From: aku@leland.Stanford.EDU (Andrew Chia-Tso Ku)
Subject: NY CONFERENCE: LONG but IMPORTANT
Organization: DSG, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 93 21:05:11 GMT

So far, 19 people have responded to our proposal to have an
informal get together in New York City this spring.  
Those people are:

Anita Hsiung 		ahsiung@BBN.COM
Tom Murray 		murray@aristotle.ils.nwu.edu  
Josh Abrams 		metfan@Athena.MIT.EDU  
Matt Garretson		spinaa@rpi.edu 
Jon Alan Conrad		conrad@brahms.udel.edu 
David Fristrom		davidf@barsoom.HQ.interleaf.COM
Andrew Ku 		aku@leland.stanford.edu
Rich Sucgang		rs54@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu  
Anish Bhimani		anish@ctt.bellcore.com  
Miriam Nadel		nadel@attatash.aero.org  
Diana Tenery-Fisher	cass@netcom.com
Desiree Sy		dsy@psych.toronto.edu
Tovah Hollander		tovah@Panix.Com
Stuart Goldstone	golds_ss@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu  
Paul Goldsmith		goldfish@Panix.Com 
Rafi Levavy		shorts@chaos.cs.brandeis.edu
Myra Bronstein		myra@karin.att.com
[no name given]		eajqmarc@ube.ub.umd.edu
Jenny Lynn		jlynn@acpub.duke.edu


Because some people do not follow r.a.t closely, and
since newsreaders are sometimes slow, we have established
a mailing list to provide updates on a regular basis.
People who want to be removed from or added to the mailing 
list, please contact us.  (If you want to be added to the list,
please also indicate how likely you'll attend.)

We will post if we have a major update (like this one.)
 
==========================
To help us organize this "conference", we would like those
interested to spend some time answering several questions.  
The questions we would like you to respond to (however 
briefly or extensively you wish) will be marked by an arrow 
like this: ===>

PLEASE respond by email to Rich (rs54@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu)
or me (aku@leland.stanford.edu).

DON'T POST.  We will summarize in a few days.
==========================

1. Date

The most important thing we have to decide is the date
of the get together.  I suspect we won't be able to
please everybody, but we do want everyone to have his
say.

Initially we suggested a weekend in April for several reasons
(the most eagerly awaited shows will begin previews or open,
possible off-Bway discounts in April, etc.)  Because several
people have mentioned that April isn't too convenient, we have
broadened the possible meeting dates to include March and
May. 

Possible weekends (Saturday - Sunday, although people are free
to stay longer):

March 	 6-7
	13-14
	20-21
	27-28  

April	 3-4
	10-11  xxx Easter, so not likely
	17-18
	24-25

May	1-2	Rich out of town 
	8-9	Rich out of town
	15-16	Rich out of town
	22-23

===> Please list the dates that are *BAD* for you.  

Based on your responses, I will probably boil the list down
and then hold a vote.

NOTES:

1) Rich has recently found out that he will have to be out of town 
   April 30-May 20, so that already limits some of the dates.  
   May 21-23 and 28-30 are still possibilities, since a couple of people
   in the New York area have expressed interest in helping co-ordinate
   (thanks!).  

2) We have already received some feedback from a few people, mainly about
   good/bad dates.  We don't mean to imply that by posting their schedules
   they ought to have greater influence on the choice of date, but we think
   that if people are interested in meeting certain r.a.t "personalities"
   it should be noted that some dates are not good for them.

	a) David Fristrom has noted the following ***GOOD*** dates
	   for him:

		March 13th-14th
		March 20th-21st
		May 8th-9th
		May 22nd-23rd

	These dates reflect not only his schedule but a few 
	others who would like to attend.  At this point
	in time, April is iffy for David because he will 
	be out of the country for two (as of yet) unspecified weeks 
	that month.  Although the above list also reflects Jon
	Conrad's "good" days as well, he has informed us that
	April is okay with him, barring work commitments.

	b) Tom Murray has stated that April is bad for him, as
	   is the last weekend in March (27-28) and the first weekend
	   in May (1-2)

3) Although I have listed March as an option, I am not enthusiastic
   about a meeting then, simply because there won't be many new 
   productions running yet.  Here is a list of upcoming Broadway
   shows, compiled from Variety and the New York Times.  The first
   date is when previews begin, the second date is opening night.

