Houdini the Musical Loses Theater Before Opening
The Stage (UK) reports the much anticipated Houdini the Musical lost its home before it could even open.
The Ambassador Theatre Group (“ATG”) removed the new show from its Spring line-up “after an investigation revealed that the show was intending not to pay its cast and crew for rehearsals or performances at the Regent Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent.”
Houdini the Musical’s producers Shattered Nerve Studios Ltd were booked into the Regent Theatre for a week-long run in March 2009. In anticipation of that premiere, the producers auditioned performers on “the condition that, if employed, they would not be paid for rehearsals and performances from January to March 2009 inclusive.”
The producers were quick to point out performers would be paid “if the show was successful and embarked on a national tour after its run in Stoke.”
But until the show was a success — or at least road worthy — performers would receive only “expenses, a one-off fee for a cast recording and pay for any outreach and education work they undertook alongside the show.”
Houdini would not have worked for free. Even as a young performer he demanded $12 per week for 20 shows per day. But then again, he did not sing. Read the rest of this entry
