Greater Babylon coverage is funded in part by The Argyle Theatre, where Broadway comes to Babylon. Click here for tickets to ‘A Bronx Tale,’ performing April 25 to June 16.
The professional musicians who bring the plays at Argyle Theatre to life with music are changing things up for 2019.
According to a press announcement, orchestra members from the Babylon Village theatre announced they have begun a unionization process to join the Associated Musicians of Greater New York, Local 802 AFM.
Local 802 AFM, which represents over 7,500 musicians in the Greater New York area, has agreements with other Long Island venues such as The Gateway, John W. Engemen Theater and the Bay Street Theater.
The goal of the union is to “ensure proper classification, fair treatment, and a living wage” for orchestra musicians, writes Maria DiPasquale of Local 802.
Now, in the New Year, the group has turned its eye toward the Argyle Theatre, which opened last spring with an orchestra pit that fits 20 musicians.
“In the months that the Argyle Theatre has been open, its performers and staff have presented professional musical theater productions,” said Adam Krauthamer, president of the Associated Musicians of Greater New York, Local 802 AFM. “Argyle Theatre musicians have chosen to join their union colleagues working in musical theater – from the Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters of New York City to local theaters on Long Island – to maintain a standard of professionalism and performance for all pit orchestra musicians in the Greater New York area.”
Argyle Theatre’s owners and father-and-son team, Mark and Dylan Perlman, say they are committed to maintaining a thriving work environment for all of their contributors.
“Our musicians are amazing and we support them,” said Dylan. “We look forward to a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship between us and our orchestra.”
Top: Shot of an orchestra band performing courtesy of Jan Střecha.