	FOOL MOON - (2/12, 2/25) 
	THE GOODBYE GIRL - (2/13, 3/4) 
	THE SISTERS ROSENSWEIG - (3/2) 
	THE SONG OF JACOB ZULU - (3/17, 3/24) 
	CANDIDA - (3/3, 3/25) 
	REDWOOD CURTAIN - (3/19, 3/29) 
	AIN'T BROADWAY GRAND - (3/23, 4/18) 
	TOMMY - (3/29, 4/22)
	FACE VALUE - April?? 
	ANNIE WARBUCKS?? - (4/6, 4/21) 
	ANGELS IN AMERICA - (4/25) 
	KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN - (4/19, 5/3) 
	BLOOD BROTHERS - April??

   You will note that the "biggies" like TOMMY, ANGELS, and KISS
won't begin performances until April.

2. Accomodations

Where to stay?  Are people interested in staying at the same hotel, or
would people prefer fending for themselves?  Certainly, there are
advantages to staying in the same hotel (group discounts, saving money
by sharing rooms), but we realize that some people will have strong
preferences or other means of accomodation available to them.

===> Would you like to all stay in one hotel, or would you prefer
	to make your own decisions?

===> Do you have any suggestions for hotels?

Here are some tourist class hotels (small rooms, but clean and safe)
in the heart of the theater district that I and others have had okay
experiences with, along with current rates:

Consulate  224 W. 49th St.  1-212-246-5252
	single/double from: $63/$81 (this is a special discount rate)

Century Paramount 235 West 46th St. 1-800-225-7474
	s/d from: $99/$175  group discounts available

The Milford Plaza 270 West 45th St. 1-800-221-2690
	s/d from: $95/$110  group discounts available

Edison 228 W. 47th St  1-212-840-5000
	s/d from: $80/90 (this is a special discount rate)

THE HIGHER END: The Marriott Marquis 1535 Broadway 1-800-228-9290
	s/d from: $159/$174 (discount weekend rate)

THE LOWER END: Vanderbilt YMCA 224 E. 47th 1-212-755-2410
	s/d from: $35/$50

	
3. Dinner, Show, and/or other Activities

===> Would you like to have a meal or two (dinner, Sunday brunch)
	together?

===> Would you like to see a show together?

Personally, I'm pessimistic about being able to get enough people to
agree to the same show and then shell out the money for full price
(or a slightly discounted group rate) advance seats to the newest
or hottest Broadway musical (GOODBYE GIRL, GUYS AND DOLLS...).
But what do I know?  

Some alternatives:

- going to TKTS en masse to see either an older show, or
  a new show in previews that isn't selling out

- using Twofer coupons (usually up to 50% off for *advance* seats)
  to see an older, less popular show

- seeing an off-Broadway show (much cheaper!) that can
  be enjoyed in a group, such as FORBIDDEN BROADWAY or BLUE MAN GROUP

===> Any other activities?

There is an organization that runs a tour called "Backstage
on Broadway" Mondays to Saturdays at 10:30am.  The tours
are led by Bway stage managers, directors, lighting desingers,
or actors, and they are supposed to take people backstage 
at a Bway or off-Bway theater.  I've called them before, and
they only offer tours to groups of at least 15, so this would
be a good opportunity to go.  The cost is about $7.

4. Shows 

It's probably too early to get into a discussion of what shows people
want to see, but just to whet peoples' appetites, here is a list
of shows that should probably be running on- and off-Broadway in the
spring:

New shows on Broadway:

	FOOL MOON 		THE GOODBYE GIRL 
        THE SISTERS ROSENSWEIG	THE SONG OF JACOB ZULU
        CANDIDA			REDWOOD CURTAIN
        AIN'T BROADWAY GRAND	TOMMY
        FACE VALUE		ANNIE WARBUCKS
        ANGELS IN AMERICA	KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN
        BLOOD BROTHERS

Continuing shows on Broadway:

	CATS			CONVERSATIONS WITH MY FATHER
	CRAZY FOR YOU		FALSETTOS
	FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE	GUYS AND DOLLS
	JELLY'S LAST JAM	LES MISERABLES
	MISS SAIGON		PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
	WILL ROGERS FOLLIES	SOMEONE WHO'LL WATCH OVER ME
	
Continuing shows off-Broadway:
	
	BEAU GEST		BLUE MAN GROUP
	FANTASTICKS		FORBIDDEN BROADWAY
	FOREVER PLAID		NUNSENSE
	OLEANNA			PERFECT CRIME
	TONY N' TINA'S WEDDING	

-------

Please respond as soon as possible.
We look forward to hearing from you.