Save the Met Opera

Since Peter Gelb became General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera in 2006, he has pushed for sweeping production changes that are radically altering the scope and cost of operations. He has a record-high of new productions that require more labor and hours; HD productions require more expensive and detailed visuals; and extravagant opera productions are driving costs up. This effectively puts the Met on the road to a financial crisis, albeit with good intentions.

Many of the men and women who work behind the scenes at the Metropolitan Opera are the most talented in their professions. Six local unions of the IATSE represent backstage employees at the Met, all of whom have made the Opera their life’s work:

• Local 1 represents skilled craftsmen who are experts with carpentry, lighting, sound, props, set and building construction.

• Local 764 includes costume shop employees who create the costumes, along with dressers who assist the performers with their costumes.

• Local 751 are the workers who most frequently interact with the public, box office employees such as Treasurers and Ticket Sellers.

• Local 798 are the artists responsible for hair and makeup.

• Local 794 represents technicians involved in the Met’s live broadcasts.

• USA 829 (Designers and Scenic Artists) represents painters as well as the designers of sets, lighting, costumes, and sound.

Help save the Metropolitan Opera: Tell Peter Gelb that cutting worker’s wages and benefits is not a long-term solution to a financial crisis caused by management’s wildly costly new vision. Blaming the backstage stars that make the Met run, without compromising on his own values, is not the sign of a good leader.

[1] http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/culture/2014/06/the-met-klinghoffer-problem.html