Loading out in progress at the August Wilson

[sparksatmidnight]

Has anyone heard anything? Some photos have surfaces of an apparent loading out happening right now at the August Wilson Theatre

[Huss417]

And where are the photos?

[sparksatmidnight]

https://i.imgur.com/IEDcZMw.jpg

[Tag]

That's clearly not the set/costumes/props/lighting/sound, nor an IA crew doing it.  It looks to be from offices or dressing rooms.

[Jordan Catalano]

LOL that's not loading out. 

[Sutton Ross]

Have you never seen a load out? It involves a lot more trucks, people, and stuff. 

That's clearly just people wanting stuff from their dressing rooms or offices after all these months, nothing more. 

[Huss417]

There would be more stuff to load out from Love Letters. Mean Girls must have really cut back on their production. LOL

[Tag]

In seriousness, that looks to be a significant amount to be cleaning out from an office or dressing room.  Perhaps a precursor to an actual load-out???

[BrodyFosse123]

Relax, folks. They’re refurbishing the dressing rooms so it’s just cast’s contents in boxes. They’re being loaded into a standard van to put in storage then brought back once they’re done with the dressing rooms. The show isn’t “loading out.”

[IAMREADING]

probably just removing everyone’s personal belongings before doing what needs to be done to get that insurance payout (jk)

[treblemakerz]

I popped by today for a drink at Haswell's and can confirm none of it was props, sets, costumes, or anything even pink really. Just looked like some personal items and junk. No reason for panic.

[Playbill_Trash]

Seeing as their entire set can be saved in a thumb drive, there’s no reason to think this is not an actual load out.

[Islander_fan]

Playbill_Trash said: "Seeing as their entire set can be saved in a thumb drive, there’s no reason to think this is not an actual load out. "

That’s one of the craziest things I’ve read on here. They do use projections, you’re right. But there are actual sets too.  Seeing as it was small storage boxes etc your point holds no water 

[Jordan Levinson]

It's not their ENTIRE set that's projected, but it does seem like most of it is. Still, you have tables, desks, lockers, bathroom stalls, Cady's/Regina's bedrooms, and the mall setup for "Apex Predator," just to name a few. There's no reason to believe Mean Girls is loading out just yet- I'm sure Tina Fey and Lorne Michaels will fight, fight, fight to see their show survive on Broadway and on tour.

[BrodyFosse123]

The fact that you guys are still questioning this load-out even after it’s been stated clearly what this quick afternoon “load out” was about, is a true testament that you guys just want to stir stuff up for no reason whatsoever. Wow!

[nealb1]

BrodyFosse123, perfectly said.  

[JBroadway]

I don't think Playbill_Trash was actually implying that the set could literally be loaded out in those little boxes. I think they were just being snarky about the use of projections, and everyone is taking the statement literally. 

Speaking as someone who hated the use of LED screens, I found Playbill_Trash's comment funny 

[Kad]

This is what passes for news when the industry is shut down and there's only so much debate that can happen over who can win a Pandemic Tony Award.

[Tag]

Playbill_Trash said: "Seeing as their entire set can be saved in a thumb drive, there’s no reason to think this is not an actual load out."

Perfect commentary on the sad state of set design these days.

[broadwayguy2]

Also, a snarky remark about how the entire set can be saved on a thumb drive is *really* *REALLY* insulting and offensive to the HUNDREDS of people who designed, built, installed, and operate the set and props for that and are currently unemployed through no fault of their own, no fault of their production, and no fault of their audience.
I appreciate some good snark, TRUST ME people know that, but this time and this subject... that is beyond tacky.

[JBroadway]

broadwayguy2 said: "Also, a snarky remark about how the entire set can be saved on a thumb drive is *really* *REALLY* insulting and offensive to the HUNDREDS of people who designed, built, installed, and operate the set and props for that and are currently unemployed through no fault of their own, no fault of their production, and no fault of their audience.
I appreciate some good snark, TRUST ME people know that, but this time and this subject... that is beyond tacky."

 

I see what you're saying, but I think the target of the joke isn't the building crew, prop masters, or even necessarily the designers. The targets of the joke are the producers and/or Casey Nicholaw; the people who decided to tell this story relying so much on the LED screens. Playbill_Trash was probably making fun of the storytelling demands, not the people hired to fulfill the storytelling demands. 

In the same way: If you ridicule the food at McDonald's, it isn't at the expense of the people who work hard to prepare and serve the food, it's making fun of the corporation for giving them so little to work with. 

[unclevictor]

broadwayguy2 said: "Also, a snarky remark about how the entire set can be saved on a thumb drive is *really* *REALLY* insulting and offensive to the HUNDREDS of people who designed, built, installed, and operate the set and props for that and are currently unemployed through no fault of their own, no fault of their production, and no fault of their audience.
I appreciate some good snark, TRUST ME people know that, but this time and this subject... that is beyond tacky."

Oh good god, it was a fricking joke! 
Get a grip! Get a sense of humor! Get a life! 

 

[broadwayguy2]

I'm currently sitting at home collecting a depressingly pitiful unemployment check because most of my theatre gigs hire under a 1099 and we won't be working until next year. Many, many friends are in the same boat. And yes, it was a joke. It wasn't a funny one.

Also, the comments show a complete lack of knowledge of what it takes in the way of labor, skills, and SPACE to have an LED wall like that, so no. I won't.

I am going to sit here and wish that I was back at work and sip a cocktail while I continue to apply for 'survival jobs'.

[LizzieCurry]

I didn't like Mean Girls, nor the set, but unclevictor, read the room and take the L here.

[Tag]

broadwayguy2 said: "Also, a snarky remark about how the entire set can be saved on a thumb drive is *really* *REALLY* insulting and offensive to the HUNDREDS of people who designed, built, installed, and operate the set and props for that and are currently unemployed through no fault of their own, no fault of their production, and no fault of their audience.
I appreciate some good snark, TRUST ME people know that, but this time and this subject... that is beyond tacky."

Covid aside - if those sets were conventional sets and not an LED wall, chances are the IA crew would be much larger.  How many carps are replaced with one or two video operators?  So really they already lost out...to a thumb drive.