Term of the Day: "Do Not Work" list

"Do Not Work" list--Actor's Equity's "Do Not Work" list bans Equity members from working with certain producers nationwide. The corrupt Canadian producer Garth Drabinsky's Broadway comeback musical "Paradise Square" closed on July 17th. A few days before, Equity put Drabinsky on their "Do Not Work" list, effectively destroying any efforts by Drabinsky to come back to Broadway or even to produce in regional theaters. 

Like "Ragtime" in 1999, Drabinsky left financial ruin in his wake with "Paradise Square." Both Equity and  829, the scenic artists' local, are suing Drabinsky and his producers for $350,000 in unpaid benefits.  (This information comes from Playbill.com, July 14, 2022.)

During its brief run, "Paradise Square" was plagued by financial shenanigans. The shops wouldn't send spare parts because of nonpayment. In the Barrymore Theatre, Drabinsky had the unaffectionate nickname, "The Felon on the Square."

Term of the Day: the teams have been picked

the teams have been picked--when your show closes after new productions have already assembled their crews. "The producers closed my show in August, right the before the fall load in season started. The techs and the GMs had hired their crews. All the teams had been picked. I was SOL."

Term of the Day: the Thief of Broadway

the Thief of Broadway--head known for sticky fingers during load outs. 

Expression of the Day: "If that shows goes under $200,000 again..."

"If that shows goes under $200,000 again, the theater owners are going to take it out to the alley and shoot it in the head."

Old Road Expression: "If you don't know who the asshole is..."

 "If you don't know who the asshole is, it's you!"

Overheard Stagehand Dialogue #25: "He's called The Felon around The Square"

Stagehand #1: Where are you working now?

Stagehand #2: "I got on at 'Paradise Square.'"

Stagehand #1: "Do you know about the criminal record of the lead producer Garth Drabinsky?"

Stagehand #2: "He's called The Felon around The Square"

Term of the Day: Mirror Ball Man

Mirror Ball Man--a Broadway carpenter fired for a mirror ball that crashed to the deck. "Under his watch, the carpenter allowed a badly rigged mirror ball to be suspended above the deck. He was fired after it crashed to the stage. Mirror Ball Man wound up getting another job."