David Byrne’s new musical “Here Rise Love,” which begins previews on Broadway next week, has yielded to union opposition and 12 musicians have agreed to join the production.
The producers of the musical, a dance club-style show about Imelda Marcos, and the Federation of American Musicians’ union Local 802 announced the agreement late Friday afternoon.
“On behalf of the entire cast, the company and the creative team, we have reached an agreement with Musicians Union Local 802 pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement,” the musical’s producers said in a statement. “We look forward to welcoming audiences to the groundbreaking musical experience of ‘Here Lies Love’ in Broadway theaters starting Saturday, June 17.”
The union issued a similarly brief but slightly more detailed statement, stating, “After negotiations, we have reached an agreement to provide live music to ‘Here Lies Love’ with 12 musicians participating in the show.” rice field. Broadway is a special place where the world’s best musicians and performances gather, and we are pleased that this deal honors that tradition. “
The union’s communications consultant, Eric Koch, said three of the company’s actors will be among the 12 musicians.
When asked about it, the producers replied: “‘Here Lies Love’ always features his three actors and musicians and his one music director in every production. The integrity of the show and the musical concept remain the same.”
“Here Lies Love” is headed by a group of producers including Patrick Catullo, Hal Luftig, Kevin Conner, Jose Antonio Vargas, Diana Dimenna and Clint Ramos. The show is one of the big productions to open on Broadway this summer, with a huge budget (up to $22 million, according to Securities and Exchange Commission filings), and a Broadway theater. I have plans to redo While many of the audience on the dance floor are surrounded by action, you can produce works with a sense of presence.
“Here Lies Love” about former Philippine First Lady Marcos was written by Byrne and Fatboy Slim. It has been around for over 15 years, has been praised by critics, and is a favorite with audiences. It was presented as a song cycle at Carnegie Hall in 2007 and performed in 2012. at Massachusetts MoCA, a museum in Berkshire. At the Public Theater in New York in 2013. in 2014 at the National Theater in London and return to public for a second effort.and in 2017 at the Seattle Repertory Theater.
The production used previously recorded music, and the show intended to create a karaoke-like atmosphere, but as the opening of Broadway approached, the unions decided to sign a contract with the Broadway League. It objected that the use of live musicians was obligatory. The union has threatened to protest at this weekend’s Tony Awards and the show’s upcoming premiere. The two sides settled the dispute on Friday.
