"Barbaros hic ago sum quia non intelligor ulli."--Ovid
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/114
This article says that Rent is closing in June.
It's about bloody time.
Now, I'm not saying that it's a bad show. It's not, really. It played over 10 years and affects many people, especially when it tours. A lot of the music is truly wonderful as well.
However, the show is 'a bit' outdated. Honestly now. With lyrics like: 'You're living in America / At the end of the millenium' it makes one wonder if the show even has meaning anymore. Also the whole artist's lofts in the east village thing just doesn't happen nowadays. Those artists have either moved away to cheaper climes, or to Brooklyn, where rent isn't much better.
The show is not dead, though. There's the semi-decent film, the tours, the regional theatre productions, the school productions, and, of the course, the inevitable revival that will surely come to pass in the 10 years or so, hopefully with updated lyrics. That happened in London, but I'm not sure the reaction to it. It is still playing though. Well...kind of: http://www.theambassadors.com/rent/
Anyway, that's all the news I have for show closings. There's been rumours of other shows meeting their demise this year, but until it's been formally announced, I won't post it here.
So... Mr. Webber doesn't know when to quit yet.
He seems to also feel threatened by Disney, so is starting a new trend, BROADWAY MUSICAL SEQUALS:
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/113
Congratulations, Mr. Webber, you have reached a new low. And, it successful, will bring all of the West End and Broadway down with you.
Grrrrrrrrrrrreeeeattttttt.
Give it up while you're ahead.
Your recent films aren't even that good.
By Andrew Gans
28 Nov 2007
 |  |
| The marquee of Legally Blonde will light again. | |
| photo by Matthew Blank |
The strike initiated by Local One, the stagehands union, on Nov. 10 has come to an end, according to NY1 and the New York Post. A tenative agreement was reached between the League of American Theatres and Producers and the union Nov. 28, the 19th day of the strike.
Charlotte St. Martin, the executive director of the League, addressed the press just before 11 PM with a short statement. St. Martin said, "We are pleased to announce that we have a tentative agreement with Local One of IATSE ending the Broadway strike, and we're happy about that. Performances for all shows will begin tomorrow night — once again, that's Thursday, Nov. 29 — and schedules for all production will be posted on [the League's official website]. The agreement is a good compromise that serves our industry. What is most important is that Broadway's lights will once again be shining brightly with a diversity of productions that will delight all theatregoers during this holiday time. We look forward to celebrating the season and welcoming our talented stagehands and the theatregoing public back to Broadway."
James J. Claffey, the president of Local One, made a brief statement: "Brothers and sisters of Local One, you've respresented yourselves and your families and your union proud. That's enough said right there." Bruce Cohen, the union's spokesperson, simply said, "I get to return to the land of no comment."
Details of the final agreement have yet to be made public. For months prior to the strike and throughout the strike's duration, producers and the union have been hashing out issues of work assignments, setting of a production's run crew, load-in costs and labor minimums. Increase in wages was the subject of the final day of negotiations which lasted over 10 hours.
When all Broadway shows will resume their normal playing schedules has yet to be announced, although it is expected many productions will offer shows Thursday evening, Nov. 29.
Although the previous meetings between the League and the union had been unsuccessful, there was a great sense of optimism as members headed into the Nov. 28 meeting. Herschel Waxman, the Senior Vice President of the Nederlander Organization who is in charge of Labor Relations, told NY1, "As optimistic as I was the other day, I'm equally as optimistic we'll have it done today. I've been wrong, but I swear to you, I believe we will have a deal finished today." Bruce Cohen, a spokesperson for the union, said, "The tarps are off the field. The sun is shining. We're in the ninth inning of the seventh game of the World Series, and as Yogi Berra didn't say, 'It's not over until the fat lady sings.'"
The vast majority of Broadway shows have been closed since the strike began, and several shows have been forced to postpone their official opening nights. The lengthy dispute has also severely affected businesses in the theatre-district area. The City of New York estimates its loss at $2 million per each day of the strike.
