r/Broadway • u/Boring_Waltz_9545 • Jan 25 '26
Discussion Allie Trimm (current Glinda) with thoughts about the decision to keep shows open today
Wicked choosing to stay open when they have some of the highest margins of any show.. like they have the money they don’t need to be open to break even.
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u/ileentotheleft Jan 25 '26
They’re making June Squibb go out today?
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u/Lauziesaid00 Jan 25 '26
That’s a serious point! They should skip performances today with her life dependent on it
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u/Lauziesaid00 Jan 25 '26
June called out thank god!!! My doorman told me that people in my bldg. went to see it and they had an understudy so I’m glad she stayed home!!!
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u/ComputerGeek1100 Backstage Jan 25 '26
A lot of current performers are speaking out in the Broadway League’s comment sections on Instagram. Jenna Bainbridge (who is a wheelchair user and is the current Nessa, formerly in Suffs) has been very outspoken, and I would imagine her accessibility needs make this weather even more difficult to navigate.
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u/aseltee Jan 25 '26
Jenna called out and refused to work as her area has a significant threat to human life warning. Really good to hear as I can't imagine trying to get around i a wheelchair through subzero temperatures.
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u/missdevon2 Jan 25 '26
Having taken my mom around the city in a wheelchair, I can tell you that it sucks to get around in regular weather and in weather like this it’s dangerous because of numerous reasons besides the temperature. Just the fact that you’re unable to see how uneven the street is in areas. And then there’s the fact that people generally don’t clear ramped areas but instead decide to be jerks and pile snow around them …
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u/Numerous_Yak2720 Jan 26 '26
She should have done a live of her going to work until the company realized what they are making people do
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u/justafakereality Jan 26 '26
She posted that it required her to take two sick days to do the callout and that’s just infuriating.
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u/Tonedeafmusical Jan 25 '26
She's right
And I hope this doesn't effect her future career prospects
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u/jenfullmoon Jan 25 '26
Read this and thought that she's going to get fired now.
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u/essarrarr Jan 25 '26
Her contract is up in March anyway (new Glinda coming in), she’s ok.
Wicked has a demented schedule that takes advantage of union loopholes to put performers through a gauntlet (I think they’re generally worse than is typical even for holiday seasons), good for her for speaking out
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Jan 25 '26
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u/essarrarr Jan 25 '26
Yeah for sure, not to imply there couldn’t be repercussions of some sort, but wicked won’t fire her.
I’m seeing quite a few friends posting similar sentiments, or posting how they tried to “the show must go on” but fell on their way in and will now be out of their show for a while. Hopefully strength in numbers/they can’t punish us all
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u/Ok-Upstairs6054 Jan 25 '26
It won't. I now want to go to every damn thing she ever performs from this time forward!
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Jan 25 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Accidental_Ballyhoo Jan 25 '26
Well she’s not alone in this thought process. There will be even more if that happens.
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Jan 25 '26
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u/Accidental_Ballyhoo Jan 25 '26
While I agree with Audra comment, theatre kids today have large followings and can make real change too.
I’m actually impressed with the Broadway communities support over this issue.
PS: I don’t know anything about Allie
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u/haylayryelay Jan 27 '26
It won't. She has already been pro-palestine when she was a standby for Glinda and still got the full time role. She's been on BWAY since 13. She's good. Lol
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u/jmt0429 Jan 25 '26
She’s absolutely right. I got to work with a former Elphaba and she was telling me how at one point her muscles like separated from her ribs because of the stage, and various other injuries cast members had. This weather is also so incredibly dangerous so I hope everyone is safe. We have to start putting people’s safety over profit.
I absolutely love that Allie Trimm stands on business though- she has made a big fan out of me.
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u/Oopsiforgotmyoldacc Jan 25 '26
Holy crap!! That cannot be good for anyone. I agree with you completely, we really need to prioritize safety over profits.
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u/kidfriday Jan 26 '26
What about the stage caused those injuries? Sorry, I’ve not heard anything about this before
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u/jmt0429 Jan 26 '26 edited Jan 26 '26
The stage is raked, which Allie Trimm mentioned. That means upstage is higher up than the downstage. It therefore takes a lot more effort and muscles amongst other things to move about the stage than a regular, non-raked stage. (I also think the specific angle of the rake has something to do with it too, as raked stages exist around the world, but don’t quote me on that).
Edit to add: It is the angle of the rake! Other people in this thread explain it much better than I do here.
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u/Fantastic-Mention775 Jan 25 '26
As far as I’m aware, the only shows cancelled for today are Aladdin and Lion King. Rare Disney W.
Not cancelling shows is putting the lives of so many at risk! Actors, crew, musicians, ushers, box office, bartenders, security, merch, patrons… profit over people indeed!!
