Thanks Broadway Troupers

[Creative Lunatic]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 1:37pm

I thought it would be nice in this season of giving thanks to let all of the actors who made it in during the transit strike know how much we appreciate their efforts. I heard many walked miles, braved bikes in heavy traffic when not very competent riders, or offered their cramped apts. to make theaters more accessible to their colleagues.
This was done during the holiday schedule when actors have worked without a day off in more than a week . Monday--usually dark had a performance and Wed. added a matinee.
I know their travails are not unique since everyone dependent on mass transit was equally affected---but I appreciate their indomitable spirit and I'm sure I'm not alone among those who love broadway!!!

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 1:39pm

I hate to say it, but it IS their job.

[Creative Lunatic]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 1:40pm

So why did you say it---Why can't we just be appreciative...

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 1:41pm

I am extremely appreciative.

Don't forget those on tour who do not have a layoff over the holidays and cannot see family.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 2:00pm

And the teachers, nurses, secretaries, fast-food workers, retail clerks...

[Hanna from Hamburg]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 2:05pm

Yeah, but a LOT of people used this as an excuse to stay home or "work from home." I fought my way in every day, but a LOT of people at my company claimed they couldn't get in, so they didn't come to work.

[kelly0ann]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 2:07pm

What were they going to do, just not show up? I mean, I appreciate their efforts, but it's their job.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 2:08pm

Yes, Rathnait62, I am sure we would mention them if this was a site for teachers, nurses, secretaries, fast-food workers, retail clerks...

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 2:10pm

Hundreds of thousands of people were inconvenienced and still got to work.

I went to work every day - I wouldn't get paid if I didn't show up. They're no more entitled to "appreciation" than the rest of New Yorkers is all I'm saying. They are human beings who did what they had to do to get to work - just like the rest of us. Let's not deify them for it.

[sweeneyfan]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 2:36pm

Not deify them??? What?? Then what happens when we want to talk about how they act at the stage door? Or whether or not they get along off stage? All of that is, like it or not, part of their job too, but we spend hours discussing that as well...

I'm more interested in thanking those performers who do their job 8 times a week instead of calling in twice a week with a hang nail or saying "I don't do matinees"... the greatest theatre people... Angela, Chita, Bernadette, etc etc etc... all do 8 shows a week and rarely miss... Hell, Ethel Merman missed exactly one performance in her entire career...to attend her son's graduation. And she never used a microphone to ease the strain on her "instrument"... (Shame on the "great" Audra...who missed more than half the Marie Christine perf...and she only had to show up 6x a week, for example) So let's thank the real troupers, because at least even though they are just doing their jobs never seem to take advantage of job benefits (ie sick time, transportation issues, etc.)In any profession, how many can say that?

[Creative Lunatic]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 3:10pm

Thank you so much sweeney fan for so eloquently expressing my reason for starting this thread. I too did not quite understand the vitriol my post was met with given how devoted and totally obsessed posters here are with celebrating Broadway.
I certainly was not denegrating or minimizing any one elses efforts to get to work or how inconvenienced they were by transit strike.
Also--in no way were the performers themselves asking for accolades for "doing their job"

[moljul]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 4:22pm

Ethel missed about a week's worth of performances in Gypsy when she burst a blood vessel in her throat. While I agree she was a trouper and had an excellent and professional attendance record, she missed more than one performance in her career.