David Byrne’s Right here Lies Love Musical Opposed by Broadway Musicians’ Union

Here Lies Love, David Byrne’s musical theater collaboration with Fatboy Slim, is slated to start previews at New York’s Broadway Theater on June 17. Now, as The New York Times studies, a labor union representing Broadway musicians is objecting to the manufacturing’s use of instrumental tracks as a substitute of a reside band. Byrne and the workforce behind Right here Lies Love later shared a statement in response.

In line with the American Federation of Musicians’ Native 802, the manufacturing’s plan to depend on pre-recorded music violates its contract with the Broadway League, which reportedly dictates that every one musicals on the Broadway Theater should make use of a minimum of 19 musicians. In a press release to The Instances, manufacturing spokesperson Adrian Bryan-Brown claimed that the tracks are “a part of the karaoke style inherent to the musical and the manufacturing idea,” and have been important to Right here Lies Love from its inception.

“Right here Lies Love isn’t a conventional Broadway musical,” Byrne and the present’s assertion reads partially. “The music is drawn exterior of the standard musical style. The efficiency of the reside vocals to pre-recorded, synthetic tracks is paramount to its creative idea. Manufacturing has ripped out the seats within the theater and constructed a dance ground. There isn’t a longer a proscenium stage. The Broadway Theatre has been reworked right into a nightclub, with each theatergoer immersed within the expertise. In some ways, Right here Lies Love is pioneering this type of dance membership track-act immersion on Broadway.” It continues:

Broadway should create house for boundary-pushing artistic work. Broadway can be the venue for a effectively conceived, high-quality present that highlights the valued traditions of particular cultures whose tales have by no means been on its levels. Right here Lies Love doesn’t imagine in creative gate-keepers. Right here Lies Love believes in a Broadway for everybody, the place new artistic kinds push the medium and create new traditions and audiences.

Right here Lies Love, which follows the early lifetime of the Philippines’ controversial former first woman, Imelda Marcos, debuted in 2013. The unique manufacturing drew crucial popularity of its immersive, dancefloorlike staging, which is being reinstated on Broadway. The present has had different stints in London and Seattle. Its Broadway run was introduced in January, and, after almost a month of previews, it’s set to open formally on July 20. Arielle Jacobs stars as Imelda Marcos, with Conrad Ricamora, Jose Llana, and Lea Salonga becoming a member of the solid.