Dear Telecharge Customer

Dear Telecharge Customer:

Any email beginning with these words often brings bad news and this statement could not have been more valid than when I found myself opening an email with this exact statement followed by, “You’re performance of THE FARNSWORTH INVENTION has been canceled.” I don’t know whether it was seeing the title in all capital letters, or just the feeling that this email was coming that made it feel and sound so bad.

Being an avid theatre-goer this was the first time a performance I was going to attend had been canceled. Suddenly I found myself with thousands of other theatre-goers whose plans were changed because of the ongoing Broadway Stagehands Strike.

Like many other’s I always enjoy going to New York City around this time of year so that I may partake in the Christmas decorations, shopping and grab a quick Broadway show before heading home.

A few months ago I had booked a Broadway bus trip and bought tickets for the new Aaron Sorkin play, “The Farnsworth Invention”. Our plans soon changed after the strike was declared on November 9, 2007. All but a few Broadway theatre’s would go dark (industry talk for being closed), and it suddenly left me with the void of theatrical performance. So like any good traveler, I had a back-up plan, and upon receiving the Telecharge email, I instantly booked tickets for the Roundabout Theatre Company’s production of “Pygmalion” at the American Airlines Theatre.

On the Ground:

Upon arriving in New York City at the corner of 42nd St. and Broadway, I could tell something was wrong. Stores in and around the theatre district, including Times Square, were empty. Even the street vendors selling fake Coach bags and Rolex watches were not as plentiful. Even the TKTS booth, which sells half priced, same day, discount tickets was empty. All of this was nothing compared to 44th & 45th Streets whose theatres are home to shows considered Broadway royalty including, “A Chorus Line”, “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Les Miserable”.
The streets, which usually by an hour before curtain are packed, were deserted. There were no ticket holders waiting to get in, no vendors selling programs and not excitement. It was as if all the energy and electricity generated by live theatre was gone. The only lines that could be found were those of the stagehands picketing.

So How's Business?

Fortunately for me though I did have a ticket to one of the few matinee shows that was playing, “Pygmalion”. With so few Broadway shows running during this time, I was curious to see what business would be like for this play, most often associated with its musical sibling “My Fair Lady”. After arriving at the theatre my question was promptly answered when looking at the box office I saw an enormous sign saying, “THIS PERFORMANCE IS SOLD OUT!” Upon receiving my ticket at the will call window I asked the attendant how business was doing since the strike. Her reply, “We’ve been very busy.”

The production itself was much better than I could have imagined and key parts of the dialogue are still ringing inside my head along with the pictures of the magnificent set. As for Ms. Claire Danes making her Broadway debut as Eliza Doolittle, a role famously associated with actresses Julie Andrews and Audrey Hepburn, after taking five minutes to settle in Ms. Danes was delightful.

Doing the Impossible: Getting Dinner

The play, which has five acts, flew by in a good way and during intermission I asked the very busy Chief Usher, how’s business? Her response, “We’ve been sold out every night.” After the show I had a chance to participate in a talk back between the audience and the cast, than it was off to a quick dinner with a friend at Ruby Foo’s Pan-Asian restaurant in Times Square. Usually getting a table at a restaurant in between shows on a Saturday night is next to impossible. On this night I did the impossible; I walked into the restaurant, told the waiter that I needed a table to two and was seated quickly. While walking to my seat it was easy to see that the strike was affecting more than just the theatres. The restaurant was half-full, and afterward catching a cab was painless.

Again I couldn’t quite get ever have empty this city was. I’ve been visiting New York for ten years and in all that time this was something I had never seen before. Anyway it was back to Washington, D.C. and I must say that even with seeing a different show than the one I wanted to see, I was glad I came.

As for the strike, well it currently is in its second week, with no settlement in sight. This was the first Thanksgiving in memory where most Broadway houses were dark and nobody dares ask the question what Christmas will bring. Though many are hoping not to get an email with the phrase, “Dear Telecharge Customer.”

Give Me Your Strike Story:

Affected by the strike? Give me you story of finding Broadway dark in our comment section! Also be sure to check of the next post with pictures taken during my last visit to New York and if you have pictures you would like to submit, email them to me btomchik@gmu.edu. Finally should you find yourself needing information regarding obtaining ticket refunds of general strike or theatre information be sure to check out the theatre links section below.

Theatre Links:

For Updates about the Strike and everything Broadway please check the following websites:
http://www.playbill.com/

If you bought a ticket to a show that was canceled the link provided with tell you how to obtain a refund.

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/112903.html

Also be sure to check with your Broadway show's official website to see what their status is during the strike and recommended courses of action.

The Strike - First Hand

Outside of the Music Box Theatre, home to "The Farnworth Invention". The only thought that comes to mind is, "I was supposed to see that!"

The TKTS booth and walkway underneath the Marriot Marquis hotel. On any given day there are at least two waves of people lining up to get discount theatre tickets, today was not one of those days.

The TKTS board during the strike. The left side usually displays all Broadway show offering discount tickets. Normally this board has over ten shows on it. Today, there is only four. In contrast the right side is displaying all off-Broadway shows selling discount tickets. Off-Broadway theatres are theatres with less than 500 seats. During the strike, off-Broadway business has been booming, and that's putting it mildly.

Stagehands striking outside the theatre of "A Chrous Line"; often called the show that saved Broadway.

Local news stations cover the strike outside the Majestic Theatre, home to Broadway's longest running show "The Phantom of the Opera".

