Local 706 - The Artisan

Summer 2016

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12 THEATER THEATER NEWS NEWS EXTENDED FAMILY NEWS LOOKS LAST LOOKS NEWS HEALTH AND WELFARE NEWS CREW CREW SHOTS CREDITS PHOTO CREDITS EDUCATION EDUCATION NEWS GUILD GUILD NEWS BY RANDY SAYER Assistant to the Business Representative I.A.T.S.E. Local 706 Jennifer Hudson as 'Motormouth Maybelle,' Dancing With the Stars' Derek Hough as 'Corny Collins,' Ariana Grande as 'Penny Pingleton' and Kristin Chenoweth as 'Velma Von Tussle.' The musical is based on John Waters' 1988 fi lm of the same name (starring Divine as 'Edna'). There was also a 2007 feature fi lm of the musical, starring John Travolta as 'Edna.' NBC plans to produce this show on our Broadcast Television agreement. This is not a Roster production— at this time. Hairspray should begin preproduction next month, and is set to air (live!) on December 7. Table for 10 … Local 706 is currently in active negotiations with San Francisco Ballet, KTLA (Broadcast Television), Pasadena Playhouse (Theater), San Diego Opera, Cal Performances/Zellerbach Hall (Regional Theater) and our fi rst-ever contract with the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego (Regional Theater). We have reached tentative agreements with Center Theatre Group (Ahmanson Theatre and Mark Taper Forum; both our LA Philharmonic/Walt Disney Concert Hall & Hollywood Bowl and LA Music Center contracts "piggyback" on top of the CTG Agreement. These will be renegotiated as well) and FOX NE&O ("Networks, Engineering & Operations"—this is one of two Broadcast Television agreements with FOX, and primarily covers the FOX Sports productions). These contracts are now in the process of being ratifi ed by our membership. CBS (Broadcast Television—which includes KCAL & KCBS News) will be negotiated before the end of the year. See you at the negotiating table, or see you in the wings! Randy Sayer "This & That …" For the first time in forever … Disneyland Resort: Disney premiered its new Frozen-inspired musical Frozen – A Musical Spectacular in the Hyperion Theatre (within the Disney California Adventure theme park) on May 27, to rave reviews. This is a full hour-long "Broadway-style" presentation, performing four times each day, with three full casts of 28 cast members (plus swings, alternates and understudies), wearing 60 hard-front wigs, lace-front wigs and facial hairpieces per show (200-plus wigs total!). Nearly 30 of our Theme Park members are currently trained on this production, as it takes nine (9) hair styl- ists per performance to create the hair & make-up magic. One new piece of the magic is the "black tracking" sys- tem. This is completely new technology: transmitters in the wigs actually 'track' the performers on stage so the automated spotlights can 'follow' the performers … amaz- ing! Members Emily Bonosoro, Jennifer Brooks, Shemika Beverly Draughan, Carmela Martin and Jennifer "Jeg" Green are currently leading the "Frozen Team" as 'Leads' on this venue. A breath of fresh hair … NBC is producing a live production of the musical Hairspray, just as they have done with very successful live productions of The Wiz, The Sound of Music, Peter Pan and as FOX/Paramount/Warner Bros.' recent live production of Grease. Harvey Fierstein, who wrote the book and originated the part of 'Edna Turnblad' on Broadway back in 2002, is signed to reprise his/her role. Other notables signed on to play the denizens of Baltimore in 1962 include Martin Short as Edna's husband 'Wilbur,

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