Broadway's Talents Go On Strike

Most of Broadway's musical stage shows screeched to a halt last week, when the local musicians' union -- about 325 members -- went on strike Friday, March 7, 2003, after failed contract negotiations with producers. The shows won't go on because the two sides cannot agree on the minimum number of orchestra players required for Broadway shows. When contract negotiations began last month, producers wanted to abolish minimums, alarming local musicians who feel that would lead to major work losses in the industry.

The actors' union rallied round the musicians' cause, just before producers were planning to replace the musicians with a "virtual orchestra." All 650 Actors' Equity members "made it clear that they don't wish to perform to virtual orchestras," said Patrick Quinn, president of the union. The stagehands' union also expressed solidarity with the musicians.

Broadway last closed because of a strike in September 1975, when nine musicals shut down for 25 days after musicians went on strike, also over the issue of minimums. The cancellation of Broadway's 18 musicals this weekend has cost nearly $5 million, said Jed Bernstein, President of the League of American Theaters and Producers.

"Cabaret," which operates under a different contract, is the only Broadway musical still open. Non-musical plays and New York City's numerous off-Broadway shows remain open.

The musical stages of Broadway have a long and rich history in America's spirit and artistic culture. So in this week's lesson, you'll find out where and how muscial theater developed through the ages. Plus, you'll get an in-depth view of some of Broadway's biggest shows.

Musicals 101

First explore the basics of this art form at Musicals 101. Begin at the History of Musicals section at the What is a Musical? page. How long have people been telling stories using song? Next explore The History of Musical Stage. Flip through history and browse the American Variety, Minstrels, Vaudeville, and Burlesque eras, and read about the Broadway Pioneers. How did musical theater evolve over time and what factors influenced this development? What made them attractive forms of entertainment? Why did Broadway in New York become a major center of this type of entertainment?

Also at the Musicals 101 site, find out How Musicals Are Made. Under Elements of a Musical, learn about The Score. What's the difference between a verse and a refrain? What are the types of songs in a musical? How do you decide where to place the songs?

Move to the next section about The Book. What exactly is "The Book," and why is it important? What are its Key Elements?

Since every play needs people to produce and perform it, check out what the Production Teams' Key Players do -- from the producer to the actors -- and don't forget about the Creative Team. Who does what job? How do they work together toward the common goal of a successful performance? What kinds of things might happen if one of the jobs was eliminated?

Think about what it would be like to produce your own musical show by reading How to Write a Musical and Getting Your Musical Produced. How difficult do you think it would be to write a musical? How might you go about getting someone to invest in the project and produce the show?

Now Performing...

The stages of Broadway have produced hundreds of shows, many of which have been performed hundreds and even thousands of times for live audiences. To check out a few of these shows, stop at the PBS site, Great Performances ' Musical Theater.

Take a seat for your first show, "Cats", and read how the musical was adapted from a book. Click to the Web companion section. After reading the introduction, go Meet the Artists, where you'll visit with writer Andrew Lloyd Webber and the performers. What year did Lloyd Webber complete the musical? What previous experience did the actors have?

Read more about Andrew Lloyd Webber at Behind the Scenes and about how the musical play was created at A Look at the Work. What led up to Lloyd Webber writing the "Cats?" Who are Cameron Mackintosh and Trevor Nunn, and how did they fit into the picture?

Your next show stop is "Jesus Christ Superstar," another production written by Lloyd Webber. When did this "rock opera" debut? Go to the Web companion and Meet the Artists, go Behind the Scenes, and take A Look at the Work. How did Lloyd Webber's relationship with Tim Rice influence this production? How did the artistic taste and social culture of a local area affect the public's acceptance of this production?

If you have time, nose around a few more virtual theaters and check out "Kiss Me Kate," "Play On!," "The Producers" (Flash player required), or find out more about "Peter Pan."

Were any of those stories adapted from another medium to a musical stage performance? Who are some of the actors in the casts, and what previous experience did each of them have before joining the production? Who are the creative talents behind the productions? How do the songs, characters, stage scenes and props combine to tell each story? Can you imagine performing in front of a live audience nearly every day?

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Newspaper Activities

In current issue of Targetnewspaper, find articles about live theater performances, particularly musicals. What is the basic story line of each production? Are local actors performing it or a non-resident troop? Does the article say how often the musical is performed for audiences and where? What other types of professionals, besides the actors, must work every performance? Musicians? Stagehands? Promoters?