HERE LIES LOVE On Broadway Responds To Opposition Over Use Of Pre-Recorded Music

"Since the HERE LIES LOVE was first conceived seventeen years ago, every production (2013 Public Theatre, 2014 off-Broadway return at the Public, 2014 National Theatre, and 2017 Seattle Rep), has been performed to pre-recorded track; this is part of the karaoke genre inherent to the musical and the production concept.  The music for HERE LIES LOVE was inspired by the phenomena of “track acts” which allowed club audiences to keep dancing, much like this production aims to do.

HERE LIES LOVE has received rave reviews, played to sold-out houses and won numerous awards, including The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music & Lyrics; The Obie Award for Outstanding Music & Lyrics and a nomination for an Outstanding Achievement from London’s Olivier Awards.

The Broadway collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with Local 802, the musicians’ union, includes detailed guidelines and procedures that give the union the opportunity to review a production’s request for “special situation” status in determining the number of musicians mandated by 802 for a show.  

In a process that is not without precedent, a production that qualifies as a “special situation” is permitted under the CBA to engage less than the number of musicians otherwise required under the CBA for a particular theater. 

Considerations for “special situation” that are met by HERE LIES LOVE include (i) the musical concept expressed by the composer and/or orchestrator; (ii) whether the production is of a definable musical genre different from a traditional Broadway musical; (iii) the production concept expressed by the director and/or choreographer.

Following the Broadway announcement at the beginning of the year, the Broadway League contacted the Local 802 to start this contractual review process for HERE LIES LOVE in full.  There have been multiple meetings with the union to review in detail the basis for applying for “special situation” status. The Union has been able to ask questions, receive information about the production, and voice their concerns. This process is on-going and may ultimately culminate in a final and binding arbitration decision, but until that time, we will continue to work in good faith with the union to move through the steps of the contractual process."