THEATRICAL AGREEMENTS

Except where noted, the following agreements include health benefits of $7.25 per call (capped at $58 per week); doubling premiums of 12.5 percent for the first and 6.25 percent for each additional; a synthesizer premium of 25 percent; and a librarian premium of 12.5 percent. The agreements also guarantee musicians the run of the show and identity with the product.

“Bare: Pop Opera.” Local 802 negotiated an 11-month contract with Dodger Stage Holding Theatricals for this production covering six musicians in the 99-seat American Theatre of Actors. The minimum weekly scale wage for the side musicians is $530 for an eight-performance week. The music director/conductor premium is 25 percent above the minimum scale. The rehearsal and audition musician minimum scale for a 40-hour/six-day week is $30 per hour, with a minimum two-hour call. Orchestra rehearsals pay $20 per hour, with a minimum two-hour call. A one-hour rehearsal call just prior to or just after a performance is paid at a minimum of $30. The first doubling premium is 10 percent and additional doubles are paid at 5 percent. The synthesizer premium is 25 percent. Musicians receive a 4 percent vacation paid into their weekly salary as of the 16th week of performances. Pension is 8 percent of gross scale wages and increases to 9 percent as of the 16th week of performances. Music preparation is paid at 75 percent of the general price list. This agreement reflects the terms of the 2001 production of “Urinetown” previously done at this theatre in 2001 and includes improvements of a 6 percent increase in wages and over the life of the agreement, a 1 percent increase in the pension and an added vacation benefit of 4 percent.

“Barbara Cook’s Broadway.” The third engagement for Barbara Cook at the 1,067-seat Vivian Beaumont Theatre was negotiated covering two musicians for a four-week run at Lincoln Center Theatre. The minimum per performance scale for the side musician is $243.30. Second performances on Sunday and performances beyond eight in a week pay time-and-a-half. The conductor or leader receives a 100 percent premium above the minimum scale. Rehearsals pay $45.68 per hour, with a minimum two-hour call. Overtime pays time-and-a-half per half hour. Vacation is a 6 percent premium; health benefits pay $22.50 per call and are capped at $58 per week. The on-stage premium is $8 per week, pension pays ten percent of gross scale wages and cartage payments are $20 per cartage instrument. Music preparation is paid at the Broadway scale. The contract represents improvements of 3.5 percent in wages and a $4 cartage increase over the first “Cook” engagement at the Vivian Beaumont in 2002. The show plans to move to Lincoln Center’s smaller Mitzi Newhouse Theatre in June.

“The Frogs.” An agreement was reached with Lincoln Center for this production at the 1,067-seat Vivian Beaumont Theatre covering nineteen musicians. The minimum weekly scale wage for an eight-performance week is $1,036. The music director/conductor or leader premium is 75 percent above the minimum. The rehearsal audition scale is $1,176 for a 40-hour/six-day week and the hourly scale is $39.20, with a minimum two-hour call. Orchestra rehearsals pay $26.88 per hour, with a minimum two-hour call. Before the show opens, the one-hour call before a performance pays $43.13 on a one-show day, $52.02 on a two-show day, or $50.32 after an evening performance. (After the show officially opens, these rates change to $53.93, $64.99 and $50.32, respectively). Rehearsals terminating after 6:30 p.m. — and all dress rehearsals — are paid as performances. Harp maintenance is compensated at $60 per week. Vacation is 6 percent and pension is 10 percent. Music preparation is paid at Broadway scale. The agreement will be renegotiated if the production extends at this theatre beyond the current ending date of Oct. 10th . This agreement represents a 12 percent wage increase over “Marie Christine,” the last musical theatrical production at the Vivian Beaumont.

“Finian’s Rainbow.” Local 802 achieved a first contract for this production at the 125-seat Irish Repertory Theatre (Ciaran O’Reilly, producing director). The minimum scale wage is $432 for a seven-performance week or a 36-hour/six-day rehearsal week. There are just two musicians in the production — the conductor, who earns a 25 percent premium above minimum scale, and the associate conductor who earns a 15 percent premium. If the production is extended beyond the scheduled eight weeks of performances, the musicians receive a 25 percent pay increase and a weekly vacation premium of 6 percent. Pension is 8 percent. Music preparation is 80 percent of the Broadway scales. As Allegro goes to press, the production plans to extend beyond its sold-out May 30 run.

Classic Stage Company/Vineyard Theatre and Workshop Company. (This agreement includes a ban on virtual orchestra machines; see story on page 1 for more background.) The agreement provides a minimum weekly scale wage of $445 for side musicians, a 50 percent premium for the conductor which includes the 25 percent premium for synthesizer, and 15 percent for the associate conductor. The weekly wage covers seven performances or 36 hours of rehearsals. Orchestra rehearsals after the first week of performances pay $21 per hour and $27 for the music director, with a minimum two-hour call. Vacation is 6 percent above the minimum scale wages and begins as part of the weekly paycheck as of the ninth week of performance. Health benefits are $8.30 per call and capped at $58 per week per musician. Pension pays 9 percent of gross scale wages. Music preparation pays 80 percent of the general price list. The improvements over the previous contracts with the two employers are 6 percent in the first year of the agreement and one percent in the pension. The second and third year of the agreement provide 3 percent increases in each year. Performances extending beyond the initial, limited run include a 25 percent wage increase.

OFF BROADWAY

“Serenade the World.” (This agreement includes a ban on virtual orchestra machines; see story on page 1 for more background.) The side musician scale is $300 for a four-performance week and $75 per performance. The music director receives a 50 percent premium above the minimum scale for performances and rehearsals. The rehearsal/audition scale for a 40-hour/6 day week is $680 and the hourly rate is $25 per hour, with a minimum two-hour call. The orchestra rehearsal scale is a guarantee of $200 for 20 hours of rehearsals and $20 per hour thereafter, with a minimum two-hour call. Overtime after eight performances in a week, eight hours in a day or 40 hours in a week is time-and-one-half. Rehearsals terminating after 7 p.m. — and dress rehearsals — are paid as performances. Musicians are reimbursed for transporting cartage instruments. Vacation is paid into the weekly wages for the musicians as of the 10th week of performances. The health benefits are $11 per call and are capped at $43 per week per musician. The musicians earn one sick performance off for every 48 worked. Pension is 5 percent of gross wages. Music preparation is to be paid according to the general price list.

“Silent Laughter.” A two year agreement was negotiated with Silent Laughter, L.L.C. (Nancy Gibbs, general manager). The solo organist performing in the 349-seat Lamb’s Theatre (Mainstage) earns $950 for an eight-performance week and $850 per week for a forty-hour/six-day rehearsal week, and $30 per rehearsal hour, with a minimum two-hour call The on-stage, in-costume premium is $30 per week. The employer pays for one roundtrip transport of the organ and negotiates an instrument rental fee with the musician. The musician is eligible for one week of paid vacation every 25 weeks of work. There is one paid sick performance off for every 48 worked. The pension contribution is 8 percent which increases to 9 percent in the second year of the contract.