 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2003-03-09 13:09
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/09/arts/theater/09LABO.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/09/arts/theater/09IMPA.html
New York Daily News - http://www.nydailynews.com
Lull of Broadway
By BEAGAN WILCOX, KERRY BURKE and PAUL H.B. SHIN
DAILY NEWS WRITERS
Sunday, March 9th, 2003
"Broadway musicals remained dark for a second day yesterday as producers continued a tense standoff with striking musicians.But live music filled the Theater District when hundreds of orchestra members and their supporters marched through the streets, buoyed by an unexpectedly strong show of solidarity among key unions.The impromptu performance did little, however, to ease a day of confusion and dashed hopes for theatergoers, who found themselves in the middle of the most bitter labor dispute on Broadway in nearly three decades."I come all the way from Georgia, and there's no show. I can't believe it," said Paul Coplin, 57, a physician who had tickets for "Movin' Out" and "Hairspray" this weekend."It's the patrons that ultimately suffer," said Tony Whetstone, 17, of Port St. Lucie, Fla., who had to ditch plans to see "Aida." Like thousands of other ticketholders, Coplin had to scramble to get refunds and find substitute straight plays or Off-Broadway shows, which were unaffected by the strike.Eighteen musicals were canceled through today, with actors and stagehands honoring picket lines set up Friday by the American Federation of Musicians Local 802.It was unclear when performances would resume. No talks between the union and the League of American Theatres and Producers were scheduled by last evening.The two sides have failed to hammer out a deal over the minimum size of orchestras employed by Broadway musicals - currently three to 26 musicians, depending on the size of the theater.
A little movement
Producers wanted to abolish orchestra minimums altogether, but softened their position through the week. Their latest offer was for a minimum of 15 at the largest theaters, where the current minimum is 24 to 26.The loss of revenue from shutting down the 18 musicals was $1.2 million per performance, said Jed Bernstein, president of the League of American Theatres and Producers. That means each show will lose a total of $4.8 million from four canceled performances this weekend alone. The last time musicians went on strike was 1975, when nine shows went dark for three weeks.Mayor Bloomberg said yesterday he was worried about the economic impact of a prolonged strike and urged both sides to settle as quickly as possible.Broadway shows sold 11.4 million tickets last year. Producers estimated that Broadway as a whole generated $4.4 billion in economic activity for the city.Theater District restaurants took a huge hit yesterday."In a word: terrible," sighed Craig Dawson, manager of Barrymore's on W. 45th St. "We're down 60%, 70%. ...Most of the business has been strikers coming for cocktails."Sardi's, which usually caters to about 1,100 customers a night, saw just 200 last evening."We hope cooler heads will prevail by Monday or Tuesday," said Sardi's general manager, Max Klimavicius. "We've already had drags on the economy with the terrorist threats, Wall Street, the imminent war. I can't begin to think [the impact of] what an extended strike might have on business."
With Maki Becker"
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2003-03-09 13:14
Blair Tindall, an oboist on B'way writes:
March 9, 2003
A Final Note
By BLAIR TINDALL
The pit was picked clean. The musicians of "Man of La Mancha" had already removed photos, sweaters, electronic tuners, metronomes, instrument stands, and even the mattress for naps between shows. After the evening's bows, we took our trumpets, flutes and guitars away, too.
Our contract with Broadway's theatrical producers expired on Friday. Broadway shows went dark and prospects for a resolution look bleak. Negotiators can't agree on the number of musicians required for each theater. Producers want fewer players and more technology, while musicians aim to preserve jobs and live music.
After we walked off the job, our 16 music stands were replaced with a keyboard and computer. In fact, the cast had already been rehearsing with their new "virtual orchestra." I'm told the practice didn't go well, but I'm biased.
"Settle," a stage electrician told me before I opened the pit door for our last performance.
I thought about what he said as I watched the front row fill up. Some bubbly tourists asked about the strike. A man studied the trombonists intently, squeezing his girlfriend's hand. A surly-looking man crossed his arms over a newspaper on his chest, sighed, and glared at his wife.
I love that front row. And I love playing for a show. Every performance is different, shaped by the actors, the audience and us. Our last night was no exception. Halfway through the performance, one actor's timing sent us scrambling in a new tempo. During "The Impossible Dream," our guitarist played with such softness that his sound seemed to drift out of the wood-paneled pit. Deep blue light bathed the surly man, who was leaning forward, his head cocked, his anger gone.
Every show, when Don Quixote dies, he drops his sword and it rattles across the stage. The trumpeter always kids around, holding out his hand as if the sword were going to fall on us. On Thursday, it rolled closer than ever. For once, though, no one laughed.
During the exit music, the surly man smiled and patted his wife. After the lights came up, people seemed to be lingering in the theater.
But those of us in the pit moved on. We hauled the drum kit outside. The bass was zipped into its bag and toted to the curb. Locker doors slammed in the band room. This night, the music responded to the actors — and the audience. If virtual orchestras take over, it will be mechanical and unyielding — measured by keyboard velocity, musical software interfaces, and the zeros and ones of digital musical samples.
We looked around the pit, grabbed our instruments, and shut out the lights.
Blair Tindall is solo oboist in the Broadway production of ``Man of La Mancha.''
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
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