Touring/Theatre/Booking Division

November 1, 2022

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On the Road Again: 2021-2022 Season Saw 22 Pamphlet B Shows Touring

by George Fiddler, AFM Director of Touring/Theatre/Booking Division and Assistant to the President

This month’s Theater issue features a cover story about Julie Ferrara of Local 802 (New York City), reed player on the current Frozen tour and steward for its 11-member orchestra. She has been involved with Broadway productions for many years and decided to try touring for the two-year Disney production. I am sure you will find her reflections on this venture to be interesting and informative.

Also featured in this issue, on the facing page, is Kristy Norter of Local 802 (New York City). Kristy has been involved in the Broadway scene for many years as a reed player and contractor. This year Norter is contracting both the Aragon and Boleyn Pamphlet B tours of SIX.

During the 2021-2022 season, the Touring/Theatre/Booking Division saw 22 Pamphlet B shows on the roster. As is typical, during the summer, many shows concluded their season and closed, while others continued for the next season. At this writing, 11 shows have closed, or will close shortly. Another 11 shows will continue for the 2022-2023 season.

Looking ahead, there are at least seven shows going out soon. Each of these new productions has significant numbers of touring musicians and local hires. There are many new and a few old remounts, such as Les Misérables, which is coming out of mothballs to tour for two seasons.

In early May, the AFM and the Broadway League reached an agreement to seamlessly extend their current agreement from April 25, 2022 to August 27, 2023. The terms of the extension were ratified by the bargaining unit May 18, 2022. The employers offered a 3% across the board wage increase, which includes all wage-related pay components (doubles, electronic fees, media fees, etc.). The balance of the Pamphlet B and SET agreement stays intact as the extension agreement was not a negotiation but an offer to continue the agreement “as is” through next show season.

The Actors’ Equity Association contract is also on extension. As in the past, the League is set to negotiate a new agreement next year with Equity first, and our negotiations will follow. The advantage to the AFM is that we now have time to plan and develop a campaign to zero in on what the bargaining unit wants and can realistically achieve in the subsequent agreement.

We are currently negotiating a new Health and Safety Manual that addresses COVID-related issues and policies for touring shows. The current situation dictates the need for an updated agreement with the League. We have learned a lot since last year when the original manual was devised.

The pay for musicians who cover emergency situations regarding COVID absences is undecided. Many musicians have been enlisted to cover key parts under emergency situations. These parts facilitate the show’s viability, and if not covered, could sometimes lead to show cancellation. Once the pay for these subbing musicians has been negotiated, the Health and Safety Manual will be put up for ratification by members in the bargaining unit.

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