LORT - Rehearsal Questions

[MatthewShiner]

Here is the situation . . .

Going into a situation where we are running one show, and seven members of the cast are going into rehearsal for the next show; what we refer to as a roll over situation.

The show runs under three hours, they are going to elect NOT to rehearse on a two show day, so that gives me the 5.5 hours option.

Now, this is a very specific question, and I will need you to cite the rule with your answer.

If we are to rehearse before a performance, 5.5 hours, at what time can that rehearsal begin if the show gets out at 10:00p the night before?

Can I start at 10:00a and rehearse until 3:30p? 

It satisfies both the 12 hour span of day and 12 hour turn around.

50(C)(1) would be satisfied due to the fact REHEARSAL does not extend past the 8 out of 10 consecutive hours.

50(C)(6)(f) Says REHEARSAL has to be consecutive, but says nothing about the the relationship to rehearsal to performance.

50(E)(3) - Doe this rule mean the break can not be MORE then 2 hours?  This is the only rule that would foil the plans about starting earlier then 11:30a. 

Actual Wording . .  .

(3) There shall be a break between the rehearsal, photo/costume, and half-hour call.
There must be a cast vote, majority controlling, indicating whether such break shall be
1˝ or 2 hours, except no break shall be required should the only rehearsal call for the
day be for one hour or less provided the Theatre schedules it just prior to half-hour and
provided that in each instance there is a unanimous, secret ballot cast vote from each
Actor involved in the rehearsal.

50(E)(4) - Describes the OPPOSITE of what I am doing - the rule applies to rehearsal after performance - I am looking for rehearsal BEFORE performance.

Anyone been in this situation?

Any thoughts?

[SMrose]

I would refer the question to my union rep/business manager (in your area). It looks as if you have the correct turn-around time--but let the rep be the final word. That's what they get paid for.

[MatthewShiner]

Yeah, this is one of those cases I don't want to go to the rep . . . I like my reading of the rules, and think it hits all the points.  (I really want to start rehearsal at 10:30a.)  I don't want the rep to give a ruling (and in this case, I am pretty sure it would be a ruling and not just re-reading me the rules) that goes against the word of the rules which supports my plan.

(Sometimes you go to the rep, sometimes you don't wanna)

[hbelden]

I don't know, Matthew, but it reads to me that the cast voted on what the meal break would be (either 1-1/2 or 2 hours) and that vote should be honored.

I understand not wanting to go to the rep in every situation, but if I were you, I'd approach the deputy before posting the schedule, to get a read on how much flak you'll get.

[EFMcMullen]

I feel that the 50(E)(3) rule trumps.  I ran into this situation at some point, thought the details are now VERY hazy, but in calling the Rep, the day was defined by the show call backing into the "dinner break" backing into rehearsal. I however interpret the rehearsal rules and the 12-hour day differently than you do as (based on your previous posting regarding explaining the rehearsal rules to actors).  My feeling is that the unions intent is to keep the working day as compact as possible and not necessarily make people do something at 10am and then not be called again until 9pm.  I agree with others and might check with the Rep or at least discuss with the Deputy.

[MatthewShiner]

Yeah - I do see the point in keeping the day compact - but the rules are SOOOOO specific in every other way around the rehearsal / performance schedule, it seems odd this isn't covered.  And I never have to deal with a situation where I wanted a LONGER break then outline in the book.

We will see - our general manager is dealing with this specific issue.  This is, in reality, just for the first day of rehearsal, although it would open up some options for us in rehearsal in giving some flexibility in the schedule.

I was just hoping to find someone who had already dealt with this issue, since this issue came up on a day with my rep is out of town.

[MatthewShiner]

I don't know, Matthew, but it reads to me that the cast voted on what the meal break would be (either 1-1/2 or 2 hours) and that vote should be honored.

Interesting . . . you know, I have never took the vote as something I was bound to in the meal break issue.  Like for lunch breaks in rehearsal, we have the 1.5 hour or 1 hour.  I always let them vote, but we vote for the option of an 1 hour meal break (Sometimes I can schedule, sometimes I have to get costume fittings in during lunch, so we take a 90 minute break)

So, basically I have always taken the vote on the first day saying, if possible, is it okay with you, the equity company, to reduce the break to one hour - but I never feel like I am bound to reducing to one hour.