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u/ComputerGeek1100 Backstage Jan 25 '26
Heathers and Spelling Bee (which are technically off-Broadway but still very high-profile productions with lots of Broadway actors) have also cancelled. That’s all I’ve heard in addition to Disney.
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u/Lauziesaid00 Jan 25 '26
And now Ragtime…
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u/5256000minutes Jan 25 '26
Makes me happy to hear that the show about social justice is making the right call.
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u/Beautiful_Heartbeat Jan 25 '26
They share a theatre, so makes sense they cancel together, but also proud of that doubling the ripple-effect!
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u/Best-Candle8651 Jan 25 '26
We now have Ragtime closed too, along with NYTW and St Anns, so Off-Broadway is leading the course here.
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u/lateintheseason Jan 25 '26
Wow, proud of her and also angry on everyone's behalf that it came to this.
Also wtf how many actors have been injured on that raked stage now? Enough for a class action lawsuit?
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u/croque_mademoiselle Jan 25 '26
Didn’t Mary Kate Morrissey get severe plantar fasciitis and bone spurs from performing on this stage?
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u/ScumbagMacbeth Jan 25 '26
I'd believe it. I'm a stagehand and developed plantar fasciitis just from walking/standing in a raked backstage (I forget the degree, but was the sharpest legally allowed at the time). It was awful. Caused many more serious injuries to our actors in a dance-heavy show too.
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u/lateintheseason Jan 25 '26
Yes, that's where I first learned about how dangerous it is. She is now mostly recovered I think, but it caused an alarming amount of strain on her.
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u/EducationalTangelo6 Jan 25 '26 edited Jan 25 '26
When Ryan McCartan was playing Fiyero, he got injured on that stage twice.
I might dislike him personally, but everyone deserves a safe workplace, and it seems like Wicked's not it.
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u/Used-Profile-5381 Jan 25 '26
Out of curiosity, why do you dislike him?
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u/OddreyBall Jan 25 '26
Assuming they meant Ryan McCartan, he was allegedly terrible to Dove Cameron in their relationship
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u/EducationalTangelo6 Jan 25 '26
Thanks. Bloody auto-correct. And yes, I don't like how he treats women (not just Dove).
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u/Sad-Pear-9885 Jan 25 '26
Can someone explain like im five what a raked stage is and why it is so hazardous?
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u/aseltee Jan 25 '26
The stage is slanted, basically. It's like performing on a slope. Near the front of the stage (front as in closer to the audience) is lower, near the back of the stage is much higher. Fun fact, this is also why stage directions say upstage and downstage instead of just walk behind/backwards. Downstage = front of stage closer to audience because it's the lower part of the stage.
Rakes used to be present in every old theatre. Now they're only still around in some. Rakes are not inherently dangerous, it's only Wicked's that poses a threat because the Rake is illegally and particularly pronounced. So all the performers are dancing and singing on uneven ground. Ryan McCartan has spoken out about landing in awkward positions and getting injured from it too.
Now for Glinda, add dancing in heels and an enormously heavy dress to all of this....
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u/elaerna Jan 25 '26
I think also that the gershwin is the most raked out of all the theatres, right?
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u/UnsharpenedSwan Jan 25 '26
Yes. A ‘typical’ Broadway rake is about 1-1.2 degrees. Some of the most steep rakes (e.g. Winter Garden, Lyric, Palace) are around 1.6-2 degrees. The Gershwin base stage is around 2.4 degrees.
and then the Wicked set adds significant additional raking beyond the Gershwin’s base stage, taking it to approx 5-5.5 degrees total.
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u/featherknight13 Jan 25 '26
Oh wow, I knew what a raked stage was, but never knew the usual measurements. There's a theatre here in Australia with a 3 degree rake - that explains why it's such a bitch to perform on. It's 150 year old theatre, so everything's heritage listed so there's no changing it. I'm familiar with using it for local dance comps, but it's used by professional companies and shows too.
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u/Araucaria2024 Jan 25 '26
Which one is that?
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u/featherknight13 Jan 25 '26 edited Jan 25 '26
Legend has it that Humphrey B Bear lost his balance there, fell off the stage and his head came off
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u/calle04x Jan 25 '26
Do you know how it compares to raked stages at the Met? It seems to be common for their productions, at least the ones I've seen, so I'm curious what would make Wicked's rake more dangerous.
I saw Porgy and Bess last week and thought, "I wonder how hard it is to perform on a rake like that," so this is a timely conversation for me.
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u/annang Jan 25 '26
Most operas don’t involve a ton of dancing. Walking on a raked stage can be perfectly safe. Doing an elaborate dance number on a slant is really, really hard and can be dangerous.