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the nation's leading industry based, not-for-profit AIDS fundraising and grant making organization, has also been adversely affected by the strike. It is during this time of the year when BC/EFA makes post-curtain call speeches asking for donating to the organization. The six weeks of fundraising leads up to the annual Gypsy of the Year competition, which has been postponed until Dec. 17 and 18
By Adam Hetrick
22 Nov 2007
 | |
| Workers march the picket line. | |
| photo by Matthew Blank |
By Andrew Gans
19 Nov 2007
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| The picket line outside the August Wilson Theatre, home of Jersey Boys. | |
| photo by Aubrey Reuben |
Talks between the League of American Theatres and Producers and Local One, the stagehands union, broke off the evening of Nov. 18.
Performances in the 27 theatres darkened by the stagehands strike have been canceled through Sunday, Nov. 25, according to a statement released by the League at 10:34 PM Nov. 18. This latest action means the vast majority of Broadway will be dark during the lucrative Thanksgiving weekend.
The statement from Charlotte St. Martin, executive director of the League, said: "We are profoundly disappointed to have to tell you that talks broke off tonight, and that no further negotiations are scheduled.
"We presented a comprehensive proposal that responded to the union's concerns about loss of jobs and earnings and attempted to address our need for some flexibilities in running our business. The union rejected our effort to compromise and continues to require us to hire more people than we need.
"Out of respect for our public and our loyal theatergoers, many of whom are traveling from around the world, we regret that we must cancel performances through Sunday November 25."
The union sent out its own press statement at 11 PM. The statement from spokesperson Bruce Cohen read, "Talks between Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and the League of American Theatres and Producers broke off late this [evening]. Just before the talks broke off, the producers informed Local One that what Local One had offered was simply not enough. The producers then walked out. Local One will have no further comment."
Many had hoped that the weekend of negotiations — the first time the union and the League had sat down together since Nov. 9 — would lead to a quick resolution. Those in the industry believed that the talks, which began Saturday morning, Nov. 17, would be aided by the participation of Robert W. Johnson, a Disney labor relations executive who flew in to mediate. Thomas C. Short, the president of I.A.T.S.E. who had granted strike authorization to the Broadway stagehands union on Nov. 9, was also part of the weekend meetings.
A quick resolution, however, was not in the cards. After two days' worth of negotiations at the Westin Hotel on West 43rd Street, there is no indication when talks might resume.
The main sticking point, sources say, continues to be the number of stagehands required for the load-in, the period when the sets for a new production are moved into the theatre.
To date, the strike has forced the postponement of two Broadway openings: The Farnsworth Invention (originally scheduled for Nov. 14 at the Music Box Theatre) and The Seafarer (previously scheduled for a Nov. 15 opening at the Booth). New opening dates have yet to be announced for either show.
Now that shows have been canceled through at least Nov. 25, the opening of August: Osage County (at the Imperial Theatre) and the first preview of The Homecoming (at the Cort Theatre) will also be delayed.
Only two shows will play Monday evening, Nov. 19: The Ritz and Pygmalion. The other six shows currently up and running — Xanadu, Mauritius, Cymbeline, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Young Frankenstein and Mary Poppins — offer no Monday performances.
As the strike continues, its effects continue to multiply. In addition to the millions of dollars in revenue lost by the 27 darkened productions and the severely reduced pay for those on strike, the city of New York estimates it has lost approximately $2 million per day because of the drop-off in business in theatre-district hotels, bars and restaurants.
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, NYC & Company and the Times Square Alliance have announced a "Dining in the District" restaurant discount — effective through Nov. 25 — as a means to counter this loss of business. The "special weeklong dining program [is] intended to attract New Yorkers and visitors to restaurants...that have been affected by the Broadway stagehand strike," according to an announcement, and "will offer a 15% discount on lunch or dinner to all patrons at more than 25 participating restaurants." The offer does not include Thanksgiving Day; more information and a list of restaurants can be found by visiting nyc.gov, nycvisit.com or timessquarenyc.org.
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the nation's leading industry based, not-for-profit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organization, has also suffered. It is during this time of year when casts of the Broadway shows
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