Mamma Mia cast ‘let go’

If they change their minds, I'm the first in line.

Wow.

To be fair, didn’t that post go up long before the announcement was made to the cast? It was probably a timed tweet on Hootsuite or something - wouldn’t be the first time that’s landed some poor, unsuspecting social media bod in the proverbial...

That said, probably kindest to delete it after the announcement.

As awful as that news is (to be fair) what's the alternative? Wait around in limbo, endlessly hoping? How long can both camps wait? At least they know, have a decision and can move on, both personally and professionally.

But I am confident the show will be back. It's just too popular a feel-good show not too. And the success of both films have only added to that popularity.

I would imagine that feel good musicals will see a boost when theatres eventually reopen. In times of uncertainly, that's often the case and IIRC Mamma Mia! on Broadway opened a month after 9/11 and it was the sort of show the city needed.

I really feel for the actors; but you are absolutely correct. This is the reality.

If you think that money is sitting around in an easily accessible bank account then you don't know much about economics or investment...

It always amazes me how people think everyone who is rich can simply write a cheque out of thin air. It really isnt that simple.

100% this.

Also amazes me how people are unable to understand the difference between someone's personal wealth and their businesses. No matter how wealthy you are, you are not going to throw money away on things that are currently unviable. 

Yeah I have never really understood this. I keep hearing that all actors are self employed. But if you are in a long running show with a yearly cast change is that still the case? Or are you employed by that producer for a year long contract?

I had the impression that actors of long running shows were furloughed in the first instance but now realise this is probably wrong. If they are 'self employed' though, does that mean they stopped receiving pay the week theatres went dark? Or would producers be obliged to continue paying them for a reasonable amount of time? Whatever that means?

Anyway, if the producers had already stopped paying them, all this announcement means is that they are being released from an obligation to keep them in the cast when they return. And does not have financial significance.

The few that have spoken on Twitter however seem to imply that they ARE now at a financial loss though....

It's clearly complex - hopefully someone in the know of actors contracts with long running shows may know the answer!

It's still there...

Ahhh - must have been v quick - I didn't know there was one!

Unfortunately it just mirrors businesses the country and presumably the world over. I’m pretty sure that your ALW’s and Cam Macs covered everyones wages for the first month or so, but when it became apparent that this was a longer term crisis there would have been a realisation that it wasn’t sustainable. The company I work for has had to invest massively in PPE, screens and boosting it’s delivery arm to meet customer expectation and demand, and is now able to operate profitably again. Full bonus is being paid in-year in four instalments to thank us for continuing to work during lockdown, and to recognise our efforts. I feel valued and looked after and try to make sure that my team feel that too, every day. But I can well imagine it isn’t possible if you have knackered old buildings to maintain and a very tight margin in the first place. It is still business no matter how much you love what you do, and I’m sure the same is true of Littlestar & MM’s other producers; protecting the ‘now’ so that there actually is a future.