Mar 27

Happy World Theatre Day!

By firemark entertainment law Comments Off

I’ve just learned that Today is World Theatre Day.

Since 1961, the International Theatre Institute has celebrated on March 27 with the reading of a World Theatre Day Message and various national and international theatre events to mark this occasion.  

Here’s the message they want you to include in a performance.

There’s even a Facebook group, and you can follow WTD tweets, or just read the World Theatre Day blog.

The Best way to celebrate is recommended by Ken Davenport, who suggests introducing someone to the world of theatre, and then blogging about the experience.

(Hat tip to PRODUCER’S PERSPECTIVE Ken Davenport, Broadway, Off-Broadway, Theater.)

Mar 25

Jeremy Piven’s departure from the Broadway revival of ‘Speed-the-Plow’ is the subject of an Arbitration Hearing that has been set for June 8 and 9.

Arbitrator George Nicolau will hear the matter, which concerns Piven’s sudden withdrawal from the show, claiming he had high levels of mercury in his body, and was quitting on doctor’s orders.

The producers’ camp has requested medical records and activity logs from the actor, in efforts to prove that his health would not actually have been in jeopardy had he continued in his role.

The Arbitration Hearing is the second step toward a resolution of the matter. Under Actors’ Equity guidelines, a grievance hearing concerning the matter was held in February. The grievance committee, made up of members from both the producers’ actors’ camps was deadlocked, unable to arrive at a definitive result.”

(Via Hearing set for Piven’s ‘Plow’ dispute – Entertainment News, Legal News, Media – Variety.)

Mar 11

New York  state lawmakers have apparently decided NOT to move forward with a proposal to add a 4% tax to theatre tickets.  The proposal was among many in a $1.3 Billion tax plan legislators have shelved, according to Daily Variety.

Mar 10

As more and more producers are looking at innovative ways to promote and market their shows, legal question start to arise.

Yesterday, I read a report about Jane Fonda’s backstage blogging during performances of “33 Vacations” on Broadway. It seems the blog is generating some real buzz… and several others shows, “South Pacific”, “Chicago” and “Phantom of the Opera” among them, have blogs on the web.

So, what happens if a member of your cast, crew or staff is blogging, and for some reason expresses discontent, or artistic “concerns”?

I think it’s important for those running the production to supervise and monitor the blogging activities of members of their productions. Certainly, a show’s “official” blog needs to remain under the control of the producers (and press agents, advertising agency, etc)… but producers should also build into contracts with all members of the production some right of approval of their ‘personal’ online communications about or relating to the show.

Contracts have long included restrictions on “publicity activities” by cast, crew, and others, but blogging, twittering, and other online “social networking” activities aren’t traditional forms of “publicity”. Certainly, folks have a right to express themselves outside of work, on matters unrelated to their employment, but where the discussion turns to one’s job, the employer has a legitimate interest in controlling the message.

Employee blogging has been a growing issue in many businesses, and many companies have instituted strict policies on the subject. Trouble is, most theatrical productions don’t have an employee manual or corporate policy booklet… At the very least, those of us drawing up contracts need to think about this issue, and adjust contract language to clearly address our client’s concerns.

Will the guilds and unions play ball on these kinds of restrictions? Time will tell.

As the manner and means for promoting theatrical entertainment move into cyberspace, we’ve got to keep pace.

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