Tour Stagehands?

[The Boy From Ohio]

Posted: 11/13/07 at 11:54am

How many of the stagehands actually travel with a show? I'm asking because I read an article yesterday saying they were unsure if "Camelot" would open tonight because "there is the chance that Cincy stagehands will support the Broadway stagehands strike. We’re waiting for official comment from Cincinnati Stage Employees Local No. 5". I just assumed a show came with their own crews etc. So do tours use a lot of local stagehands? Do tour houses have their own crews? Thanks.

[Tag]

Posted: 11/13/07 at 1:22pm

All theatres (that a major tour would play in) employ IATSE stagehands. They aren't Local One, but other chapters of IATSE in their respective areas.
With that said though, a tour usually uses a combination of touring stagehands and local crew. Touring shows now a days are extremely complex and need the consistant talents of a travelling stage crew to run the show in a safe manner and to load in and out as fast as possible. Stagehands are also rehearsed in the certain elements of their shows and it would not be possible to train crews from town to town.
Local stagehands are used to usually fill in the jobs that are easily trainable and on jobs that are too show specific (ie. controlling the boat in POTO).

[bwaylover2]

Posted: 11/14/07 at 12:22am

i have two tickets for sweeny todd i am not going to use i am sellin them at a good deal the bba company in Ohio not just plugging tickets just hoping to get a taker for them

[roadguy]

Posted: 11/14/07 at 6:14am

The Boy From Ohio,

Tag is correct. I tour with a Broadway Musical. We travel with 23 IATSE crew members. Carpenters, electricians, props, sound, wardrobe and hair and make-up. The production then hires about 60 local IATSE stagehands to assist in the load in and load out of the show. The show hires about 30 local IATSE stagehands to then help run the show. We have dress rehearsals to train the local hands before the audience even steps foot in the theatre, so they have an idea of what their jobs are during the show.

THe situation you are describing is interesting. I have not been able to find anything in a quick google search stating that Local 5 is honoring this strike. However if they were to do so, they're would be no labor available to load-in, run, and load out the show.

[The Boy From Ohio]

Posted: 11/14/07 at 3:50pm

Thanks for the info. The show did go on last night.
Roadguy, that sounds like alot of people. Do you work on a large show or is that about normal for a tour?