September 1st Broadway walk out? — Page 2

me too - east or west?

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Shesings, first of all I've lived in the West Village for 12 years. I know the demographics of NYC. My point is I think it's very naive of gay people to think they have the power to shut down NYC. Many people go along with gay people to get their money, but that's where it stops. An example of that is during Gay Pride week. Every business in the West Village is flying a gay flag that week. As soon as it's over, they take them all down and it's back to biz as usual. The businesses in the Village don't do that for any of the other parades (Puerto Rican, Irish, etc). Things will change for gays when they wise up and see things for how they really are.

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Updated On: 7/23/04 at 06:12 PM

I think it is a good idea, but then again it was partly my idea. I am pleased to see the discussion and appreciate the comments, positive and negative. The RNC has targeted a handful of shows for August 29th. Tonight or tomorrow we will post a list of the casts of these targeted shows and a letter to allow folks to write to the actors and encourage them to sit out that performance.
Also, while our intial inspiration for Shut It Down was the Federal Marriage Amendment, this is bigger than just a "gay thing". The administration has been bad for NYC on many levels -- we have listed a few on the site. We are also updating the language on our front page to make this a broader appeal to all New Yorkers.

Thanks.
Send the RNC a message

Updated On: 7/23/04 at 07:01 PM

so because I don't see the point in shutting down NYC and making it lose money, I guess that makes me...republcan?

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Goodness, this certainly stirred up some emotions.

I think there's been a long grand tradition of peaceful sit down strikes that have effectively shut down businesses and brought attention to issues that wouldn't necessarily be on the lips of, shall we say, certain politicians.

Yes, it'll be annoying for all of us.

But is that such a bad thing, if the following morning people around the world pick up the newspaper and read about issues that would have otherise been ignored by the 'ruling party'?

I'm on the fence about it, really, just playing devils advocate.

Not that I even have a job to strike from. But I'm interested in how people draw attention to important issues, how they get PR, that sort of thing.

As PETA has shown, even bad PR leads to at the very least, discussion.

I read an article in the Times a few weeks or months ago about the protesters' ideas during the GOP Convention. In my opinion, the most powerful message being attempted was the wearing of red bandanas. According to the article, it stems from the formation of unions in mines. The mine workers would all wear a red bandana so that when the labor leaders looked out on their workers they would see their solidarity in the opposition of the currents state of things. As typically being the party of the unions, I think the democrats in New York would be wise to pick up this tradition. I think it's more effective than not going to work. I don't know about you, but since 9/11 I can't afford to take time off work (I do work in the service industry in Manhattan) to protest the Republican National COnvention.

And PapaLovesMambo, I think you're taking John Edwards' quotes out of context. As I'm sure you know, both Kerry and Edwards voted against the appropriation of $87 billion dollars because they felt it wasn't fiscally responsible. Kerry actually drafted a portion of the bill that called for roll-backs on the Bush tax cuts of the top 2% of Americans in order to pay for the appropriation. Even Bush aides have said that had the bill been passed with the Kerry rider the president would have vetoed it. That being said, had the passing of the bill depended on either Kerry's or Edwards' vote they have both said that they would have voted for it. Depicting them both as flip floppers is antithetical to a true debate of where the country is going. And don't we want law-makers who can see the complexity of an issue. But, then again... complexity is antithetical to the all important sound-bite.

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First of all, it's so nice to be ALLOWED to have a conversation that mixes theatre and politics- unlike the ALL THAT CHAT board, which censors content, even when it concerns theatre performers.

Secondly, going back to my interest in civil disobedience, here's a different way of protesting that won't threaten your jobs;

http://www.windowtreatmentnyc.com/

I like the idea that the wonderful theatre people of nyc are even debating all this, whether anything happens or not, it's good to have discourse.

It was only a couple of weeks ago that the actors almost struck because of union issues. I'm sure they're still breathing a sigh of relief that that didn't have to happen, and are not likely going to jump at something that could jeopardize their jobs now.

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Auggie--

I agree with much of what you say. I think it is instructive to note the shows that the RNC has targeted for its August 29th Broadway Night, none of them with the sort of potent subtext or material that you mention. I also agree that artists could strongly use their talents to send a message. I would love nothing more than to see the entire Broadway community standing in front of MSG singing "Color out of Colorado", "We Could Be Kind" or some other anthem of inclusiveness and compassion. But, I'll leave that for someone in the business, with the right contacts, to organize.
Take The Day Off. We Said So.

And when you say on your website "The Republican National Convention will be sending 13,000 delegates to see eight shows currently running on Broadway: Aida, 42nd Street, The Lion King, Fiddler on the Roof, Phantom of the Opera, Beauty and the Beast, Bombay Dreams, and Wonderful Town." aren't you basically saying that the RNC is bringing an enormous amount of business that benefits NYC and the NYC theatrical community as a whole. I believe that argument is contradicting to your beliefs. Shows like Wonderful Town and Fiddler need all the money they can just to stay in business.

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Very good points, ShutitDown. The audiences are being directed to the most innocuous material on the NY boards (to those of you appearing in those shows, I'm not dismissing their place in the roster of entertainment/art, believe me.)

I'm very moved by your suggestion of a group anthemic sing. And whata good idea -- "We Could Be Kind" is a beautiful choice. (I happen to love it on the Nancy LaMott CD). Its message is so simple and fresh a spin on the Golden rule, sadly lacking among many so-called compassionate conservatives, on an issue-by-issue tally.

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Just wanted to let you all know that the letter and the cast list/theater addresses are now up on the website. Thanks for the discussion and dialogue.
www.shutitdownnyc.com

I don't hate Republicans in general at all.
But I do pity them.

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