New Laws Proposed by State Threaten Broadway Child Actors

[adamgreer]

Posted: 1/16/11 at 7:29pm

I'm surprised no one is discussing this. The consequences of these laws being passed could be far-reaching for Broadway. Think about the shows right now that employ child actors and run past 10 PM.
New Laws Proposed by State Threaten Broadway Child Actors

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/16/11 at 7:31pm

Wow....this could be a problem.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 1/16/11 at 8:32pm

This might be amazing news for me (an adult actor who can pass for a child on stage)...

[Wishing Only Wounds]

Posted: 1/16/11 at 8:35pm

Bye bye, Billy.

[shrekster224]

Posted: 1/16/11 at 8:39pm

When Boq's retire in Wicked they can move on to Billy Elliot!

Seriously, though, this affects a lot of people. Isn't Jennifer Damiano only 18? Good thing this didn't happen before N2N. Lion King, Billy, shows like Ragtime and Les Mis, also. Updated On: 1/16/11 at 08:39 PM

[philly03]

Posted: 1/16/11 at 8:41pm

WONDERLAND recasted the role of Chloe, Alice's daughter, this year (for obvious reasons) with the 11 year old (& phenomenal) Carly Rose Sonenclar... a shame if talents like her are restricted.

That being said, there are some actors (like Julie Brooks, the role's originator) who are very convincing to play 10 year olds. A whole new generation of adult child-actors.. Ha ha

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 1/16/11 at 8:45pm

I figure the department of labor will reconsider when the producers of some of the top-grossing Broadway shows like Billy Elliott and Mary Poppins present numbers of just how much money the state of New York stands to lose from this.

[sgv123]

Posted: 1/16/11 at 8:47pm

Wouldn't the most logical thing to do be just have earlier start times for performances? Most shows with children are double/triple cast anyway so would that be a big problem for 2 show days?

[rmusic11322]

Posted: 1/16/11 at 8:55pm

"Isn't Jennifer Damiano only 18?"

This year she'll be turning 20.

[BroadwayBound115]

Posted: 1/16/11 at 9:03pm

Well I guess the revival of Annie will have to be cancelled...

[sinister teashop]

Posted: 1/16/11 at 9:03pm

Any chance of including a link with the actual language of the proposed regulation? Not that I don't trust the Broadway League and AEA but...

[adamgreer]

Posted: 1/16/11 at 9:22pm

Wouldn't the most logical thing to do be just have earlier start times for performances? Most shows with children are double/triple cast anyway so would that be a big problem for 2 show days?

Equity requires a certain amount of time between shows, so that the adult actors (who perform both shows) get some time to rest.

Also, earlier start times are not necessarily the answer, either. No one wants to start an evening show at 7:00 on a Friday or Saturday night, when people are still at dinner. It's nice on a Tuesday, but not the rest of the week.

[lstbutifulgrl2]

Posted: 1/16/11 at 9:43pm

I wonder if this had anything to do with all of Billy's night shows starting at 7:30.

[ahhrealmonsters]

Posted: 1/16/11 at 9:56pm

Billy Elliot runs almost 3 hours. In order to guarantee the actors are out by 10, the performances would have to start by 6:30.

Also, many teen actors have been in the 16-17 range (Jenn Damiano was under 18 for all of Spring Awakening and a big chunk of Next to Normal, many SA actors were under 18, etc. ) Many 16 year-olds work part time jobs that go past ten (waitressing, babysitting, etc.)

[bwaybug85]

Posted: 1/16/11 at 10:15pm

The text is here: http://www.labor.ny.gov/sites/legal/laws/pdf_word_docs/child_performer/TEXT.pdf


From what I understand, the child is able to stay until midnight as long as they do not go past the amount of work hours they are allowed (9 per day--5 of work, 3 of school). On weekends this wouldn't matter because there is no school anyway, and since the law states they need only 3 hours a day it should be fine for 1 show days. Wednesdays with matinees might be the only problem. I feel like the 10 PM "curfew" is mainly aimed at children in television and film and they will make exceptions for theater because it has always been like this and never been a problem. I'm sure film shoots have gone on late (maybe into the early AM) and that's what they are concerned with..

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 1/16/11 at 10:18pm

7:30 shows are terrible. I've never been at a show that started on the half hour that didn't have a dozen latecomers come tromping in at 8pm.

[bundy5000]

Posted: 1/16/11 at 10:22pm

I hope this doesn't deter shows to cast the young talented children of tomorrow, but I have seen the fees that go along with minor violations. I don't know how it works in acting and in NY but I am sure the fines are million times worse.

[sinister teashop]

Posted: 1/16/11 at 10:52pm

Thanks for the link. It does seem that the 10pm rule is more workable than the article and the people quoted would have us believe with the language clearly stating that work up until 12:30am is allowed if a school day does not follow it. I wonder what the real beef with the new regulations are?

What's creepier to me is finding out that only 15% of the money the child makes is legally required to go into his/her trust fund.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 1/16/11 at 11:00pm

Well, doesn't school follow a performance on Mon-Thursday evenings?

Seems like it could still be a problem for shows.

[bwaybug85]

Posted: 1/16/11 at 11:09pm

It could be up to 12:30 every night as long as the day they worked does not supercede 9 hours (5 for work and 3 for school). Since most children attend regular school and do shows at night, they would be allowed 5 hours at the theater which is enough for one evening performance. On two show days like Saturday and Sunday (where there is no school) their work day could be 9 hours which should be the amount of time it takes to do two performances. At least that is what I took from the text..

[Eris0303]

Posted: 1/16/11 at 11:16pm

No one wants to start an evening show at 7:00 on a Friday or Saturday night, when people are still at dinner. It's nice on a Tuesday, but not the rest of the week.

Or take the people who don't live in the city. I work until 5pm during the week and the next train to NYC is at 5:55pm. That train doesn't arrive at Penn Station until after 7pm.

Making every show start at 7pm would cut a lot of people like myself from seeing shows after work.

Posted: 1/17/11 at 1:03am

some clippings for you:

"NY State Labor Department spokesman Leo Rosales said the rules, quietly proposed in November, could be altered. A public hearing is set for Monday, January 31.

"The January 31 hearing will be held in 75 Varick Street, Conference Room G, New York, New York, 10013 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

"Individuals attending the hearing will have an opportunity to present brief verbal comments on the proposed rule, if they wish. Oral presentations will be limited to five minutes each.

"Written comments on this proposal will be accepted through February 7, 2011 by:

Jeffrey Shapiro,
New York State Department of Labor,
State Office Campus,
Building 12, Room 509,
Albany, NY 12240

[e-mail]

"or by leaving them with the Department representative at the January 31 public hearing.

Telephone: [phone]-NYSDOL TTY/TDD 1-(800)-662-1220


Notice of Third Public Hearing Regarding Proposed Child Performer Regulations Updated On: 1/17/11 at 01:03 AM

[singtopher]

Posted: 1/17/11 at 11:39am

In what math world does 5 hours of work and 3 hours of school add up to 9 hours, or is there an assumed hour for a break. 5 hours, however, won't stretch very far on Wednesdays when most shows have two performances. Furthermore, what about days when there is an understudy, or brush up rehearsal. I once spoke with a child wrangler for BE, and she told me that they have brush up rehearsal every week. Also, I believe the Billys have some sort of rehearsal/ballet class daily to keep them up to snuff.