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CNN Live Sunday
Broadway Musicians Tune Up for Possible Strike
Aired March 02, 2003 - 18:54 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: And the band might not play on in the Big Apple. Broadway musicians are tuning up for a possible strike. CNN's Whitney Casey has the score on what's at stake.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WHITNEY CASEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): And now the possibility of 76 virtual trombones as Broadway shows like "The Music Man" start rehearsing with computer generated music, preparations by Broadway producers for a looming musicians' strike. Meanwhile, musicians are striking up their band of support.
WILLIAM MORIARTY, PRESIDENT, LOCAL 802: The only issue of real contention has to do with the employer's proposal to eliminate the staff minimums at the various Broadway theaters.
CASEY: The union wants a guaranteed minimum number of musicians per theater. How many would depend on the house size but the musicians' contract is up and Broadway producers contend "The Lullaby of Broadway" will not be sung a cappella.
JED BERNSTEIN, PRES., LEAGUE OF AMERICAN THEATERS AND PRODUCERS: Live music is indigenous to what Broadway is. It's vital. It's not going away. The only scenario where virtual orchestra technology would be used is in the event of a union strike.
CASEY: However, the musicians insist that doing away with the minimums will eventually mean doing away with live music.
JOHN ARBO, BASS PLAYER: It's happening on the road already. There are no minimums on road shows and there are a number of road shows touring which have virtual orchestras taking the place of a number of musicians.
CASEY: "The Great White Way" generates more than $4.4 billion a year for New York City, money Mayor Michael Bloomberg says is vital in this post September 11 economy.
MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, NEW YORK: Producers are worried about the costs. There's an awful lot of plays on Broadway and you have to support all of them so -- but hopefully they'll work it out and we are trying to be helpful.
CASEY: The melodies are unforgettable and now the story lines -- you may recall "The Music Man's" (UNINTELLIGIBLE), a smooth salesman who convinces the community that buying his musical instruments will give them culture. But will a musicians' walkout mean the silencing of his trombone and trouble right here in New York City?
Whitney Casey CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired March 2, 2003 - 18:54 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: And the band might not play on in the Big Apple. Broadway musicians are tuning up for a possible strike. CNN's Whitney Casey has the score on what's at stake.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WHITNEY CASEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): And now the possibility of 76 virtual trombones as Broadway shows like "The Music Man" start rehearsing with computer generated music, preparations by Broadway producers for a looming musicians' strike. Meanwhile, musicians are striking up their band of support.
WILLIAM MORIARTY, PRESIDENT, LOCAL 802: The only issue of real contention has to do with the employer's proposal to eliminate the staff minimums at the various Broadway theaters.
CASEY: The union wants a guaranteed minimum number of musicians per theater. How many would depend on the house size but the musicians' contract is up and Broadway producers contend "The Lullaby of Broadway" will not be sung a cappella.
JED BERNSTEIN, PRES., LEAGUE OF AMERICAN THEATERS AND PRODUCERS: Live music is indigenous to what Broadway is. It's vital. It's not going away. The only scenario where virtual orchestra technology would be used is in the event of a union strike.
CASEY: However, the musicians insist that doing away with the minimums will eventually mean doing away with live music.
JOHN ARBO, BASS PLAYER: It's happening on the road already. There are no minimums on road shows and there are a number of road shows touring which have virtual orchestras taking the place of a number of musicians.
CASEY: "The Great White Way" generates more than $4.4 billion a year for New York City, money Mayor Michael Bloomberg says is vital in this post September 11 economy.
MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, NEW YORK: Producers are worried about the costs. There's an awful lot of plays on Broadway and you have to support all of them so -- but hopefully they'll work it out and we are trying to be helpful.
CASEY: The melodies are unforgettable and now the story lines -- you may recall "The Music Man's" (UNINTELLIGIBLE), a smooth salesman who convinces the community that buying his musical instruments will give them culture. But will a musicians' walkout mean the silencing of his trombone and trouble right here in New York City?
Whitney Casey CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