One day more.....NOT! Stagehands on strike outside the Broadhurst theatre, home to Les Miserables, the second longest running show in Broadway history.

On the ground

Okay, I just got back from NYC early this morning and in one word, my trip was erie. The streets were not crowded at all, TKTS the discount ticket both had no line and the only people on the streets where the strikers. I'll be published a full report within the next week after the holiday, but New York was different. The best way I can highlight this is by describing the lakc of energy in the city. Usually by 1:30PM there are lines of people waiting to get into each show and that just wasn't happening. There was no electricity there was no excitement. Overall I had a great time, but it was sad. In addition it looks like this strike could last beyond Thanksgiving.

On the bright side of life I did happen to cath the fantastic revival of "Pygmalion" with Claire Danes. I must admit that I really wasn't expecting much but I was wrong. The revival was first rate and quite enjoyable. Anyway Happy Thanksgiving and here' s hoping this thing is over soon.

Humor in all of this

CNN reported today that on monday night you can still buy tickets for tuesday nights show. So there won't be a show, but you'll still have tickets. Anyway I hope this makes someone laugh!

Great article covering the strike:

http://broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=22912

STRIKE!!!!!!!

As of Saturday morning over twenty Broadway shows went on strike, leaving much of the Great White Way dark for the first time since 2003. The Stagehands union, which was negotiating with the Producers, rejected the Producers final offer on Friday night and choose to officially start striking Saturday morning. At this point so much has been said about the strike, that I'd like to write about from someone who maybe affected.

This Saturday at 2pm I have tickets to see "The Farnworths Invention", the new play by Aaron Sorkin. Probably best known for writing, what I think, was one of the best American dramas "The West Wing", "The Farnsworth Invention" was to have covered the race to create television between David Sarnoff & Filo T. Farnsworth. As of right now I don't know whether or not I'll see this show. Part of me is always hoping for good news, but on the other hand I'm starting to brace myself, because this may not happen.

I support the union in this labor dispute, a rarity for me. I think that with Broadway tickets now costing over $450 dollars a seat the producers are being greedy. What hurts me the most is to think of all the people who will have a lasting bad taste in their mouth from this experience. One only has to go online to various news website, and a person can see pictures of tourists walking away angry.

If I could just end on one note, I would urge both sides to get Broadway up and running soon. Not only because I want to see this show, also because I don't want this strike to push away the theatregoers. The theatre is such a great part of life, that for it to disappoint is really, sad.

There back!!!

If you are a tourist in New York City, thank you! Why? Because without you the performing arts in New York would be dead, seriously. A survey by the League of American Theatres & Producers, release this week, found that over the course of the past year, tourist make-up 65% of broadway's core audience. This explains why shows such as The Phantom of the Opera and Les Miz can continue to play for decades, because tourist want to see a name brand show.

Overall the survey concludes that six years after the attacks on 9/11, when theatre was just hanging on, tourist are coming back and in record numbers. Last year tourist accounted for over 12.3 million tickets sold, the highest number in a decade. Even more suprising was that theatre-goers under the age of 18 accounted for 1.42 million tickets.


These numbers are incredible because it was barely a decade ago that many around the world started wondering if broadway was dead. Show's weren't opening and audiences seemed to want something more. Than after 9/11 shows tried every trick in the book to get audiences, and now it seems those tricks are paying. While actor's and directors and stage managers etc., are celebrating with these numbers so are producers. My word of caution (Mr. Brooks) don't ruin a good thing. The reason tourist go is because it's affordable. The minutes tickets start climbing higher and the top price is over $500 these numbers could fall. As for now, while I may loathe tourists in the city, I don't loathe them in the city.

Under the sea....not a bad place to be

Quick update to yesterday's blog. For the first weekend of previews thew Little Mermaid had 100% attendance. Not bad for early November when most shows are lucky to hit the mid-80's. This is according to The League of American Theatre & Producers.

Hitting the High Seas Once Again

If this week is remembered for one thing it is that Disney’s new, long-awaited musical The Little Mermaid finally opened to previews at Broadway’s Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. Based of the hit 1989 movie of the same name, this is Disney’s first musical since it flopped with Tarzan last summer. Arguably though The Little Mermaid sails into New York with a little more clout than Tarzan did and expectations are high.

It features one of Disney’s most beloved scores and the story of Ariel, the mermaid who longs to be apart of “your world”, is a story that has enchanted millions of young girls around the world. In addition the Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, Glenn Slater score boast some of Disney’s biggest hits with, “Under the Sea”, “Kiss the Girl”and “Part of Your World. The pressure is on Disney to produce another mega hit on the great white way. Its last being The Lion King over a decade ago, The Little Mermaid will seek to regain Disney’s clout in the business.

After playing a successful out-of-town tryout in Denver last summer, The Little Mermaid officially started playing previews Saturday night in preparation for a December 6, 2007 opening. Aside from everything mentioned above, what makes this show such a big deal is that it will be one of two big musicals opening this fall. The other of course being Mel Brook’s Young Frankenstein, the follow-up to his 2001 smash The Producers.

Already buzz is being generated that these two shows are the leading contenders for the 2008 Tony Award for Best Musical, Broadway’s top prize. Each show has their own niche audience and time will tell who comes out on top. For Disney though this show is more than just about an award, it is about once again proving that they have what it takes to a player in the theatre world. In one month the critics on Broadway will have their say and then it is up to the audience, but if history is to repeat itself, than The Little Mermaid could once again prove to be Disney’s saving gem.

The Little Mermaid official website:

http://disney.go.com/theatre/thelittlemermaid/index.html