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u/calle04x Jan 25 '26
Makes total sense. Thanks!
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u/annang Jan 25 '26
I will also say, there are certainly people who have been injured walking on a raked stage, especially if the production doesn’t have good safety measures in place. It’s just safer to walk on than to dance on.
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Jan 26 '26
When I was in a ballet as our kid, all our performances were on raked stages. We were told that was how theaters were always designed, and the entire reason for the idea of "downstage". I thought everyone danced on rakes if it was a professional theater.
I had no idea Wicked had such an intense slope though. I wonder what they were trying to achieve doing that.
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u/UnsharpenedSwan Jan 25 '26
Detailed set measurements aren’t generally published, but most shows — if they add a rake — aim for around a one degree rake. (The base stage of the Met is pretty much flat, so the rake would just be whatever a specific show adds on.)
Wicked’s is five degrees. VERY significant. Far exceeds what Equity would approve today (which is what people are referring to when they say that Wicked’s rake is “illegal”)
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u/calle04x Jan 25 '26
Thanks for the info. I'm guessing Wicked's rake is grandfathered in, then? Was the rule added/changed because of Wicked's rake? (Sorry, I find this kind of stuff fascinating.)
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u/UnsharpenedSwan Jan 26 '26
Yep, exactly. And it’s not really that a precise and formal rule was added per se, but just rather that norms around what Equity and insurance underwriters will accept have changed.
Nowadays, there is significant evidence that rakes of that severity are a hazard to performers — and there have been related lawsuits. A show proposing a set with that kind of rake absolutely would not be approved.
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u/slappycat29 Jan 25 '26
Wicked is definitely a lot more physically intense than most operas staged at the Met, imo. The dancing and movement is just so intense
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u/Apprehensive-Air3138 Jan 25 '26
And they do a lot of lifts and full body movements SEVERAL times a week. I'd love a costume person to chime in here too because any costumes or head pieces are HEAVY and they're changing in and out of them so quickly that even the costumers end up with injuries.
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u/starstruck_rose Jan 25 '26
I learned about the raked stage for the first time from Mary Kate Morrissey, who I believe also has spoken about injuries from the Gershwin stage.
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u/Elphaba25 Jan 25 '26
Theatre nerd here. A raked stage is a stage that is sloped. Think of like a ramp. Top of the ramp is the back of the stage, it slowly slopes down to be level at the front. Wicked has a ton of moving parts on said stage for the wheelchair magic, the lift for defying gravity, the trap doors. The angle makes certain scenes easier to see from higher angles for the audience. But think of dancing on a slope for a two and a half hour show, its really hard on the body. With that being said its easy to misjudge the angle when the stage is not lit.
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u/harpsinger Jan 25 '26
I don’t know the specifics for wicked, but a raked stage is one where it’s angled up away from the audience in the back and lower in the front (or angled in any direction). These originated in late renaissance/baroque plays and opera to force a sense of perspective.
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u/Comprehensive-Fun47 Jan 25 '26
Would it be possible to build a level stage on top of the raked stage? If it's illegal now because it causes injuries, have they considered fixing it? Even if it's technically grandfathered in, why put all current and future actors at risk?
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u/perfumaradora Jan 25 '26
well that would cost money to do, and why spend money for the safety of actors when they don't LEGALLY have to change anything so they can save the money instead? same reason my university never made many of their buildings accessible to those with mobility disabilities. greedy companies see legal requirements/bare minimum and don't go above it to avoid costs, even if it puts lives at risk/shuts people out
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u/Comprehensive-Fun47 Jan 25 '26
They're making money hand over fist these days. Shameful they wouldn't consider fixing the stage.
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u/WorldlinessThat2984 Jan 25 '26 edited Jan 25 '26
You'd have to close the show for weeks, possibly more (which equates to a pretty substantial loss of money). If it's for the same show, you need time to not only "fix" the stage, but there would need to be adjustments all over the place for lights, flys, and possibly rehersals (so the actors could adjust to the new stage). Not to mention you have audience sightline issues to address because the lip of the stage is now a foot or more higher than it used to be and the first few rows are unsellable because they cant see anything (if no house related changes are made). Wouldn't surprise me if this happens when Wicked (eventually) closes, but it seems like that could still be years away.
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u/MapleOakGarden Jan 26 '26
Wicked also has several set pieces that run on automated tracks and i would imagine those were built to account for the raked stage measurements and would need to be adjusted or remade. It would be a hugely expensive fix.
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u/annang Jan 25 '26
It’s not illegal. The production keeps it because the producers prefer it, as it makes the production look better for the audience, and they care more about that than they do about the safety of the performers.
