Evening star., 1932-04-23
MUSICIAN DEMAND
TO CLOSE THEATER
National Stock Season to
End AbruptIy-Many Thrown
Out of Employment.

The National Theater Players. who
opened a promising season OF Summer
stack at the National Theater last Mon
day evening, have been forced to close
their engagement after the last per-
formance Of "On the Spot" SATURDAY.
evening OF next week because of de-
mandS OF union musicians.
Manager S. E. Cochran made the def
mite announcement last night. stating
that the closing of the stock season
was made imperative by the demands
OF the local musicians that at each per-
lormance he must employ an orchestra.
win leader, OF seven pieces. This, he
stated could only be done with the
certainty OF loss to the promoters of
the company. They feel that. with the
lower admission prices charged. the
expense OF better company than has
heretofore been employed and the in
creased royalties for the presentation Of
1lVe plays new to Washington. which
nave had successful runs in New York
curing the regular season, as a feature
OF the proposed stock repertory, they
are already financially burdened to the
unit OF safety. Mr.. Cochran stated that
ne was perfectly willing to employ four
musicians, whether they were utilized
IN the performances or not, but that
seven were insisted upon, and that, he
SAID, Is simply out of the question.
Last year, by an arrangement with
the musicians, the company was per-
mitted to continue its engagement with
four musicians, "and barely got by."
To add to this number this season,
therefore, would mean a dead loss at
the outset.
Loss of Employment.
The disbandment of the National
Theater Players next SATURDAY. eve
ming, 1t was stated, will mean not only
the loss Of eight weeks engagement to
the players, some of whom have come
long distances to fill their contract, but
1t will result in the loss of employ
ment to between so and go persons, in
cluding house and stage employees.
Under the contract of the theater
for its regular dramatic season. an or
cheStra OF seven musicians, with leader.
Is required. But. says Mr. Cochran
the admission prices for the regular
season are at least three times as great
and In some instances run much
higher. With rs cents as the top
price for the best seats during the sub
scription stock season. however, q
seven-piece orchestra is prohibitive.
Many conferences were held with the
musicians organization, during which
the difficulties were discussed, but with
out reaching a satisfactory agreement,
and yesterday the management reached
the decision to disband the company
and close the season. This was made
possible under the rules Of the Actors
Equity Association affecting the players
by the posting in the theater, on the
evening of the first performance by the
company last Monday evening, Of two
weeks notice to the players, as mat
ter of safe precaution against an un-
favorable turn of events.
Entering Eighth Season
The National Theater Players we're
just entering their eighth successive
season. They have proved in their
career to be not only widely popular in
washington, but have been rated
throughout the country as one Of the
best stock organizations in America.
Many Of their former players have
achieved even higher success in the
big metropolitan productions. Wash
ington is likely to feel their loss, for
their brief seasons annually have pro-
vided many with the pleasures of the
theater who could Ill afford the higher
prices of the regular theatrical season.
There is CONSERVATION among the
players, the greater number OF whom
will be without engagement during
season when unemployment has hit
the theater as hard as elsewhere. Be-
sides some Of the players actually de-
cEned other engagements-not open
to them now-in order to accept the
coveted opportunity to appear in
Washington during the Bicentennial
year.
Mr.. Cochran added that the success
of his little company from year to
year had rather been in an artistic
line The stock venture has never
proved remarkable. as a financial in
vestment, and Mr. Cochran believes
after this experience, it is unlikely that
any manager will have the temerity TO
undertake the almost impossible, in
view of the present attitude of the mu-
sicians, who have not hesitated to
throw more than half a hundred en-
ployes, including some Of their own
members, out of employment at time
Of such stress as now. W. H. L.