Reprise for REPRISE! Announcing REPRISE 2.0

REPRISE is back after being absent from the Los Angeles theatre scene since 2013.

The newly launched REPRISE 2.0 presents a season of three classic American musicals at UCLA’s Freud Playhouse beginning this summer. Under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Marcia Seligson (founder of REPRISE! Broadway’s Best), REPRISE 2.0 remains faithful to the original concept which presented limited runs of 50 classic musicals between 1997 and 2012 featuring an onstage band and simple sets and costumes. Matthew Herrmann serves as general manager, and Kevin Bailey and Arthur Allan Seidelman are executive producers. Continue reading →

The Handmaid’s Tale

Direct from the scoring stage, AFM Local 47 composer Adam Taylor shares his process about creating the music of Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale:

In this article from Variety, journalist Jon Burlingame delves deeper into Taylor’s process and the incredible Los Angeles musicians who give humanity and soul to their performances.

Final Note: Charlie Gould

Life Member. Bassoon
4/21/1921 – 5/28/2018

Charles Arnold Gould (Charlie) was born April 21, 1921 in Worcester, MA and was blessed to recently reach his 97th birthday. He was the sixth child in a family of seven children, four girls and three boys.

Charlie began studying bassoon and piano at an early age in Worchester, MA. He won a scholarship at Juilliard Graduate Music School. Later he also earned a Masters of Arts in Music Composition from UCLA. War interrupted his studies and career. During World War II he attended the U.S. Army Bandleader School, was made Warrant Officer, and transferred to Santa Monica to lead his own band. After army service, he settled in Los Angeles, married, and had three children, two boys, and a girl. Continue reading →

AFM Int’l Unfair List: Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra

Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra has been placed on the American Federation of Musicians International Unfair List for failure to pay musicians according to industry standards.

The organization also appears on the AFM Local 47 Do Not Work For List.

If you are called for an engagement, please submit a report to Local 47’s Anonymous Tip Line: 424-341-DARK (3275), bit.ly/darkdate

Musicians Celebrate New Laws to Strengthen California Film & TV Music Industry

Chris Pierce (left) and Siddhartha Khosla (front right) perform with Rickey Minor and his band at the Keeping the Score in California kickoff concert at Los Angeles City Hall Aug. 19, 2017, in support of music tax credits. [File photo/Linda A. Rapka/AFM Local 47]

Newly inked state budget looks to bring music jobs back to the state

LOS ANGELES, CA (July 5, 2018) — Musicians and the entertainment industry celebrate a major victory with the update to California’s Film & Television Tax Credit Program that for the first time includes meaningful support for music-scoring jobs.

California has suffered an exodus of film and television music jobs for decades, and the state budget signed Monday by Gov. Jerry Brown gives the California Film Commission authority to create regulations that will have a significant impact in bringing these music jobs back home. In version 3.0 of the program, productions will now receive points based on how many music-scoring jobs will be created in California. These points don’t increase the incentive a production receives — they actually help a production qualify. Continue reading →

New Study Finds Unions Increase CA Worker Earnings by $18.5 Billion Annually

The Union Effect in California #1: Wages, Benefits, and Use of Public Safety Net Programs is the first report in a three-part series that explores how unions improve the lives of all working people in California, both union and non-union members.

These findings are publishing as the U.S. Supreme Court just handed down a ruling in Janus v. AFSCME that threatens to weaken public sector unions. Continue reading →