Klarinet Archive - Posting 000358.txt from 2003/03

From: Richard Bush <rbushidioglot@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] New York Theater Strike
Date: Fri, 7 Mar 2003 22:03:42 -0500

Here's what CNN wrote:

The League of American Theatres and Producers said all musical shows
for this weekend had been canceled. "This is a sad night for Broadway
and for New York," said League President Jed Bernstein.

Theater ticketholders at 17 Broadway musicals were left stranded after
the musicals said they would not make their traditional 8 p.m. opening
curtain.

Musicians, striking since midnight on Thursday, are in a dispute with
producers over the minimum size of orchestras.

The League of American Theatres and Producers was prepared to replace
live music with prerecorded, computer-generated "virtual music"
beginning with Friday's shows.

But the job action by the 652 unionized actors added considerable
weight to the musicians' battle to save their numbers from being cut.

"Our members have made it clear that they do not wish to perform to
virtual orchestras," said Patrick Quinn, president of the Actors'
Equity Association.

Unionized stagehands with the International Alliance of Theatrical
Stage Employees told the actors' union they would honor the picket
lines as well, Quinn said.

Actors, who could lose $1.3 million in weekly salary if shows fail to
open, were set to join musicians' picket lines around the city's
Theater District.

"Virtual orchestras are not live music -- it's a computer program that
sounds like a roller rink," said Harvey Fierstein, who is appearing in
"Hairspray," at the union's news conference. "A machine is a dead
thing, and that is not why people go to live theater."

The two sides were still negotiating, they said.

Broadway producers complained at an earlier news conference that many
shows do not need the 26-musician orchestras required in the current
contract, leaving them with "walkers," or hired musicians who sit on
the sidelines collecting salary.

"We love live music, but know of no other industry where workers are
paid, but not needed," said League representative Barry Weissler,
producer of the hit musical "Chicago."

Producers called the current system an "archaic" one that unfairly
limits their creative control.

Musicians, who currently make a base salary of $1,350 per week, said
the producers' demand is about saving money and would put musicians out
of work.

"This is my full-time job and a good chunk of my income," said Ray
Kilday, a bassist picketing the Marquis Theater, where he plays in the
orchestra for "Thoroughly Modern Millie."

Kilday, who has played on Broadway for 22 years, added that "beefed up
synthesizers" will sap performances' human quality.

Julia Kim, 23, waiting to buy tickets in Times Square, agreed. She
decided to go to a show with live music after hearing about the strike.

"That's the whole point of going to the theater," she said. "Otherwise
you can just listen to this stuff at home."

But Shirley Aninias, a 27-year-old New Yorker hoping to see the musical
"Mama Mia," had no objection to recorded music. "I can't tell if they
are playing live or not anyway."

The dispute between the League and the American Federation of Musicians
Local 802 centers on New York's largest theaters, where owners want to
cut orchestras to 14 musicians.

The producers said the union was unwilling to cut minimum orchestra
sizes by more than six players.

Local 802 called its last Broadway strike in September 1975 and nine
musicals were shuttered for 25 days.

Richard Bush
Maker of 'BasSonic' bassoon reeds
760 Robins Avenue
Ogden, UT 84404
(801) 393-7265
IDRS member
ICA member
rbushidioglot@-----.com

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