Today is America's Martin Luther King, Jr. National Holiday, a day where we take stock of how far we've come as a society, as well as consider what remains to be achieved.
While responding to the horrifying killings in Tucson, President Barack Obama's call for civility last week certainly seemed particularly well-timed given today's observances. Yet, since civility also naturally extends to those who look different from us, let alone think differently than we do, the President's remarks also provide a stark reminder that we have a long way to go before reaching Reverend King's dream.
Since Bono and The Edge have been in the news for their gestating work on Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark -- and since Steve On Broadway (SOB) is ostensibly about theatre -- today, I'm posting U2's seminal 1984 hit, "Pride (In The Name Of Love)."
While the tune references Dr. King's tragic 1968 assassination in Memphis, it also boldly proclaims, "Free at last, they took your life, (but) they could not take your pride."
Let's remember his enduring legacy through civility and love -- proud traits no one can take away unless you let them.
In keeping with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
It's "Turkey Lurkey" time. But by the time you read this, I'll be on the ground in London for my traditional English Thanksgiving.
No, the British don't actually observe our uniquely American holiday. But it tends to be my own personal tradition as I travel to London most years to enjoy a nice four day weekend. And this just happens to be one of them.
But since you might be itching to see a Broadway show this holiday weekend, here's the full schedule of what's playing when. Note that the only shows performing on this Thanksgiving Day are A Life In The Theatre, A Little Night Music, American Idiot, Chicago, Elf, In The Heights, Promises Promises (bet they'll be singing "Turkey Lurkey Time" with bawdy abandon!), The Phantom Of The Opera, The Scottsboro Boys and West Side Story.
Also note that the following Broadway shows will be featured as part of Macy's84th Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade: American Idiot, Memphis, Million Dollar Quartet and Elf. Each certainly captures varying aspects of the American experience to be sure, but thanks to Macy's sponsorship of Elf, it's a given that it would be featured in the parade. As a bonus to Broadway fans, the beautiful and brilliant Betty Buckley will also participate in this year's parade, which will be broadcast on NBC beginning at 9 a.m. EST today.
No matter where you are this Thanksgiving, and regardless of your nationality, please accept my deepest appreciation for making Steve On Broadway (SOB) one of your regular theatre stops. I can't thank you enough for your candid feedback and comments. I'm especially grateful to so many of you for your friendship.
Happy Thanksgiving!
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
If you're a regular reader, you already know how much I support this invaluable non-profit, which is one of the nation's leading industry based HIV/AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations. So I'm pleased not only to share details of the snow globe itself, but also present an interview I conducted with David Gallo.
According to BC/EFA:
Our newest snow globe is the most theatrical one yet, with an eye-popping, multi-layered design from Tony award-winning designer, David Gallo. The subway trains run underneath the snow covered theaters and taxi-lined streets of New York, all of which advertise over twenty Broadway musical logos. Inside the globe, three girls dance on a spectacular stage, which rotates to reveal a surprise glimpse of the goings-on backstage. "There’s No Business Like Show Business" is the perfect anthem for this collectable globe, which stands 5 ¾” x 7 ½”.
On Wednesday, I had a chance to talk with David Gallo about his efforts for BC/EFA. Here's a portion of my interview with this master designer:
Steve On Broadway (SOB)- How did your collaboration with Broadway Cares come about?
David Gallo - On this particular project, it was as simple as them just contacting me about doing this. But I’ve been participating in various forms of fundraising for them for probably almost 20 years. I always worked the Flea Market for them and over the years I’ve donated a tremendous amount of artwork.
Whenever I’m asked to sell something of my own to a museum or an individual, I always have the money given to Broadway Cares. So I’ve done that for a long time as well. And occasionally when people want to purchase memorabilia, I always have the money go to Broadway Cares.
But for the snowglobe, it was just as simple as having them call me.
SOB - I only spotted one of your shows in the Snow Globe.
DG - We made sure Memphis was right there in the center.
SOB - Tell me a little about the concept that went into your snow globe design.
DG - I really wanted to be able to tell some kind of a story with it. As an art object, it’s certainly cute enough. But I was hoping to be able to sort of develop into some basic kind of tale and give it a little sense of surprise -- so the notion of it being the street levels of New York and all the taxis and the cars and then below that the subway and then the city.
Then as it sort of spins around, seeing the city as performance -- Times Square and Broadway as performances -- seeing the backstage goings-on with the wardrobe people and the stagehands throwing the snow. It was just sort of meant as New York -- Broadway in the wintertime as kind of the event and let it work on number of different scales. Just sort of be fun from that point of view.
But alternately, the idea was just to tell some kind of silly little tale.
SOB - Have you ever worked on that kind of scale before?
DG - I don’t think I’ve ever done a snow globe before. I wasn’t unfamiliar working in model form because that’s what we do, but usually our stuff ends up getting built bigger. But yes, it really was the first time, certainly the first time.
SOB - I’m looking forward to getting one of my own.
