Broadway Theatre Backstage Conditions

[behindthescenes2]

Today in 90 degree heat the Broadway Theatre's backstage air-conditioner is broken -- again  The Schuberts and the other theater owners should be ashamed of themselves for allowing this to happen.  This isn't the first time the Broadway Theatre's backstage air-conditioner has broken down and the actors and wardrobe and stage hands and hair and make-up, ushers et al have had to work in very bad conditions. There is always an excuse as to why the backstage environment is never corrected or updated.  It's too expensive, the set is in the way, we don't have parts, etc.  What are they doing with the $1.00 per ticket they receive for the upkeep of the theaters?  The steps are too small and narrow, the theatres are dirty and never cleaned and the air systems are antiquated at best, if they even really exist.  This is unacceptable that the rich theatre owners and producers do not update and keep these theatres in prime working condition back stage, for the safety and working conditions of their employees.  It is outrageous that the theatre owners are allowed to keep the current conditions of the backstage area the same.  This has been going on for years and it should stop now.  The new shows force more people and movement up and down steps and stairs that were not meant for this type of traffic and work load.  It is like working in a workhouse - when it is 90 degrees outside what do you think it feels like in the basement with no window and NO AIR!  It seems slave conditions still exist.

[HogansHero]

what are people here supposed to do? This is what we have unions for.

[HorseTears]

OP - that sounds miserable.  Totally understand why you'd want to publicly vent (no pun intended) on a theatre messageboard.  But, yeah, Hogan's right, this sounds like an issue that the unions should be taking to the producers, no?  

[dramamama611]

Things break, it happens.  These are old buildings which makes everything harder..

[Tag]

Call Equity.

Directly from the Production Contract:

62.SAFE AND SANITARY PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT

(A) The Producer agrees to provide the Actor with safe and sanitary places of employment. All stages shall be clean and properly heated. The Producer shall use best efforts to provide air-conditioning when necessary to insure comfortable healthful temperatures at all times. In New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, the Producer shall provide air-conditioning and heat in all dressing room areas when necessary to insure a reasonably comfortable and healthful temperature by the time of the Actor's call. In New York City, dressing rooms, bathrooms and other common areas that are frequented by the Actors shall be deep cleaned as is practical no less than once per year.

(1) Treads on backstage stairways shall be maintained in a safe condition. Stairways shall be provided with adequate lighting and adequate hand-rail supports. 

[haterobics]

We're on it! Thanks!

[amoni]

What about calling the Board of Health? You are working in an unhealthy environment.

[HogansHero]

it's not clear the OP is an AEA member (it would seem not) but there is not a soul backstage that doesn't have a union rep they can call about this. 

[morosco]

If you do reach out to theatre management please consider not addressing them as Schuberts.

Interesting that the AEA production contract says that the issue is the Producer's responsibility so you might reach out to your show's Producers first.

[HogansHero]

morosco said: "Interesting that the AEA production contract says that the issue is the Producer's responsibility so you might reach out to your show's Producers first."

since there is no contract between an actor and the theatre owner, there is no basis for any communication between an actor and the Shuberts. The agreement is between the union and the producer, so the union should register any complaint. The producer can then take it up with its landlord if need be. 

[Call_me_jorge]

In many cases isn't the theatre owner co-producer as well?

[Fosse76]

Call_me_jorge said: "In many cases isn't the theatre owner co-producer as well?"

 

Generally, yes. If the landlord wants a show bad enough, they will put up a certain percentage to guarantee the show will open (i.e., a show only has 90% capitalization, so the landlord will put up the remaining 10%). If the landlord doesn't have that much faith in a show, or simply doesn't like the producer, they will require full capitalization before allowing the show to load-in.

[HogansHero]

Call_me_jorge said: "In many cases isn't the theatre owner co-producer as well?"

in some, but I would not say many. But even when they are, they are not "the producer" and are not parties to the contract between the producer and the union. "The producer" is its own LLC, as relevant here. In this particular case, the Shuberts are not producers, but as it happens the Nederlanders are.