Overheard Term of the Day: "An actress wouldn't piss on you if you were on fire"

"An actress wouldn't piss on you if you were on fire"--said by an elderly New York actress, circa 1991. A reference to the cutthroat competitiveness in the New York theater world.

Broadway Blooper #3: "Rebecca" and the Ponzi schemer

"Rebecca" and the Ponzi schemer--"Rebecca" was a $12-million musical based on the film of the same name that was supposed to go into the Broadhurst. The producer was a successful Off-Broadway producer trying to make it to the Broadway musical ranks. The show started its load-in twice and both times ran out of money. The second time, the show was short several million dollars. Somehow, the lead producer was introduced to a convicted Ponzi schemer, who claimed that he had an international businessman willing to invest $4.5 million. The businessman suddenly "died" of malaria, but probably didn't exist in the first place. The show fell apart in August 2012. Patrick Healy wrote a helpful article in the New York Times on October 2, 2012, laying out the scam. For those who don't know, a Ponzi scheme is a pyramid scheme, named after an early 20th century Italian con artist.

The sad part is 100 stagehands, actors, musicians and others lost their jobs.

Term of the Day: day player

day player--stagehand hired day by day on a load in, usually doesn't have a spot on the show.

Broadway Blooper #2: the sword fight at "I Hate Hamlet"

the sword fight at "I Hate Hamlet"--In May 1991, Paul Rudnick's play "I Hate Hamlet" was mounted on Broadway at the Walter Kerr. Nicole Williamson, a storied British Shakespearean actor and more storied drunk, hit his fellow actor Evan Handler in the back with a sword in an unscripted, violent move. Evan Handler left the stage, gave notice and walked out of the theater. He claimed that he was quitting, due to management allowing Williamson's abuse of the other actors. All this was documented in Alex Witchel's column in the New York Times, May 4, 1991.

Broadway Blooper of the Night: Minelli flu

Minelli flu--Liza Minelli came into "Victor/Victoria" in January 1997 for what was supposed to be four weeks, but she lasted for three. Liza kept on stepping on co-star Tony Robert's lines, so he told stage management that he was going to have "the flu" for the last two weeks of her contract. The New York Post found out about it and Post front-page headlines screamed "MINELLI FLU!"

Term of the Night: kaibosh, kibosh

kaibosh, kibosh(sounds like Yiddish, but the etymology indicates it may be Gaelic[Irish])--to put an absolute stop to something. "The PSM put a kaibosh on the cast and crew texting backstage."

Term of the Day: to give props

to give props-- respect, proper respect, respect that is due, a compliment. "I have to give you props for that beautiful dance number you choreographed." "Give him his props...he's a head of department."

Term of the Night: a knuckle-dragger

a knuckle-dragger--not a bright guy, exhibiting ape-like qualities, maybe strong for his size.

Term of the Day: to rabbi

to rabbi--to rabbi someone, to mentor a stagehand, using rabbi as a verb. "He rabbied me, giving me work when I needed to get my third year to finish my card time."

Term of the Night: Hollywood sober

Hollywood sober--where someone has given up the hard drugs like coke and heroin, but smokes a lot of reefer to make up for it.

Term of the Night: in his cups

in his cups--to be drunk (archaic)

Term of the Night: "Let's go get an olive soup"

"Let's go get an olive soup"-a martini, "Let's go get a martini."

Term of the Night: NSFW

NSFW-- not safe for work. Stories that are offensive, misogynistic or sexist and should not be told at work. Or in the digital age, videos or pictures that may be offensive. I wouldn't show people that video...it's NSFW."

Term of the Night: "He had handles on his back"

"He had handles on his back"--noticing an obvious candidate to be thrown under the bus.

Motto of the Night: "Never Missed a Performance"

"Never Missed a Performance"--this is the motto of the Theatre District firehouse n West 48th Street and 8th Avenue, which includes Engine 54, Ladder 4, as well as the chief of the 9th Battalion of the FDNY. The attacks at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 started at 8:48am, which coincided with the shift change at firehouses across the city.  At Engine 54, Ladder 4, both the incoming and outgoing crews crammed into their rigs to save lives at the World Trade Center. Fifteen officers and men, including the battalion chief and his driver, made the supreme sacrifice that day when the Twin Towers collapsed. The firehouse also uses the comedy and drama masks as part of their emblem. 

NSFW Line of the Day: "When you start coming with the customers, it's time to quit"

"An old whore once told me, when you start coming with the customers, it's time to quit"--when you get too close to the material and you begin to believe that mediocre writing is good. I worked at Saturday Night Live for several years, from 2010 to 2013. The writing was awful in the skits, two minutes of genius and seven minutes of filler. When we read the scripts, we'd think they weren't that bad, when they really were. We had gotten too close to the material, hoping that it could be better than it was. A stagehand has to keep his/her mercenary distance. I thought of the old Bill Macy line from the David Mamet movie "Homicide," where one cop tells another, "An old whore once told me, when you start coming with the customers, it's time to quit."