The theatre department has been busy. We’re currently in negotiations with the Roundabout Theatre Company and Gateway/Patchogue Theatres. Currently the Roundabout is playing “Anything Goes” at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre with 16 musicians. Previews began on March 10 and the show opened on April 7.

The Roundabout is also putting up “People in the Picture” at Studio 54 with 12 musicians. Previews began on April 1 and opening night was April 28.

We recently signed an Off Broadway Commercial Area Standards Agreement for a musical entitled “The Best Is Yet To Come: The Music of Cy Coleman.” The show is playing at 59E59 Theaters with eight musicians from May 18 to July 3.

Also, we recently negotiated a contract for a developmental reading production of a show called “Cool Papa.” The scale is $1,568.80 for a 40-hour, six-day week and $29.40 per 30 minutes of overtime. The music director earns a 50 percent premium and the associate conductor earns a premium of 30 percent. Other benefits apply as well. The reading was performed from March 21 to April 3 at Snapple Theater with five musicians.

If you want more information on any of these contracts or if you have been called to play a theatre production of any size – even a reading or an informal workshop – please contact Claudia Copeland at (212) 245-4802, ext. 158.

“BIRD WITH STRINGS” GETS UNION CONTRACT

Wess Anderson and Charles McPherson recently performed a concert called “Bird with Strings” (modeled after the famous 1950 Charlie Parker album). Performing as the “strings” at this prestigious two-day event were 11 members of the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas, whose musicians were paid at rates negotiated by Local 802. These rates conformed to the Jazz at Lincoln Center scales.

Local 802 and the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas continue their negotiations for a larger agreement.