Who is REALLY affected by the strike? Oh, those POOR tourists! — Page 2

I feel sorry for everyone deeply affected by the strike. I do not included the tourists or people who had tickets to see shows this week. There are plenty of other excellent shows out there and most are available to see.
There are so many people whose day to day living is dependent on Broadway - and for their sake, I hope this strike is very short.

a) The tourists keep Broadway afloat.

b) How many posters on this board would come from a distance to see their favorite show/shows and be content with seeing "the rest of the city" when they couldn't see them due to a work stoppage? Just because you're seeing shows doesn't mean you're not also seeing other things in the city. Many people come from many miles, plan for a good long time, and make sacrifices to do so, because they want to see Broadway shows. If they didn't, these people would all be out of work anyway.

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Well said Rathnait62 -- I came up from WAshington DC to see Les Mis on Sunday -- a visit long planned to see my family. The trip to Les Mis was a last minute addition when John Owen Jones came over from London. I highly doubt the tourists come here just to see shows, although its undoubtedly the highlight. Obviously a lot of people are affected by this action, not just the tourists -- but apparently it's those people the press are talking to.

Another casualty of this strike -- the Actor's Fund performance of Les Miserables, which is supposed to be on Sunday night at 8 p.m.

Well said, Rathnait. People have been nervous about buying tickets already because of the threat of a strike. The economic impact is staggering on so many levels, and while Europeans coming here have it a little easier, the US is heading into a recession, so I am sure there are many people scraping their pennies to give themselves a trip to NY, and for many, the quintessential NY experience is seeing a Broadway show.

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Maybe this will actually force Tourists to see something creative and exciting like MAURITIUS or CYMBELINE instead of MERMAID or LION KING or JERSEY BOYS.

Thank you Rath.

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Oh please it isn't just the Spring Awakening fans who are wishing that there wasn't a strike.

I understand that this strike is for something, but timing wise it probably isn't the best for the stagehands in terms of getting public support. The WGA is receiving almost universal public support, which isn't surprising because they are most clearly being screwed by the new (digital) media distribution model. The Stagehands' issue(s) are not nearly as cut and dry, and when compared to the screwing the WGA is taking, I think a lot of people are going to look down on the union is this case. Just my gut feeling.

Why is there this attitude that if someone comes from a long distance to support theater in NY that they are "tourists" and should be denigrated? I personally am thrilled that anyone would plan a trip around experiencing Broadway for themselves.

somu...you have a point. I don't feel like a tourist when I am in New York.

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"There are plenty of other excellent shows out there and most are available to see. "

You don't get it. Some of us are not fans of Broadway in general. We pay money (hundreds of dollars, between flight and hotel costs) to see specific people and there are no substitutes.

I think they get "it". It is just they really have little choice. You want to hold up signs for them in January? You want to pay their mortgages,(if they have one) or car pmts.?

Everyone in NY with tickets right now are victims of our wonderful Media blackout. People here have been talking for months of a strike. The Media has been trying to hide it from the public not the Union. They have been hoping to avoid it at all costs. Even working without a contract to save your shows.

Yes, the Holiday Season is coming. Maybe this year, instead of spending your hard earned money on a blockbuster, you can see another show or even better, donate to the Union's strike fund. Compared to the 20 million the Producers have, 4 million is a pittance of what the families will need this Winter.

Or are we still just in it for ourselves? Has the season of giving really turned into the season of getting? People keep asking the stagehands to give back more and more but refuse to offer them something reasonable in exchange?

I know it sucks to not see a show you really like. So many talk as if these people rather be walking a freezing cold sidewalk rather then in a Theatre putting on a show. Yet in a Country where more and more Americans can't even afford to see most of these shows, because so many of our really good jobs don't exist anymore, asking for a little understanding and support doesn't seem like asking too much.

If you must hate on someone, hate the Media for refusing to report on the pending strike until the very last minute. One of my favorite shows will probably close for good. Thus, my desire to come to NY has fizzled for the most part. At least for now. I will however donate what I can instead to the Actor's fund because at least I don't have to fight for my benefits right now.

These are the people who bring the shows to life. Without them, our shows would be dark. It was the League who went public and threatened a lock-out, thus forcing a strike. Had they not done this, we wouldn't be facing this strike now.

If anything it is more proof of how avoiding reality is dangerous to your pocketbook. We can't always expect to do that and life in general can be pretty disappointing at times. You can't always run to the Theatre to escape the worries of the World. Life even there obviously has it's troubles.

No matter what, we were going to miss shows. Pls get refunds and see other shows if you can. Grey Gardens closed before I could see it and it had nothing to do with the strike. So shows can close whenever the Producers feel it is no longer worth their pocketbooks. Strike or not. That's just Broadway.

I know that off-Broadway shows are very good, too. I think they're sadly under-appreciated. I know the strike is for a reason. But, I can see the other side of it. For example, I finally got to NYC for the first time in my life this past summer. Of course I wanted to see the city, but one thing I have always wanted to do is see a genuine Broadway show. I was excited to see the tour of "Camelot" not because of Michael York, but because of RACHEL York and James Barbour, people whose voices I listened to countless times on cast recordings (though I enjoyed Michael as well).

So if this had happened when I was there, I would've been very sad. I knew when I went that there's no knowing when I'll get back there...I've wanted to go back to London, England and I haven't been back for going on 10 years. Some people just can't afford to go whenever they feel like it, whether because of finances or time constraints.

Updated On: 11/10/07 at 01:11 PM