeks.”

It’s not just a “would probably close in a month or two” situation, he gave an actual number. Sure there’s a chance the show will close anyway and everyone will be out those 2 weeks of work, but I’m guessing this gamble of trying to keep the show open longer is preferable.

Updated On: 1/2/22 at 08:15 PM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/2/22 at 8:18pm

adotburr said: "So you would rather 115 people out of jobs for 9 weeks vs. the occasional cancelled show once or twice per week? To each their own I guess."

If they don’t go on hiatus now, they run out of money and the show closes within the month of January. So the hope is that by taking a 9 week break now, they can run from mid March through at least the end of summer. The employees will be able to collect unemployment during that time, or even take a job in another show.

Perhaps the show will also record its cast album during this hiatus, which would give the actors a one-week salary.

I expect getting boosted will be a condition of being rehired too. 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 1/2/22 at 8:27pm

The theatrical unions have also refused to agree to the League's position that booster shots be made mandatory as a condition of employment of their members.  

 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 1/2/22 at 8:28pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "The amount of joy on Insta right now on this news is absolutely ridiculous. Ditto whenJagged Little Pillannounced their retroactive closing."

That's kind of a gross take.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 1/2/22 at 8:38pm

RippedMan said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "The amount of joy on Insta right now on this news is absolutely ridiculous. Ditto whenJagged Little Pillannounced their retroactive closing."

That's kind of a gross take."

What I’m saying is that is just horrendous behavior. People are once again out of work when they’ve just been unemployed for a year and a half.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 1/2/22 at 8:40pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "RippedMan said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "The amount of joy on Insta right now on this news is absolutely ridiculous. Ditto whenJagged Little Pillannounced their retroactive closing."

That's kind of a gross take."

What I’m saying is that is just horrendous behavior. People are once again out of work when they’ve just been unemployed for a year and a half."

Oh I'm agreeing with you! Sorry if you thought I was like attacking you personally!

 

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 1/2/22 at 9:21pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "RippedMan said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "The amount of joy on Insta right now on this news is absolutely ridiculous. Ditto whenJagged Little Pillannounced their retroactive closing."

That's kind of a gross take."

What I’m saying is that is just horrendous behavior. People are once again out of work when they’ve just been unemployed for a year and a half."

Why are people so happy about this?

[Kad]

Posted: 1/2/22 at 9:26pm

JSquared2 said: "The theatrical unions have also refused to agree to the League's position that booster shots be made mandatory as a condition of employment of their members."

So it's the unions that are the bad guys here. Sure.

 

[Mr. Wormwood]

Posted: 1/2/22 at 9:51pm

HogansHero said: "This is the best news I've heard in weeks and I am proud of Kevin for doing this. I was not expecting him to be the leader we need. Hopefully this will lead others to get in line and for the League to make this universal, with a negotiated arrangement with the unions. Disgraceful that we are having to limp into this.

"

I disagree. I think it's the right move for THIS show and for some others. But I do not believe it should be universal. I think the PR of Broadway completing shutting down is bad news all around. Let some long-runners and big hits (Phantom, Lion King, Music Man, Wicked, Hamilton, etc) keep the lights on for a couple months instead of shutting it all down again. But I'm totally supportive of individual shows making this choice.

[SoCalDirector]

Posted: 1/2/22 at 9:55pm

adotburr said: "HogansHero said: "This is the best news I've heard in weeks and I am proud of Kevin for doing this. I was not expecting him to be the leader we need. Hopefully this will lead others to get in line and for the League to make this universal, with a negotiated arrangement with the unions. Disgraceful that we are having to limp into this.

"

So you would rather 115 people out of jobs for 9 weeks vs. the occasional cancelled show once or twice per week? To each their own I guess."

I think it was either close the show and re-open or just close it. Taking a few performances off here and there was not what was being discussed. So the show closes and you get another job take it. And if you don't and you get offered this one again great. I thoroughly enjoyed the show. Was it art no but the audience was having a great time.

I'm really getting tired of all the negative people on here who seem to live just to put things down. These are struggling times and some people are trying to find a way to make it work and a lot of shows won't make it.

[SoCalDirector]

Posted: 1/2/22 at 9:55pm

adotburr said: "HogansHero said: "This is the best news I've heard in weeks and I am proud of Kevin for doing this. I was not expecting him to be the leader we need. Hopefully this will lead others to get in line and for the League to make this universal, with a negotiated arrangement with the unions. Disgraceful that we are having to limp into this.

"

So you would rather 115 people out of jobs for 9 weeks vs. the occasional cancelled show once or twice per week? To each their own I guess."

I think it was either close the show and re-open or just close it. Taking a few performances off here and there was not what was being discussed. So the show closes and you get another job take it. And if you don't and you get offered this one again great. I thoroughly enjoyed the show. Was it art no but the audience was having a great time.

I'm really getting tired of all the negative people on here who seem to live just to put things down. These are struggling times and some people are trying to find a way to make it work and a lot of shows won't make it.