The musicians involved in a dispute between their union and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS are asking the union to stand down.
Broadway Cares had planned to stream the pre-recorded concert of “Celebrating 25 Magical Years of Disney On Broadway” Monday as a fundraiser for the members of the entertainment community financially impacted by COVID-19. The fundraiser was canceled after the American Federation of Musicians would not agree to have payment waived for the musicians who took part in the concert.
However, in an open letter Sunday, the musicians who played in “Celebrating 25 Magical Years of Disney On Broadway” asked that their fees be waived, saying that Ray Hair, international president of the American Federation of Musicians, had been making decisions without their knowledge.
“We acknowledge that he is working hard to protect the rights of the membership, but we as an orchestra are happy to forgo any payment for the streaming of this charitable event, especially in light of the additional $25,000 of support BCEFA offered to donate on our behalf to the Local 802 Emergency Relief Fund,” the letter reads.
The letter is signed by 14 musicians as well as the orchestra’s conductor and Adam Krauthamer, president of Local 802 chapter of the American Federation of Musicians.
