Expression of the Day: "A show's not dead until it dies on Broadway"

"A show's not dead until it dies on Broadway"--a doomed musical may travel the country for years, in workshops and productions, with hopes of succeeding on Broadway. Producers dreams are finally dashed when the show bombs and dies on Broadway. Maybe it is the final stake through the heart.

The retort should be, "There is always 'Encores' in 20 years." ("Encores" is the acclaimed series at City Center that revives old successful shows and beloved bombs.)

Expression of the Day: a douchebag with a human face

 a douchebag with a human face--pleasant-seeming person who does horrible things behind your back.

Term of the Day: pre-resume culture

pre-resume culture--Resumes still doesn't matter that much in the theaters of Broadway. More often it is your skill set--you can build a spiral staircase or you can fix a Vari-lite, or it is who you are related to, or who is your rabbi.

Term of the Day: unmake a bad stagehand

unmake a bad stagehand-- to cure a young stagehand of bad habits. "That TV commando I got from the hall? She was a nightmare, more obsessed with breaks than doing her job. I'll never use her again. I don't have time to unmake a bad stagehand."

Historic Theater Foods: special won-ton soup to go

special won-ton soup to go--whiskey in a take-out soup container. China Peace was a Chinese restaurant that ran for decades in Hell's Kitchen. It was at three different locations over time. Legendary stagehands and legendary drinkers would go there on matinee days. The owner was agreeable to fixing special "to-go" cups for his regular customers.

Overheard Stagehand Dialogue #40: "They're really cute at that age"

Stagehand #1: "I hate that carpenter. He's a 76-year-old dry-drunk racist, who sits in his office, screaming at the TV."

Stagehand #2: "Oh yeah, they're really cute at that age."

Term of the Day: the Great Local #1 Headcase

the Great Local #1 Headcase--a Broadway head, famous for hiring old timers on his crew, promising them the world, then dumping them. "Be careful of that head-- he's the Great Local #1 Headcase...he'll give you work, but he'll break your heart. You can almost put the screwing on your calendar."