Talk:Broadway theatre
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[edit] 2003 Orchestra Strike
I corrected the reason for the 2003 orchestra strike. The previous version stated that the strike was to protest producers' plans to replace them with a virtual orchestra. Actually, the reason for the strike because producers wanted to reduce the minimum number of musicians required during contract negotiations. The musicians threatened to strike if the contract expired. That's when the producers threatened to use virtual orchestras.
"Musicians who work in the orchestra pits... might walk off the job after their union contract expires on Sunday. Negotiations between the musicians' union and producers have hit a snag over a clause in the contract that requires a minimum number of orchestra members to be hired for each Broadway theater... Broadway musicals this week are rehearsing with prerecorded music to prepare for a potential strike." - http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/02/25/leisure.broadway.reut/
--Uw badgers 04:58, 26 July 2005 (UTC)
[edit] Spelling Controversy
Moved from theatre (Brit spelling) to theater (American spelling). Thx. jengod 18:48, Jun 14, 2004 (UTC)
Actually, the correct spelling is "Broadway theatre." Please check http://www.americantheatrewing.org/, http://www.broadway.org/, http://www.broadwayarchive.com/, and http://webcdi.com/theater/theatre.php. While most Americans spell "theater" with an "er" (as per American spelling conventions), in the field of theatre as a profession, the majority of theatres use the spelling "theatre." This can be seen from the magazine "American Theatre" published by the Theatre Communications Group and the American Theatre Wing which sponsors the Tony Awards. "Broadway theater" should be included as a cross-reference, but the correct spelling of the entry is "Broadway theatre."
- DJKS 01:57, 17 Jun 2004 (UTC)
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- So then why isn't it spelled THEATRE throuout the article? --Samuel Wantman 06:52, 1 Jul 2004 (UTC)
Good question. In some cases, I left the spelling "Theater" because that is how it is spelled in the theatre's name (Winter Garden Theater, Lincon Center Theater.)
The main Wiki page for theatre is spelled "theater," so linking to theater, I left it how that page is spelled. In other cases, I left the word spelled theater when it refered more to a building, and opted for theatre in other cases. Any comments or suggestions are welcome!
- DJKS 18:24, 1 Jul 2004 (UTC)
I disagree with the claim that "theatre" is the "correct" spelling. There are two widespread spellings in use, theatre and theater. It may be the case that the trade organizations prefer theatre, but that merely dictates official usage, not actual usage. The general public uses both. I have no objection to the current location, as usage is mixed, but merely to claiming it is the only "correct" location. --Delirium 06:36, Oct 17, 2004 (UTC)
I agree with User:Delirium -- regardless of how Britain spells "theater" and whether that's "correct," Broadway is located in America, where "theatre" is spelled with "-er" and therefore should go by American spelling standards.
The naming convention is actually a little trickier than that. In America, the word "theatre" refers to the art form and the idea, while the term "theater" refers to an actual building. Because this article is not about an actual building, but rather, about the art form as it relates to broadway, the name theatre is correct. --omtay38 01:53, 21 July 2006 (UTC)
- Guess again! The spelling variation is the U.S. is even more complicated than that! The trend over the last few years has been for the theatre spelling to be shifted towards proper names (to match the American use of centre, which is now almost entirely found as "Centre"). The trend has by no means yet pushed the spelling all the way towards the "Centre" usage, but it's getting there. Since this article is not about a particular theater known as "The Broadway Theatre", the spelling really should be "Broadway theater". --Cultural Freedom 2006-07-21 14:36 (UTC)
[edit] Broadway Database
I just wanted to make my fellow Wikipedians aware of a wonderful new web-site on the theatre, the Internet Broadway Database. There have been full page ads in "The New York Times" in recent days touting it and I finally tried it today in writing an article; very useful site--like the Internet Movie Database, but appears more professionally done. It's here. PedanticallySpeaking 14:30, Sep 2, 2004 (UTC)
[edit] Cats Inconsistancy?
I was reading the pages Broadway_theatre and Cats_(musical) and found what appears to be an inconsistancy between the two pages. In the text of Broadway_theatre, I saw:
"The longest running show in Broadway history was Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats, which closed in 2000 after running for 7,485 performances at the Winter Garden Theater."
But in Cats_(musical), I saw:
"It was on the stage in the New London Theatre for exactly 21 years and 8,949 performances, from 11 May 1981 to 11 May 2002, the longest running musical in British musical history."
The two statements disagree about number of performances and closing date. Since I know nothing about theatre, I have no idea which statement is correct or whether I'm just misunderstanding something (in which case the pages need clarifaction). Can anyone resolve the confusion?
IntMan 15:53, 21 Oct 2004 (UTC)
The Broadway article is referring to the show's run on Broadway whereas the Cats article is referring to its run in London. Lisiate 04:16, 18 May 2005 (UTC)
[edit] Chatty
I'm a little surprised to find that the talk page here is about the things it's about, when the body of the article is quite breezy and chatty, and unsourced. Perhaps that could be tuned up? (I don't have the background, mostly, to do it myself, although perhaps that would make me a better candidate for the work...) --Baylink 21:38, 24 February 2006 (UTC)
[edit] No references
In addition, the development of Broadway theatre owes a great deal to the theatrical traditions and contributions of four immigrant or minority groups: Irish-Americans, Italian-Americans, Jewish-Americans and African-Americans.
How is the above sentence verifible? There is absolutely no reference. I believe this should be removed. American theatre draws from many backgrounds and traditions. That sentence cannot stay in the article without proper documentation or supporting facts. - --Tribeca 728 05:00, 20 July 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Venue names
Hi, I have edited a few of the pages and links for some of the Broadway theatres. Not all of them--such as the Belasco, the Broadhurst, and the Cort--bear the first names of their namesakes. I've fixed these up according to reliable sources such as Playbill and books like William Morrisons' Broadway Theatres. Namaste, Mademoiselle Sabina 09:19, 16 March 2006 (UTC)
[edit] What are these clothes
What are these people wearing? I've never seen them before. Susie Platterton
http://community.webshots.com/photo/548283256/2564430850078515824wUfXZb http://community.webshots.com/photo/548283256/2576632380078515824VIWhFt http://community.webshots.com/photo/548313534/2593464720086967025hIwAkL http://community.webshots.com/photo/548313534/2241418020086967025qKcBeW
[edit] 500 seat regulation?
Can someone confirm this? I've personally heard 499—but this statistic should be reputable. Can anyone find the actual requirement from the true source? mxdxcxnx T C 00:05, 29 April 2006 (UTC)
A New York theatre is a "Broadway theatre" if it's owners are members of The League of American Theatres and Producers, and the League has determined that theatre to be a Broadway Theatre. The 499 seats is a reference to one of the factors that determine which contract actors will work under. For instance, 99 seats is the usual maximum for an Equity waiver show. Swango 06:21, 31 May 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Who are those "many" and why do we give a damn about them?
Please cite references in this article when adding stuff like: "although many deride both Broadway and West End product as excessively commercial." --Kunzite 22:01, 23 July 2006 (UTC)
