morale in Broadway company

[Harpz2006]

Posted: 7/4/11 at 12:18am

I was just wondering... how do reviews/award nominations/recognition/ticket sales affect cast morale? Like, if a show is shut out from the Tonys or isn't as well received by critics as they hoped, how does it affect the performers? Ex. is The Book of Mormon likely a happier, more positive work environment than a show like The Little Mermaid? It's just interesting to think about it because for me, seeing a show is such a rare and exciting experience, and I try to put myself in the shoes of performers that are on twitter saying, "UGH 2 show day." So, basically I'm just interested in insights anyone has into what it's like to have a successful hit show vs. a flop as your work environment; do actors become blase during long runs, etc... thanks!!

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 7/4/11 at 12:47am

I think you'll find that most Broadway actors are real troopers, and tweeting about a two show day is really quite a tame way to deal with the exhaustion that often comes from doing eight shows a week for months and months. Many performers don't read reviews of their shows, but when unavoidable, one good thing they can do is to just make a joke out of it. For an example, just look at those Jackie Hoffman broadway.com vlogs and count how many times she talks about the bad reviews the show received. A lot of performers can become discouraged by poor reception, but as I said before, most of them are real troopers and just get through it and put their energy into making a good performance.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 7/4/11 at 12:51am

I think even performers in the biggest hits dread two-show days.

[Harpz2006]

Posted: 7/4/11 at 1:01am

Interesting. A friend of mine (only person I know personally on the bway joined the ensemble of a very long running show two years ago and said in the beginning she hoped she never became as disillusioned as some of the people who had been in the show for like ten yrs... I asked her recently how it was and she said it's starting to wear her down a little but it's such a good steady job. I just love hearing the insider perspective on this stuff- thanks guys!

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 7/4/11 at 1:58am

I'd agree with adamgreer and AwesomeDanny. Two show days are tough on everyone, emotionally and often physically - and some shows have 2 show Saturdays and Sundays. Still, it's a silly thing to twitter about, since that can easily be misunderstood.

Re: morale on a hit vs a flop. Sure, it's great to be on a hit, but if you're in a show that got bad reviews but is still running, you're still performing. You still are working in your chosen career. What's hard on actors the most, I think, is playing to half empty houses. That can be very discouraging. Also, if a show isn't doing well, not knowing when the ax is going to fall can be nerve wracking.

Even on hits, as your friend mentioned, there can be the tendency to get bored. A smart actor will find subtle but different ways to play the role. One actress in an ensemble with a small part told me that sometimes she played the role as a lesbian. Some nights she'd be a single mom. Just little backstories that she created only for herself to keep her performance fresh. When that didn't work for her anymore, she started looking for another job.

All that said, the work environment doesn't change all that much for the most part. They are still a group of people working together doing what they love.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 7/4/11 at 11:47am

Ghostlight raises a great point. Think about your own job? In what ways is it repetitive, challenging and think how often the staff challenges and are things happen in the work place that either boost or lower morale. I'm sure working on a show has similarities.

At the end of the day what makes or breaks a workplace is the people. There are days I don't like my job but some of my co-workers make it bearable. Then there's the vice versa-the days where I find my job inspiring. I'm sure its similar for actors. They do what they need to do and probably rely on friends in the cast to keep fresh.

I agree with the ghostlight that audiences most likely do impact actors since it is an energy exchange. I had a friend who went into WIcked and he loved always having a responsive full house and hearing people go nuts on "Defying Gravity." He said it is the best thing in the world to see full, responsive audiences.

On the other hand, one of my friends was a local wig master for a touring house and she said some casts, like the one for Titanic were pretty run down and sad after months on the road with bad reviews and less than enthusiastic audiences.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 7/4/11 at 12:42pm

Read this book.

http://www.amazon.com/Making-Broadway-Actors-Tales-Climbing/dp/1581153465

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 7/4/11 at 1:17pm

Oh, how I hate that book, Lizzy. The authors for some bizarre reason wrote an extremely skewed and negative view of an actor's life on Broadway, and there's a disproportionate amount of stories from Martin Guerre and I think Le Mis because one of the authors was in those shows.

I know several Broadway performers who had interviewed for the book, who were later not pleased at all to discover that out of all the stories they told, good and bad, the stories that ended up in the book were the most negative ones.