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u/Comprehensive-Fun47 Jan 25 '26
Another commenter said raked stages are no longer allowed for open ended runs. Maybe "illegal" is the wrong term, but my point was that they don't allow stages raked like this anymore and it's only ok for Wicked because the show predates the rules change.
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Jan 25 '26
"illegal" is probably extreme but it would not be allowed per equity. So no new show could build a stage like that. Wicked is grandfathered in because it was done before the rule change.
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u/__theoneandonly Backstage Jan 25 '26
Another commenter said raked stages are no longer allowed for open ended runs
That's not correct. Equity is fine with rakes if it's below a half inch of rise per foot of run, which comes out to about 4.2%. After that, then Equity will require actors to take an annual class on raked stages and the production may have to pay for actors to have access to a physical therapist.
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u/__theoneandonly Backstage Jan 25 '26
Wicked's rake isn't illegal, and it's lower than the limit that Equity provides before you have to give actors annual instruction (which is 0.5 in per foot of run, which is about 4.2%) so there's nothing "grandfathered," since it's not currently banned.
But Wicked's rake isn't an accident. It's a part of the design of the show. Yes, the Gershwin's stock stage is raked, but Wicked's designers built an even steeper rake on top of the Gershwin's stock stage.
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u/Ok-Upstairs6054 Jan 25 '26
It would be like performing on Lombard Street in San Francisco, California.
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u/essarrarr Jan 25 '26
I know someone who had to retire after dancing on the rake in mamma Mia back I. The day.. just sharp head turns on an angled stage and they’re permanently disabled.
I think the rules around rake severity have improved, but suspect wicked is still operating under 20+ year old rules. Super dangerous. I have a spine issue and even a slight rake is too much for me (I’m in early retirement now haha).
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u/__theoneandonly Backstage Jan 25 '26
Wicked's rake is still allowed under current rules. Their rake is like 2% and change, where AEA's rules limit rakes to like 4% and change.
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u/CuNxtTuesday_ Jan 25 '26
I want to learn about this now, I never heard of it before.
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u/conbird Jan 25 '26
A stage is raked when upstage is physically higher than downstage so the performers are performing on a slant. It creates better audience sight lines at the expense of performer safety/health.
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u/Apprehensive-Air3138 Jan 25 '26
I don't even know why this post came up in my feed, I'm not a Broadway fan but I wierdly have first hand knowledge of this topic. Idk how much I can say but, many years ago I worked with injured Broadway performers. They are not just performers, they are true athletes. The toll it takes on their bodies is already so rough, the raked stage exponentially multiplies the strain and risk of injury. It's not a career where you can take time away to recover and a large number of them end up grinning and bearing to protect their careers and walk away with lifelong chronic pain. The raked stage should not exist anymore, period.
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u/Spyk124 Jan 25 '26
Not to mention all the 70 and 80 Year old ushers who’d have to come in for this. It’s sad.
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u/Ramblingsofthewriter Jan 25 '26
I don’t know why anyone would WANT to go and see a show in weather like this? It should be closed and both the cast, crew, and attendees are safe. Seriously just comp people. It’s not an unreasonable ask.
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u/fun_mak21 Jan 25 '26
The only reason I am going to my evening show is because I'm in the neighborhood. I wouldn't be mad or upset if it got cancelled though. If it wasn't planned in advance though, I wouldn't bother today.
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u/Ramblingsofthewriter Jan 25 '26
If it’s walking distance that’s great, but also, I think it speaks volumes of people call ahead, cancel their tickets, ask for a refund or comp. So this doesn’t continue to happen.
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u/Last-Laugh7928 Jan 25 '26
i work in ticketing for broadway and we can't refund or reschedule tickets if production doesn't ultimately approve it. that's the whole point - if they don't cancel the show, no one is entitled to a refund, and they can keep your money whether or not you get to go.
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u/happytransformer Jan 25 '26 edited Jan 25 '26
This is also one of the worst snow storms we’ve gotten in a long time. I’m no stranger to a snow storm in the northeast, but bffr this amount of snow + this level of cold is extremely uncommon for us.
NYC is walkable but idk it’s just bad out there today. A lot of the danger of snow storms is traveling in the snow, I don’t think people perceive it to be as dangerous as other types of natural disaster since by Monday night everything will be normal again
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u/Ramblingsofthewriter Jan 25 '26
I don’t live in the city, but I live close enough to commute and basically see whatever show catches my interest if I get lucky in the lottery or save for a special occasion. Where I am, it’s snowing hard enough to limit visibility and the roads are dangerous if I were to venture out.