Yeah, it’s cool. It’s actually turned out really, really well. We’re very pleased with it.
To purchase your very own whimsical snow globe (as I since have), visit the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDSonline store. They're just $80 each. To give directly to BC/EFA, please go here.
I'll have more of my interview with David Gallo next week as I focus more on his award-winning career.
In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
The singing siblings already possess Broadway musical credits. Donny Osmond made his Rialto debut in the failed 1982 revival of Little Johnny Jones before taking on the role of Gaston in Beauty And The Beast in 2006. Marie Osmond served as one of the replacements for Donna Murphy in the last revival of The King And I in the late 90s.
In the holiday tradition of the “Osmond Family Christmas” television specials, Donny and Marie invite you and your family to join them to celebrate the joy of the season in true Osmond fashion, in person, as the pair share a Broadway stage for the first time. With their trademark show-stopping Christmas production numbers, Donny & Marie - A Broadway Christmas features your favorite hits mixed with the irresistible chemistry that made them international stars.
2008 marked the 50th anniversary for the Osmonds as a performing family.
The 12 performance run of Donny & Marie: A Broadway Christmas is scheduled to begin on December 9 before dashing through the snow on December 19. Tickets go on sale this morning at 10 a.m. EDT. UPDATE: The show has now been extended through December 30, 2010.
In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
In layman's terms, Broadway producers have given the stagehands union its last best offer. The League has threatened a lock-out if they reach an impasse with the union. By the way, the stagehands have continued to work even though their last contract expired in July.
Playbill quotes League Executive Director Charlotte St. Martin from a statement released earlier today:
The League seeks a contract that requires that we only pay for work we actually need and is actually performed. The League's purpose is to modernize a contract that is unique in the extent to which it requires us to employ people who have no work to perform while they are paid.
In exchange, the League's final offer includes a 16% wage increase over five years; a separate 10% wage increase for the period when shows are loaded in; an additional increase for the lowest paid stagehands; a new sick pay provision; and more than a dozen other contract improvements sought by the Union. The offer insures that Broadway stagehands will continue to be the most highly paid in the theatre world. It is a compromise that preserves many contract provisions Local One sought to protect, but at the same time liberalizes some archaic work rules so that they begin to reflect those present in most modern workplaces.
In response, the Union has offered only minimal changes for load-ins and virtually no changes for running shows. With only one in five shows making a profit, this simply is not acceptable.
We hope the Union addresses our final proposal seriously, rather than create a confrontation that will be damaging for all of us.
No word just yet on a formal response from Local One. However, an earlier Bloomberg report from Friday suggested that the union had conceded on the major League point on load-ins.
If Bloomberg's Jeremy Gerard's late-breaking report is correct, the union representing the stagehands on Broadway has blinked. Gerard reports that two sources have told him that the union conceded a key point that should smooth the way toward a final contract.
According to Gerard:
The union negotiators "said, 'No, no, no, no, no,'" said one of the people, both of whom insisted on anonymity. "And then they said, 'Yes.'"
Still, you can breathe a sigh of relief if you're holding tickets to most of the Broadway shows that would have been shut down if the League of American Theaters and Producers fulfilled on their threat to impose a lockout.
After a long day of labor negotiations that ended around 9:30 pm Thursday [Oct. 4], Broadway stagehands' union Local One and the League of American Theaters and Producers agreed to resume talks Friday afternoon [Oct. 5] at 2:00 pm.
The two orgs have been engaged in a tense bargaining process for several weeks, with a producer-initiated lockout of the union still looming as a real possibility.
Thursday's meeting was crucial since it was, until the end of the day, the final session scheduled. The rumor mill throughout the day had been churning along the Rialto, with initial reports that negotiations were stalling followed by word that progress was slowly being made. (emphasis added)
Despite the relatively collegial nature of the actual discussions described as "businesslike and civil," there's an underlying threat that is likely causing incredible tension: the League has indicated that if they don't reach an agreement by the end of September, they will force a lockout in early October. What does that mean for theatre fans?
It could force most of the Great White Way to go dark as early as October -- a time period when Broadway business is traditionally slower. That way, the League controls the timing as opposed to Local One, which could opt to strike during the very busy Holiday season that begins in earnest immediately prior to Thanksgiving.
Considering that the first two have the next three shows to open on Broadway -- Mauritius (October 4 at MTC's Biltmore Theatre), The Ritz (October 11 at Roundabout's Studio 54) and Pygmalion (October 18 at the Roundabout-leased American Airlines Theatre) -- if you're looking for safe bets when buying theatre tickets, these would be the shows to see. Whether or not they're any good has yet to be determined.
Update (9/28/2007): The New York Times reports that Young Frankenstein, which will operate in a non-union theatre, and Mary Poppins will not be affected by any lockout or strike.
As a loyal patron on Broadway and theatre in general, I don't have a dog in this fight. But since I'm holding tickets for several shows over the next few months, I'm hoping beyond hope that it doesn't come down to a lockout, which I'm fundamentally against.
