[NEohioPAL]A message from the co-author of "Bat Boy: The Musical"
FSternfeld at aol.com
FSternfeld at aol.com
Wed Oct 3 23:24:02 PDT 2001
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Dearest Friends,
Due to the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, "Bat Boy: The
Musical" has been forced to close temporarily. It is scheduled to re-open
on October 18, with some changes to the performance schedule. We will have
a five-show week instead of eight, with shows on Friday, Saturday, Sunday
(matinee and evening), and Monday. This will be a test period to asses the
viability of our show in the "new" environment of New York City. As you
might have heard, the theatrical community has been hit hard by the attacks
of September 11, with five Broadway shows closing their doors, and such
staples as "Les Miserables" and "Phantom of the Opera," which depend on
tourist business for their livelihood, staring the cold fact of insolvency
squarely in the eye.
As for "Bat Boy," we were thrilled to receive stellar notices back in April,
as well as several award nominations and two awards for Best Off-Broadway
musical. But even with all of this attention, we struggled through the
Summer to find an audience for our show. Brian, Larry and I even waived our
author's royalties in order to keep the show afloat, and finally, at the end
of August, after nearly six months of performances, we began to see a build
towards the box-office numbers we had been hoping for.
Then, tragedy struck.
For every show that closes, dozens of actors, musicians, technicians,
managers, dancers, singers and crew are put out of work. These are not the
highly paid television and movie stars who are household names. These are
working and middle class professionals who frequently keep second and third
jobs in order to make ends meet. These are men and women who choose to spend
their evenings (and some afternoons) helping you and I put the stresses of
our daily lives away for a few hours.
Their employment can be terminated with seven days notice. Hundreds of them
are out of work right now.
I'm writing to ask you to help prop up live theatre in New York. Call
Ticketmaster (866-876-5673 ) and buy a ticket or two for a New York play or
musical. If you would like to buy a ticket to "Bat Boy," but you have
already seen the show, or you live outside of New York, our producers have
set up a special voucher ticket program. If you go to our web site at
http://www.batboy-themusical.com/ you can buy a discounted ticket that will
then be donated to the men and women working for the relief effort. Your
donated ticket helps in two ways: it keeps food on the table for a family of
theatre artists, and it provides an evening out for the heroes who are
helping to rebuild New York City. During the closing week of the show, we
hosted a dozen firefighters at the Union Square theatre for a performance of
"Bat Boy." I'll let Kaitlin Hopkins, our leading actress tell the story:
"Last night we had 13 fire and rescue workers from Detroit come to see "Bat
Boy- The Musical" as our guests. It was an incredible moment for us as our
producer Michael Alden took them to their seats, the audience saw their
shirts that identified them as fire fighters. They got to their feet,
screaming, cheering and applauding these brave men who came to our city to
help us. We watched 13 grown men cry as they realized the standing ovation
was for them."
It is my hope that you will take a moment to do two things right now:
Buy a ticket or two to any New York play or musical.
and
Send this email along to anyone you know who loves live theatre, and wants
to help it survive.
Thank you,
Keythe Farley
co-author "Bat Boy: The Musical"
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<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=2>Dearest Friends,
<BR>
<BR>Due to the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, "Bat Boy: The
<BR>Musical" has been forced to close temporarily. It is scheduled to re-open
<BR>on October 18, with some changes to the performance schedule. We will have
<BR>a five-show week instead of eight, with shows on Friday, Saturday, Sunday
<BR>(matinee and evening), and Monday. This will be a test period to asses the
<BR>viability of our show in the "new" environment of New York City. As you
<BR>might have heard, the theatrical community has been hit hard by the attacks
<BR>of September 11, with five Broadway shows closing their doors, and such
<BR>staples as "Les Miserables" and "Phantom of the Opera," which depend on
<BR>tourist business for their livelihood, staring the cold fact of insolvency
<BR>squarely in the eye.
<BR>
<BR>As for "Bat Boy," we were thrilled to receive stellar notices back in April,
<BR>as well as several award nominations and two awards for Best Off-Broadway
<BR>musical. But even with all of this attention, we struggled through the
<BR>Summer to find an audience for our show. Brian, Larry and I even waived our
<BR>author's royalties in order to keep the show afloat, and finally, at the end
<BR>of August, after nearly six months of performances, we began to see a build
<BR>towards the box-office numbers we had been hoping for.
<BR>
<BR>Then, tragedy struck.
<BR>
<BR>For every show that closes, dozens of actors, musicians, technicians,
<BR>managers, dancers, singers and crew are put out of work. These are not the
<BR>highly paid television and movie stars who are household names. These are
<BR>working and middle class professionals who frequently keep second and third
<BR>jobs in order to make ends meet. These are men and women who choose to spend
<BR>their evenings (and some afternoons) helping you and I put the stresses of
<BR>our daily lives away for a few hours.
<BR>
<BR>Their employment can be terminated with seven days notice. Hundreds of them
<BR>are out of work right now.
<BR>
<BR>I'm writing to ask you to help prop up live theatre in New York. Call
<BR>Ticketmaster (866-876-5673 ) and buy a ticket or two for a New York play or
<BR>musical. If you would like to buy a ticket to "Bat Boy," but you have
<BR>already seen the show, or you live outside of New York, our producers have
<BR>set up a special voucher ticket program. If you go to our web site at
<BR>http://www.batboy-themusical.com/ you can buy a discounted ticket that will
<BR>then be donated to the men and women working for the relief effort. Your
<BR>donated ticket helps in two ways: it keeps food on the table for a family of
<BR>theatre artists, and it provides an evening out for the heroes who are
<BR>helping to rebuild New York City. During the closing week of the show, we
<BR>hosted a dozen firefighters at the Union Square theatre for a performance of
<BR>"Bat Boy." I'll let Kaitlin Hopkins, our leading actress tell the story:
<BR>
<BR>"Last night we had 13 fire and rescue workers from Detroit come to see "Bat
<BR>Boy- The Musical" as our guests. It was an incredible moment for us as our
<BR>producer Michael Alden took them to their seats, the audience saw their
<BR>shirts that identified them as fire fighters. They got to their feet,
<BR>screaming, cheering and applauding these brave men who came to our city to
<BR>help us. We watched 13 grown men cry as they realized the standing ovation
<BR>was for them."
<BR>
<BR>It is my hope that you will take a moment to do two things right now:
<BR>
<BR>Buy a ticket or two to any New York play or musical.
<BR>
<BR>and
<BR>
<BR>Send this email along to anyone you know who loves live theatre, and wants
<BR>to help it survive.
<BR>
<BR>Thank you,
<BR>
<BR>Keythe Farley
<BR>co-author "Bat Boy: The Musical"
<BR>
<BR> </FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0"><B>
<BR>
<BR></B></FONT></HTML>
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