Klarinet Archive - Posting 000363.txt from 2003/03

From: Richard Bush <rbushidioglot@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Letter to Actor's Equity
Date: Sat, 8 Mar 2003 00:21:52 -0500

Thought I would share a letter i just sent to Actor's Equity which
expresses my thoughts regarding LIVE musical theater.

As a pit musician, a woodwind player and doubler, I cannot express
enough my gratitude to Actors' Equity for standing with the
professional musicians of local 802. Thank you.

I live in Utah. I play shows at Pioneer Memorial Theater on the
University of Utah campus. This theater is Utah's only Equity company.
I have the highest regard and admiration for the overwhelming talent
that your members represent when they come to Utah and play with us.
Many of whom I've met and made friends with are New Yorkers and are
Equity people. I love them and their talent.

I also believe that they share equal respect for us, the pit musicians
who back them up, and on RARE occasions turn a potential disaster into
a mere glitch.

I don't need to tell any of you that LIVE theater is
synergistic....between audience, actors, musicians and ALL who make a
production work. This also includes those who design sets, design and
execute lighting, run sound and make everything work on stage.

I don't consider the Musician's Union's demands for minimum orchestra
size in large theaters unrealistic. The word "walkers" is a rather
repulsive term to me. In no way is this union featherbedding. I know
what a REAL orchestra sounds like and I know how many high quality
string players constitutes a minimum string section.

I've been in situations where I was one of two or three people trying
to play section parts that were written for four or five. It ain't no
fun and it doesn't really work.

With your continued cooperation and the support of the stage hands
union, LIVE BROADWAY will hopefully remain just that.
And, because so much money is at stake, this strike will not last too
long.

You, NEW YORK, are the benchmark. You are the example of how things
should be, can be and should remain.

If the bean counters get their way, or even if they are given
concessions and allowed to reduce pit size to 17, it will only be a
matter of time until they'll be asking for a reduction to 10, then 7
and then, it will all be gone.

My best wishes to all of you. I believe in live theater.

Yours truly,

Richard Bush,
who feels he's died and gone to heaven every time he gets to play a pro
quality show.

Richard Bush
rbushidioglot@-----.com

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