Weird. That said, if you go into it with that knowledge beforehand, it can be worth turning the pages.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/4/11 at 2:13pm

Harpz...the only shows that I can think of that have been running ten years or more are "Phantom" and "Chicago". Speaking of my favorite musical, I came across a clip (from 2009 or 2010) of Melissa Rae Mahon (Roxie understudy) talking about how she is able to change her dance moves from time to time, especially with all the intricate dancing that is involved in the show. One of the good things about having a long running show like "Chicago" is that the cast members tend to have job security, with many of the roles. from RC in Austin, Texas

[JayKurnitz]

Posted: 7/4/11 at 3:08pm

Let me preface this by saying I have never been on Broadway. I am a regional actor, but hope I can shed just a bit of light on this topic.

I've found that the morale in a company is very rarely changed by reviews. Typically, the chemistry "behind the scenes" is built during the rehearsal process. By the time you're opened, you've found who you click with in the cast/crew and who you don't. There are certainly days where the energy changes; people go through real life stuff, it's just how it is. But at the end of the day, most company members know they are there to do a JOB. As much fun as it can be, it's employment. There are people who are investing a lot of money in you to do your best, and if you're not up for it, there are a million other actors who are.

By the time that eighth show of the week comes around, sure people are tired. But you keep going because it's what you love to do, and you love that paycheck even more. Two show days at the beginning of a run can be tough, but it gets easier as time goes on. Eventually your body just gets into the swing of it. It helps if you do all the necessary stuff to stay healthy.

I'm sure good reviews/hits help boost morale, but at the end of the day, it's a job. It's paying your rent, bills, and if you make some good friends in the process, it's the icing on the cake. This is just MY opinion, please keep in mind.

[dragonlp86]

Posted: 7/4/11 at 4:10pm

I would imagine that, to some actors, reviews aren't really that important when it comes to their enjoyment of the role. Some of them might see that, no matter how bad reviews might have been, there could be someone in that audience who absolutely loves the show and is so happy to be in the theatre. Plus, if they find the role fun, that would help them too.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/4/11 at 4:12pm

Welcome to Broadway World...Jay! from RC in Austin, Texas

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/4/11 at 5:33pm

I have it on very good authority that even with a turkey that they know will fold--they may be stranded out in the cold--but still they wouldn't trade it for a sack of gold.

[gvendo2005]

Posted: 7/4/11 at 9:32pm

^ Okay, boss, fess up, what's it from?

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 7/4/11 at 9:53pm

^Surely you jest. Updated On: 7/4/11 at 09:53 PM

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 7/4/11 at 9:59pm

Oh and sometimes people in a Broadway company all start banging each other. That keeps things interesting too.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/4/11 at 10:12pm

Bettyboy...that reminds me of a mention in Cindy Adams' column about how members of the cast of "All Shook Up" were caught in
varied states of naked frolic. At the time, it seemed to be more than a theatre legend. RC in Austin, Texas

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 7/4/11 at 10:19pm

"sometimes people in a Broadway company all start banging each other."

Just a little bit of an overstatement, Bettyboy, but nothing wrong with a shomance to pass the time.

PattiLuPoneFAN, I remember when Urban Cowboy posted its closing notice, a large amount of the cast came out, mostly naked, onto the fire escapes outside their dressing rooms, dancing and calling out to people in the street to buy tickets.

[Yawper]

Posted: 7/4/11 at 10:27pm

once upon a time most days were two-show days...

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/4/11 at 10:39pm

They were?

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 7/4/11 at 10:41pm

There was an interview with Mary Louise Wilson where she said actors pass time in a long run by screwing. That's all I was referring to. :)

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 7/4/11 at 10:53pm

Lol, Bettyboy! She is a piece of work, that woman. Can't wait til her memoirs come out. I've sat in on some of her classes at Tulane.
Older, Wiser, and Loving it

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 7/4/11 at 11:11pm

Mary Louse is amazing and pulls no punches. :)

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 7/4/11 at 11:25pm

I am sure that she would have plenty to say about raising ...um, morale.

[auggie]

Posted: 7/5/11 at 3:29pm

Just like a baseball player at the end of a long season on a bad team a Broadway performer still needs to show up and give it their best regardless because they are a professional. If not there is always someone waiting in the wings that will be more then happy to take their place and pay the bills. Also you don't want to ever not give it your all because when auditioning for future gigs you don't want to get a bad rep as someone who takes performances off or is a bad attitude in a cast.