Given the fact that the IATSE already has a contingency plan geared toward finding its members union work in television or film during any work stoppage, the only real loser in this fight will be the audience.
The audience is hardly an insignificant group, yet their interests aren't being represented by either side in this battle. The audience is not only paying higher ticket prices at the box office, but in many cases, especially around the Holidays, a substantial number are also incurring non-refundable airfares and exorbitant hotel rates (one of my regular readers told me that's she's paying over $500 per night just for a room in November).
And for what? The chance that they might come to the Big Apple only to learn that their show isn't even playing?!
Let's hope the two sides don't reach an impasse. If they do, they risk turning off the loyal theatregoing public that both sides need.
Peace On Earth, Good Will Toward Men And Women Everywhere
As I’m flying to Perth, Australia on this Christmas Eve, I want to take this opportunity to express my deep appreciation to every single reader who has visited Steve On Broadway (SOB) in my inaugural year. I’ve truly appreciated the superbly constructive, engaged dialogue I’ve enjoyed with everyone who has submitted comments and private e-mails since I started Steve On Broadway in April.
I’ve been honored to begin many online friendships during the course of the year, and I’m also very pleased that I’ve never felt the need to edit or reject any of your submissions. Whether you’ve taken me to task for making a seemingly invalid assertion or rallied to my defense -- or perhaps you’ve taken the time to further illuminate my understanding regarding a vital aspect of the theatre -- I want you to know how sincerely grateful I am for your contributions.
Ostensibly, I write Steve On Broadway (SOB) for my own personal enjoyment. If there’s one characteristic about myself that I hope rings genuinely authentic, it’s my love for the theatre. Perhaps it’s that passion that sways my reviews toward the favorable overall --although I prefer to think that I’m somewhat discriminating in what I pay to see in the first place.
You see, I don’t go to a show with malice in my heart hoping to hate a production. I go to enjoy and be entertained or at least enlightened. Yes, there are those occasions where I find myself disappointed by a musical or play or by specific performances therein, but I also hope that ultimately, my critiques have provided anyone out there reading them with some heartfelt guidance from an honest-to-goodness theatre lover.
Please accept my best wishes for a very Merry Christmas -- and regardless of whether you celebrity this Holiday or not, here's wishing you and yours nothing but peace and love.
Tomorrow marks the American Thanksgiving Day Holiday. This proud tradition had its auspicious roots in 1621 when English settlers in Plymouth (in what is now Massachusetts) shared their harvest dinner with the Wampanoag Indians -- only that feast was never repeated. So much for tradition!
In fact, it wasn't until after the Revolutionary War that President George Washington first declared a National Day of Thanksgiving in 1789. In 1863 in the midst of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln initiated the annual observance by designating the last Thursday of November as Thanksgiving. Finally, in 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt is credited as setting the fourth Thursday of each November as the official Thanksgiving Holiday, which Congress approved in 1941 and we observe to this day.
Personally, I am thankful for so much. I feel enormously blessed for my family and friends, but I'm particularly grateful to live in a nation where freedom of speech enables us to share our points of view with each other. Thankfully, dissent is alive and well, and often finds its roots in the arts. Theatre contributes tremendously to the national discourse, and whether we agree or disagree with its messages, we should cherish and never take for granted the critical role theatre traditionally plays in often shaping and leading the discussion.
Naturally, another major tradition for millions of Americans has been a journey to New York for the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which will march for its 80th year down Broadway. The parade helps serve as a showcase for the Great White Way, and it's a certainty that Broadway shows will see a spike in attendance over the next few days.
But now that Macy's parent company, Federated Department Stores, has gobbled up some of the country's most beloved, venerable department store brands like Marshall Field's, Filene's, Kaufmann's and Meier & Frank's, and transformed them all into Macy's -- much to the chagrin and irritation of countless shoppers nationally -- Macy's will no doubt use this year's parade to win the hearts and dollars of Americans one day prior to the busiest shopping day of the year. According to a story in this morning's The Wall Street Journal, Macy's rebranding "is off to a rocky start." Something tells me that they'll have to go beyond merely staging what's become a national parade to overcome the stone hearts they've created.
Happy Thanksgiving!*
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade route information.
*Since I'll be celebrating Thanksgiving with family, there will be no Steve On Broadway (SOB) postings on the Holiday.
Rain: A Tribute To The Beatles Limited run extended through May 31, 2011 (Show will go on hiatus starting January 15 and reopen at Brooks Atkinson Theatre on February 8)
Rock Of Ages - Open-ended run (Show will go on hiatus starting January 9 and reopen at Helen Hayes Theatre in March)
As someone who has been involved in both politics and public relations, it's no wonder I love watching theatre. Good or bad, it's the raw energy of seeing a live performance that gets my adrenaline pumping. From the moment I saw my very first Broadway show ("Annie" in London in 1979), I was hooked. Now I see as many as 70 shows each year ranging from soaring musicals to two-hander plays. And these eyes just may be in an audience near you!