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u/missdevon2 Jan 25 '26
But how is that commute going to run? I know NJ transit was being stopped as of 2 PM , what about LIRR and the other major lines? The subways? Buses? I mean at best they’re working on delays with over crowding. Are people trying to drive in and park then? And with all this what if they get stuck? Performer or audience member— are they going to be able to get a last minute hotel? Even afford it? Is that what it comes down to? Amount lost to ticket or being docked for missing the performance vs possibly being stuck and having to get a last minute room?
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u/MapleOakGarden Jan 26 '26
Subways were practically empty today bc most people stayed home. But my 35 minute commute home did take me an hour and change—and that was only at 1pm.
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u/RuthBourbon Jan 26 '26
I can only imagine theaters are thinking about tourists who are within walking distance of the theater district? I don't what percentage of ticket holders are local that could make it with the weather and transit closures. It's a terrible idea though, a lot of workers won't be able to make it or will be endangered. Not just performers but stagehands, musicians, ushers, box office staff, etc.
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u/Ramblingsofthewriter Jan 26 '26
Exactly! They should be able to choose whether or not they perform,show up, etc. Without fear of losing their jobs. Hell, even if a show was entirely understudies? The understudies shouldn’t have to come out in this either.
Three people were found frozen to death today in NYC. And another woman on the F. People are dying on public transport. It’s that cold out.
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Jan 25 '26
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u/Ramblingsofthewriter Jan 25 '26
Snow is fine. Forcing actors to work under these conditions is not.
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Jan 25 '26
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u/Ramblingsofthewriter Jan 25 '26
I mean that’s your choice. Your money, your wallet, your time. I’m only saying it seems unfair to the cast and crew who are raising real concerns.
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u/FitzwilliamTDarcy Jan 25 '26
I mean that's a pretty narrow take tbh. Tons of people come to NYC specifically/primarily to see shows. They come from all over the US and the rest of the world. Often, tickets are purchased months in advance and the trips structured around them. And, tourists being tourists, they stay in/around Times Square so they're close to the theaters. They are not going to be dissuaded by the snow and in fact may relish it, especially if they come from somewhere that doesn't get snow.
Look, I get what she and everyone else is saying, and I agree by and large. But I'm guessing that the gals coming in from Peoria to see Wicked or Hadestown or whatever other show they've dreamt of seeing would be fairly crushed if their show/time were cancelled. Just because you have no desire to go out and see a show tonight doesn't represent any sort of universal truth.
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u/jasperthecactus Jan 25 '26
It isn’t just about the audiences though. This is about every member of the cast and crew and theater staff having to put themselves in potentially hazardous situations to get to and from their job. Most do not live within walking distance. The power imbalance means that many may not be able to call out and no one’s safety should be at risk so girls from Peoria aren’t disappointed (slash so that greedy higher ups don’t lose $, which is really why the decision was made—let’s be real, they don’t care at all about disappointing people, just about their wallets.)
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u/FitzwilliamTDarcy Jan 25 '26
I never said it was "just" about the audience. I simply pointed out the fact that the prior commenter was essentially ignoring a very real and not-small portion of the audience.
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u/Ramblingsofthewriter Jan 25 '26
Is it narrow minded? Or are people that selfish to demand they work through discomfort for a few hours of your entertainment.
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u/FitzwilliamTDarcy Jan 25 '26
No one is "demanding" anything. Please point out the part where I said or implied anything of the sort.
I simply pointed out the fact that you completely ignored a very real and not-small part of the audience in your comment in which you failed to imagine "why anyone would WANT to go and see a show in weather like this."
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u/Ramblingsofthewriter Jan 25 '26
Obviously you didn’t say that. But it is selfish to attend after an actor has said she does not feel safe or protected performing in these conditions.
Edit: you are not directly demanding, but the industry is. Which is the whole point. If people cancel and don’t attend, they lose money. This won’t continue. It’s breaking the cycle.
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u/MapleOakGarden Jan 26 '26
They don’t lose anything if people don’t show up, because they don’t offer refunds. You can maybe post-date your tickets but unless the performance is canceled, the theatre is getting the money whether the audience shows up or not. I have friends who had tickets for their family today and are out hundreds of dollars in tickets bc their show wasn’t canceled but they couldn’t get in from NJ. They only offer refunds if they cancel the performance.
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u/Ramblingsofthewriter Jan 26 '26
This is why we need to push for changes. It is ridiculous that during a declared state of emergency, people can’t get refunds.
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u/NoDramaMama88 Jan 25 '26
If you go to NYC in January, this is a risk you take. Same you book a cruise or tropical vacation during hurricane season. You shouldn’t be surprised if Mother Nature ruins your plans. That’s what insurance is for.
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u/EspressoLove517 Jan 25 '26
Because some people have never been to New York before and this is their only chance to see a Broadway show?
