It’s official… Broadway stagehands are on strike.
I blogged about their actions yesterday; however, at the time I used a mock scenario as an example of how the strike was affecting theatergoers. Then, last night on the news I saw video of the picket lines that went up at theaters around the Times Square area and heard the real-life heartbreaking tales of ticket holders who had traveled thousands of miles and spent hundreds of dollars for shows that went dark yesterday.
One story that struck me was about a couple from Washington State who traveled to New York just to take in a weekend of Broadway shows. They planned the trip for months and the three shows they intended to see were all canceled: “Grinch,””Hairspray” and “Mamma Mia!”
Yikes!
Then, there was the story of the family from upstate New York who spent about $400 for their five tickets to “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical.” The mother was fuming to the news reporter when her five-year-old looked up and said, “Maybe we’ll go to a different movie.”
(That’s so sounds like something my daughter would say.)
To which one of the actors in the show responded: “Honey, it’s a live show.”
I laughed. But, I know the strike is no joke to the hundreds of stagehands and ticket holders affected by the strike.
Besides the “Grinch” other shows shut down by the strike included “Wicked,””The Phantom of the Opera,””Rent,””Les Miserables,””Monty Python’s Spamalot” and “Mamma Mia!”
The good news is that anyone who purchased tickets to shows affected by the walkout were able to get exchanges or refunds.
Thankfully, people who are traveling to New York for the 81st annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade won’t face the same disappointment Broadway ticket holders are dealing with.
The parade is scheduled to go on as planned, only this year parade-goers will be getting an added bonus. (At least the ones watching on TV and those with seats in front of Macy’s.)
Legendary composer and cabaret singer Michael Feinstein has written a new song “Making Magic” especially for the 600 dancing children who will appear right before the parade kicks off. Meanwhile, the award-winning director of the Radio City Rockettes is choreographing the opening number.
Lucky are the people who get to see the performance in person.