[loebtmc]

your interp sounds good to me since you only have a small window for start time - I think you have to observe the 2 hrs prior to show (1.5 hrs before half-hour) to end rehearsal - but you also don't have the max 5 hours between end of reh to show that other contracts have. Not sure why you don't want to ask the rep - at least on a "hypothetical" without going into specifics - our reps out here are very good at helping clarify without passing judgment.

50E(4) There shall be no less than 1˝ hours and no more than three hours between
curtain down and the rehearsal call.  The rest period may be reduced or extended by a
cast majority vote.

odd as this sounds, the difference here appears to be direction - rule (3) is from rehearsal to show, while rule (4) is from show to rehearsal. I read this as: if the actors prefer a 1-hr call, they can use that hour before half-hour (otherwise the minimum call is 2 hrs). I think it means there can be no more than 3 between end of one and start of the other. But a cast vote trumps all. If you propose and they accept unanimously, then the formalities can be set aside.

(5) There shall be no less than a 12-hour rest period between the end of employment
on one day and the beginning of employment on the next day (see Rule 63(I)(3) for
Stage Manager’s Breaks).  At the company’s request, by a 2/3rds majority secret ballot
vote, the Deputy(ies) may reduce this period to a minimum of 10 hours on one
performance days.  If the company has voted to rehearse on a two-performance day
(see section (C)(4) above), the rest period may be 11 hours.

On the other hand, you can take advantage of this and have the company vote to reduce the turnaround time, which gives you  little more flexibility in when the hours are used.

[MatthewShiner]

The reason I don't want to ask the rep is sort of odd . . . first off, he wasn't in when this came up.  Second off, I have been asked by GM not to call Equity about a rule interpretation without going through him first.  (The issue is if it ends up leading to an concession at some point, they want to be in on from the beginning, and not come in mid battle).  He feels pretty strong about some issues are worth getting the concession on and some are not (think "pick and choose your battles").  (Oddly, I have already been approved for the overtime if we need to pay - - - so it's really a money issue, best left to other people to battle out.)

I just think it is interesting quirk in scheduling that could be spelled out more clearly.  One could argue I am required to give a two hour break, but I gave a 3.5 hour break instead . . . I satisfied that rule in spades.  The rule is so clear going from performance to rehearsal, it does give one some pause to think - hey, this just may be possible.

[hbelden]

Interesting . . . you know, I have never took the vote as something I was bound to in the meal break issue.  Like for lunch breaks in rehearsal, we have the 1.5 hour or 1 hour.  I always let them vote, but we vote for the option of an 1 hour meal break (Sometimes I can schedule, sometimes I have to get costume fittings in during lunch, so we take a 90 minute break)

Point taken; but the rehearsal meal break rule (50.E.1) has the "If the Theatre has no objection..." clause.  50.E.3 doesn't have that clause.

My interpretation (admittedly, this is entirely subjective, I'm no authority) is that the intent of the 50.E.3 rule was to create a five-hour rehearsal block consecutive to a meal break consecutive to a half-hour call.  Any negotiators on this board want to speak to that?

Now, there's nothing logisitically stopping you from starting the rehearsal earlier, taking a rehearsal meal break, and ADDING your seven rep actors at the five-hours-to-meal-break mark (assuming you have the stage managers to go around).

[MatthewShiner]

Stage managers I got.

[MatthewShiner]

So, word back from LORT is the 3.5 hour break is kosher, as it does not break any rules. 

Apparently, they read the rule as 2 or 1.5 hours minimum break, but a longer break can be given.

Interesting, huh?  LORT never ceases to amaze me.

[stagegal1]

But a cast vote trumps all. If you propose and they accept unanimously, then the formalities can be set aside.


This is not true.  There are specific items in which a cast may vote for one thing or another, but you can not vote for anything that violates rules.

Allison

[Scott (formerly Digga)]

Interesting, huh?  LORT never ceases to amaze me.

All of the contracts never cease to amaze me.  Nothing is consistent between any of them and each one seems to have their own little quirks.  Some are written better than others on some points but not on others. 

[RuthNY]

Really? Well, the world, and the LORT contract never cease to surprise me. Things just got a lot easier in the world of scheduling!

So, word back from LORT is the 3.5 hour break is kosher, as it does not break any rules. 

Apparently, they read the rule as 2 or 1.5 hours minimum break, but a longer break can be given.

Interesting, huh?  LORT never ceases to amaze me.