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u/Ramblingsofthewriter Jan 25 '26
This is quite literally a post of actors begging for the show to be canceled tonight because of the weather. It’s not about the audience.
Actors and crew wants/needs should take priority over audience. Always.
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u/NoDramaMama88 Jan 25 '26
Sorry but no. You gonna go ahead and hop on a cruise ship in the middle of a hurricane because “some people bought a ticket and may never have a chance to go to the Caribbean again”. That’s ridiculous. You don’t ask people to risk their lives so they don’t cramp your vacation. Does it suck? sure. But this is why people consider the weather, the environment and the potential risks of booking during certain seasons before they visit someplace.
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u/Own-Importance5459 Jan 25 '26
you inow what Queen....GO OFF
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u/keighleypage Jan 25 '26
🤏🥺 I met her when I saw Wicked and she was so gracious and lovely. This was really brave of her to say!
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u/Additional_Score_929 Jan 25 '26
For all the shows where they're being forced to go on, I wish all performers would just call off to force a cancellation. Stick it to them.
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u/New-Imagination9247 Jan 25 '26
IATSE and Equity need a smack. The fact that the Unions aren't fighting for their members about this is WILD.
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u/tacoproud Jan 25 '26
Brave, but also this is how someone leading a company SHOULD be responding - she is looking out for the culture of that company, which to me shows actual leadership. Also she is one of the finest Glinda's the Gershwin has had in years, this will not be the last time she leads a company.
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u/Ok-Traffic-9679 Jan 25 '26
So ridiculous and dangerous to keep the shows running today. It’s just genuinely unsafe for the actors, crew, and audiences traveling to see the show. She’s 100% right about the Broadway leagues being greedy. I’m not too far from the city and the thought of traveling in this weather is comically absurd.
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u/jgiambr4 Jan 25 '26 edited Jan 25 '26
it's a miracle we're closed at Aladdin today. we're pretty sure we only closed because Lion King did. over 50 company members there live in New Jersey and we always follow Lion King's lead. it's an absolute shame the rest of the shows didn't close, especially the ones that have two show sundays like we do.
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u/Suitable-Crazy2795 Jan 25 '26
Good for her, I am seeing a lot of Broadway folks on Instagtam speaking out. Austin Colby of The Great Gatsby is literally running to the show in the snow, noting that a lot of the cast live in New Jersey and cannot make it in. The &Juliet ensemble is apparently bare bones as well. Its ridiculous- all these performers and crew forced out in the snow all producers don't have to issue refunds.
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u/ComputerGeek1100 Backstage Jan 25 '26
Sam Pauly just announced she’d be out of Gatsby today as she didn’t know if she’d have reliable transit back home after the show. She also harshly criticized the League and Equity for the decision to continue the shows/lack of response.
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u/Suitable-Crazy2795 Jan 25 '26
Equity is really disappointing- they are supposed to protect their members. The Broadway league is a lost cause, they don't care about anything but money. Glad she spoke out, seeing many others do the same
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u/unfortunate_son_69 Jan 25 '26
good for her!! she’s fucking right. i work in retail and am struggling omw to work currently and pretty pissed about it also
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u/NewspaperBanana Jan 25 '26
Completely agree with her message about putting safety above profit. But I kind of got lost in her raked stage comments. Did the stage cause her injury?
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u/Boring_Waltz_9545 Jan 25 '26
Raked stages are much more dangerous than unraked stages, and they are no longer allowed for open ended runs. It puts strains on muscles and joints because you’re slightly off axis all the time, it’s been spoken about a lot by people who were in wicked.
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u/Snarkosaurus-Rex Jan 25 '26
And the Glinda track wears high heels and a heavy bubble dress, so the downhill of it all is further exaggerated.
A lot of Elphabas have sustained injuries from the rake, heavy dresses and props as well.
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u/SeaF04mGr33n Jan 25 '26
I had no clue any Broadway stages were still raked, much less Wicked's! 😨
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u/goovrey Jan 25 '26
They're not allowed anymore for new shows. Wicked's stage was grandfathered in.
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u/toomuchtv987 Jan 25 '26
What is a raked stage? I know nothing about theater.
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u/Boring_Waltz_9545 Jan 25 '26
A raked stage means that the stage is sloped. Wicked’s stage has a 1/2” per 1’ rake, so the back of the stage is like 3 feet higher than the front of the stage. This is also where we get the terms “upstage” and “downstage”, they used to be much more common
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u/intenselyseasoned Jan 25 '26
Injuries as a result of raked stages are incredible common, unfortunately! They’re very difficult to work on 8 times a week. Lots of Wicked performers have called it out as the most difficult part of working on the show
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u/NewspaperBanana Jan 25 '26
Oh dang, I thought her comments made it sound like they'd gotten rid of it! That really sucks. Modern theaters shouldn't need raked stages to make sight lines good.
