A union representing musicians is challenging David Byrne’s next Broadway show.there is love hereHe said he was against plans to perform the work with recorded instrumental tracks instead of a live band.
The musical, an immersive, dance-driven spectacle about former Filipino First Lady Imelda Marcos, is set to begin previews on June 17 and open in Broadway theaters on July 20. Byrne co-wrote the music with Fatboy Slim.
The musical has performed Off-Broadway, London and Seattle, each time with a cast singing along to recorded music. There are a few moments in which actors hold instruments as part of the action depicted, but there are no full-time instrumentalists.
“Since ‘Here Lies Love’ was first conceived 17 years ago, all productions have been performed to pre-recorded tracks. department,” production spokesman Adrian Bryan-Brown said in a statement Tuesday. “The music on ‘Here Lies Love’ is inspired by the phenomenon of the ‘track act’ that allows club-goers to keep dancing, just as this piece aims to do.”
but local 802 The Federation of American Musicians said its contract with the Broadway League mandates 19 musicians for musicals in Broadway theaters. (The number of musicians required for a contract depends on the size of the theater.)
The union says it aims to maintain the quality of employment for musicians and theater lovers.
“We are not going to let this go unnoticed,” said local president and executive director Tino Gagliardi. “It’s unfair to the people.”
Hal Luftig’s production team for “Here Lies Love” has been asking since February to qualify the show for “extraordinary circumstances,” where collective bargaining agreements allow for reduced hiring of musicians. The request will be evaluated by a committee that includes representatives from the Broadway League and Musicians Guild, as well as independent observers. It is unclear how long this process will take, and it is possible that the judgment will be appealed to arbitration.
The league did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday, but Brian Brown said: “This process is ongoing and may eventually lead to a final and binding arbitration decision. Until then, we will continue to work in good faith.” We will work with trade unions to guide you through the stages of the contracting process. ”
Over the years, there have been several Broadway shows with scaled-down orchestras, but it’s rare to see a musical without an orchestra at all. The best-known example is the 2000 Tony Award-winning dance show Contact, produced by the non-profit Lincoln Center Theater. In 2011, the union objected to a smaller orchestra and the use of recorded music in the Broadway production of Priscilla. Most recently, “The Little Prince” was performed in Broadway theaters, with music sung along with recorded tracks. The show was not eligible for Tony and was short-lived, so the unions did not oppose it.
The musicians said they were disappointed that the request came from a Burn-related show they admired. Byrne’s last Broadway production, American Utopia, featured musicians, with a band playing instruments and dancing with the stars on stage.
“I’m really excited that David Byrne is bringing something different to Broadway,” said bass player, union member and occasional Chicago band Ray Setta. “The current situation is very surprising and disappointing. Any musician would love to work with David Byrne to bring his music to life.”
