THE STATE OF THE UNION: Reflections On Broadway & Stage Management

Tonight is the State of the Union address. So, it seem appropriate to take a look at our own industry and assess where it is and where we may be going and how it may be affecting stage managers.

Let’s look at it all through four areas: Economics, Equity & Diversity, Contracts, and Professional Development

ECONOMICS: IT’S THE GROSSES
Broadway has been on the road to recovery over the last year as on and off stage we make our way back to “normal.” Last week’s Broadway grosses were over $23.5MM. By comparison, the grosses for week ending February 2nd, 2020, a month prior to the shutdown, had total revenue over $26MM. That’s pretty darn close. This would seem to be a very healthy indicator for the Broadway economy.
It’s interesting to note that Phantom continues to dominate, pulling in over $2.6 million. If some of those people bought tickets last year, Phantom may not be closing! I suspect it could run another five years (if Cameron changes his mind!).

We have more shows in the $1 million dollar club than ever. This however, just increases the disparity with those that aren’t raking it in. It’s become more challenging than ever for a show to open soft and hang on long enough to grow word of mouth to become a hit. If you aren’t a hit out of the gate, the prospects are dim. (Beetlejuice being the clear recent exception to this). Even the great social media support of Be More Chill couldn’t help it run.

We have many long running hits: Aladdin, The Book of Mormon, Chicago, Hamilton, Harry Potter…, The Lion King, Moulin Rouge, Six, Wicked. These productions show no sign of slowing down anytime soon. With only 41 Broadway theatres, that’s nearly 25% of the space already spoken for. So fewer options for shows that want to come to Broadway.

As a stage manager, the upside is that if you get on one of these shows, you basically won the lottery and won’t have to look for work for many, many years. Which is such a strange thought, right? For producers of hit shows finances are basically back to pre-pandemic levels, but the possibilities and percentages that hope for smaller shows to “make it” keeps shrinking.

However, the downside is that with less room for other shows to come in, your regional theatre hit or Off Broadway success many not be able to transfer because a theatre isn’t available. Which makes it more difficult to land on Broadway! As a stage manager, it becomes important to track your grosses, so you can forecast what may be coming and know when you need to start seriously looking for a new show.

Although the bottom line may look good, it’s still only great for those at the top.

EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
Over the last few years, we’ve seen more and more companies hiring Directors of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. From Hamilton to Wicked, even Actors’ Equity and The Broadway League are adding this important staff position to help our spaces be more inclusive, diverse, and respectful. Remember the panel we had at last years’ Broadway Stage Management Symposium with EDI directors on Broadway! It was very insightful and hopeful.

We’ve also seen more stage managers of color hired on Broadway. Proud to say that some of those stage managers of color are Symposium alumni! The work of Broadway Beyond Access for Stage Managers of Color has created many new and renewed connections resulting in more opportunities for stage managers of color on Broadway, National Tours and across the country as well. It feels like important steps have been taken in our community. However, we still have work to do. Stage managers need to be supported with more tools and training to create truly inclusive rehearsal and performance spaces.

Our friends at Broadway Advocacy Coalition have created a great training program, Change Agent Training which we got a taste of at the 2021 Broadway Stage Management Symposium. These types of programs could and should be part of every production process.

More shows are acknowledging the importance of Intimacy Directors (which the Symposium discussed in 2020) as well as continuing to support necessary protocols for COVID safety. So producers are starting to align their budgets with our values. All of this does cost more money, so where will that come from? That is an economic challenge, especially for new shows (see Broadway Grosses above!). I hope we don’t start to slide back and cut corners from the financial pressures on producing shows.

Last and not least, over the last year, we saw two Broadway theatres named for artists of color, the James Earl Jones and the Lena Horne! Thank you to Black Theatre United for bringing leaders of our industry together and creating A New Deal for Broadway and our industry.

We had a very important contract negotiation a few months ago between Actors Equity Association & The Broadway League . No, we didn’t get everything we wanted and yes, some people were upset that the gains weren’t enough; however, important changes and additions were included that will support actors and stage managers on Broadway.

Increased salary and health fund contributions, along with two fewer 10/12s, lower weekly rehearsal hours after opening, additional personal days, and more.

Specifically for stage managers: increased paid pre-production for 2nd ASM and stage managers and we will no longer be included in the term “Actor” with a capital A. We get to be recognized as a separate entity!
Additional gains include: pay for some split tracks/combos, creation of a short-term actor contract, better provisions regarding hair, intimacy, cleaning of theatres, and much more.

It’s not perfect, but it opens doors in many areas that were previously closed. We’re now entering negotiations for the LORT and Tour agreements, so hopefully, we can build on the gains and learn from the new Production Contract.

There continues to be very few options for stage manager’s professional development and networking after college graduations. This is why the Broadway Stage Management Symposium is so honored to bring together stage manages of all experience and disciplines to share, learn, connect, and grow! The sessions and panel discussions with Broadway professionals illuminates so many great ideas and the Expo introduces stage managers to many great technologies and services from around the world that are available to make the work and lives of stage managers better!

Companies like Stage Write, Showbuilder, Virtual Callboard and more share their latest developments. Safety companies like Incord, communication companies like Clear-Com, and some new products as well, are all available to serve stage managers and our work.
Now in it’s 9th year and as a truly hybrid event, the Symposium takes the best learnings from the shut down to create an engaging and dynamic experience in person and online created to serve stage manager’s professional development and networking.

People, after all, are at the source of everything in our business.

CONCLUSION

Our “new normal” on Broadway is an optimistic and challenging place to be. We’re trying to bring so many important practices into our process and avoid the pitfall of sliding back into old habits. There is a bright future ahead. I hope we can embrace it with grace for ourselves, our fellow stage managers, and our companies, and still have the fortitude to stay strong for ourselves, our self-care, and the care that our companies need and deserve.

For me info about the Symposium visit www.broadwaysymposium.com