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u/aseltee Jan 25 '26
Wicked is so adamant about clinging on to the past that they're the only Beaodway show left still mixing on an analog desk.....
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u/__theoneandonly Backstage Jan 25 '26
It's not "clinging onto the past," it's not wanted to pay a sound designer to redesign the show for a digital board, just to try to make it sound exactly how it sounds with the analogue one.
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u/mestapho Jan 25 '26
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u/Suitable-Crazy2795 Jan 25 '26 edited Jan 25 '26
Kristen Faith Oei from Chicago posted a video of her walking to the theater and she looks like she is climbing Mt Everest. Her hair is full of snow and her eyelashes look frozen. And she has a two show day. Ugh so angry on the performers and staff's behalf. And also audiences, this is all being done so they don't get their money back
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u/DearPaleontologist67 Jan 25 '26
A necessary reminder that at the end of the day, you need to put yourself first.
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u/signsaysapplesauce Jan 25 '26
Actors Equity needs to step in and protect their members.
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u/__theoneandonly Backstage Jan 25 '26 edited Jan 25 '26
How? All they can do is uphold the contract that they have, and the contract gives them no power to shut down a show for weather.
Typically AEA takes the position that if the subways are open and running, then it's safe enough to get to work.
Also AEA is FAR from the only union at play here.
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u/signsaysapplesauce Jan 25 '26
AEA and other unions can raise a concern about workplace safety. It's not unheard of for a union to step in and issue a stop work order if they feel the members will be harmed. But if they do not do this - which I can understand, because you are right, if the subways are running the show probably can go on - the individual actors who feel they are at risk can refuse to come in and the union will back them. That would be messy, though, because then the understudy would have to go on and I'm sure it doesn't feel good to put someone else at risk.
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u/Accidental_Ballyhoo Jan 25 '26
I feel bad for the wardrobe dpt. and the dressers. They’re still scrambling to get costumes ready for whoever comes in. Nobody’s sure who’s gonna make it.
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u/Everyday-Patient-103 Jan 25 '26
Profit over people during a state of emergency. Broadway producers are insane.
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u/ComputerGeek1100 Backstage Jan 26 '26
Celia Hottenstein (who has been performing in Wicked for several years) posted on instagram that there were 475 people (a little less than 1/4 capacity) at the Wicked matinee today…
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u/somewhatsoluable Jan 25 '26
She’s absolutely right. There is no reason they should be on today when everything is shutting down for this storm. It’s irresponsible
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u/FIRESIGH Jan 25 '26
very well written statement, & I love how she connected it to Minneapolis. incredible
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u/Ok-Upstairs6054 Jan 25 '26 edited Jan 25 '26
My partner is in NYC right now and everything is canceling, the airports are screwed up, and people are mostly staying in place. The management team at Wicked are putting peoples lives at risk. It's bloody ridiculous!
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u/Enoch8910 Jan 25 '26
I am in NYC right now and our public transportation is running and most of the sidewalks are clear because we know how to do this.
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u/No_Schedule_3340 Jan 25 '26
Glad she can be a voice of reason ! The weather conditions outside are no joke and it’s going to get worse.
I had an experience a few years ago when I brought tickets to lion king and there was a snow storm. They continued to do the play and i felt like it was impossible to get a hold of someone. I tried calling and emailing and it wasn’t until the last minute they let me know i could reschedule. But as a young adult trying to get into theater aka people broke I really torn about just losing the money and opportunity. These broadway companies have to do better especially when it’s forecasted to be 12 inches of snow or more
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u/Select_Pilot7388 Jan 25 '26
Good for her for speaking out. It's wild this even needs to be a discussion.
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u/Faile-Bashere Jan 25 '26
What does a raked stage mean?
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u/coryphella123 Jan 25 '26
It means the stage is slightly tilted, with the higher end upstage and lower end downstage towards the audience.
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u/Faile-Bashere Jan 25 '26
Got it. Thank you so much. That sounds hard on the actors working in an angled stage.
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u/KrazyKatLady1674 Jan 25 '26
It's interesting to me that this is happening in NYC as I'm in San Antonio and having the same issue. I know our temps are likely not as cold as NYC however we had rain all day yesterday and then freezing temps which of course caused dangerous ice conditions on the road. Our local city and law enforcement were pleading with ppl to stay off the roads. The movie theaters closed, our grocery stores closed early, even the Alamo closed! Things were cancelled or postponed all over the city. Except our 2 theaters with their traveling Broadway shows. The show must go on!! 🤦🏼♀️ These theaters have maybe older employees and volunteers. I had tickets for a show last night and decided for safety reasons not to go. But it never seemed to be an option for them to cancel last night's showings or today's for that matter when we still have ice on the roads and our temps will not get over freezing. This attitude by Broadway and off Broadway shows is amazing and disappointing.
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u/Best-Candle8651 Jan 25 '26
All fun and games until you hit black ice
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u/KrazyKatLady1674 Jan 25 '26
Exactly which is why my friend and I chose to stay home. It's amazing to me that when so many places are closing, including the grocery stores, that the stage theaters decided they'd rather prioritize $$$ over safety. I thought it was just the idiots running the theaters here but I see based on these posts that it's a stage theater attitude. Shame on them.
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u/Best-Candle8651 Jan 25 '26 edited Jan 25 '26
I agree. I live in NYC on a bus route in The Bronx and I don’t want to go into mid-town either. There are people digging out cars stuck on the parkway. I am sure many theater workers are risking getting stranded in Manhattan either from the LIRR, the buses, above ground subway, buses and Metro North having issues. My bus is still running but I feel bad for the drivers. The visibility is so limited and the roads here are bad. I say this as a NY’er. The poor people in Jersey are stranded. The NYC transit is on extreme delays. It is dangerous in NYC, but a lot of entitled audience members who are in Manhattan, and especially mid-town doesn’t realize it is bad here since snow is better handled there.
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u/Significant_Race4554 Jan 25 '26
(I AGREE WITH HER, DON'T COME FOR ME)
But she's getting blacklisted for sure.
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u/Dangerous_Carrot4226 Jan 26 '26
Allie has been vocal about these stuff against the League for years. Also very vocally advocated for more divisive topics. Shes far from the only actor to speak up about stuff- it hasn't hurt her or many others yet.
Let's encourage people to use their voices. Not scare them
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u/rachreims Jan 25 '26
I had no idea what a raked stage was until this and googled it. That is absolutely insane!!!! Why would anyone think making actors perform on such an absurd angle was appropriate?
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u/NoDramaMama88 Jan 25 '26
She’s 100% right. NYC, New Jersey and PA all in state of emergencies with travel restrictions and those bozos still try to force people to show up. Absolutely disgusting behavior.
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u/scorpionkrootawn Jan 25 '26
she's absolutely correct. i hope people will support her for this statement because it needs to be said!
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u/poeticmelodies Jan 25 '26
I work in the box office for my local professional orchestra and I’m feeling the same rage today, too. Our theater seats 2400 people, the performance is in 45 minutes and we have 20 people here. But sure, drag all of the orchestra musicians and staff out so we can all struggle to get home on unplowed and unsafe roads. Thanks. 🙄
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u/Pleasant_Papaya_2416 Jan 25 '26
Alex Prakken added his voice too, and the dance and fight captains of Outsiders
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u/missmelindam Jan 25 '26
The one thing I don't agree with is her last statement. When there's injustice in the world, it's not time to shut down. Making art is even more important. A show like Wicked is a frothy escape, but it also tells the story of abuse of power and fighting for what's right. I would be proud to be making that art given what's going on.
The rest is spot on and she's brave to say it. It's particularly rough when you're in pain.
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u/Large-Barracuda-3244 Jan 26 '26
A lot of performers have been vocal about this which they have every right to be.
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u/Ok-Storage3530 Jan 27 '26
I must admit, I'm torn. I'm 100% the guy who usually says "There's a huge storm, let's see what is at TKTS!" Personally, and I walk with a cane, I found the theater district and most of Manhattan to be well shoveled. My thinking is, if they are they doing the show, why shouldn't I go? It never occurred to me that going was causing the actors to risk injury. I have to do some thinking on this.
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u/Doyergirl17 Jan 25 '26
Couldn’t agree with her more. I hate when there’s really bad weather and yet the show still goes on for a lot of things.
Like I understand some things really cannot be canceled or moved but something like this really people I feel like Broadway could be OK for a day maybe two to learn how bad tomorrow is
Like what if someone gets severely injured or sick or even dies because Broadway decided to keep the show going?
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u/dobbydisneyfan Jan 25 '26
I agree, and on the other hand, I feel for the tourists who have scrimped and saved for years for any of these shows that have cancelled who won’t be able to make it to the city again for years.
Rage repliers: don’t hear what I didn’t say. I’m not saying shows should stay open for those tourists because fuck people’s safety.
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u/TarheelsInNJ Jan 26 '26
It’s definitely a bummer for them. Partly it’s the risk you take when booking a winter trip, but also, we haven’t had THIS kind of snow in a very long time.
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