Theatre Musicians Association Philadelphia Chapter

05/18/2026

It has come to the attention of our TMA Philly Executive Board that Bristol Riverside Theatre (Bristol, PA) plans to once again utilize pre-recorded music for their production of ANNIE next season, instead of hiring live musicians. Last season, BRT produced IN THE HEIGHTS and received strong criticism for their use of instrumental tracks in replacement of live musicians. We were pleased to see the theatre return to employing live musicians for this season’s critically acclaimed production of JELLY’S LAST JAM, but it seems that this was not a permanent course correction.

We want our theatre musicians community, our colleagues in the broader theatre industry, and the theatre-going public to be aware of this move, as it reflects a growing and deeply concerning trend in our field toward musician replacement. BRT is a major professional theatre in our region, and this decision represents a betrayal of professional standards that is detrimental to musicians, theatrical collaborators, and audiences alike. It is our sincere hope that industry professionals would think twice before accepting work on a production that displaces working musicians in this way. Live music is the foundation of musical theatre, and when musicians are replaced by canned tracks, everyone loses.

The Philly TMA stands in solidarity with all our colleagues who are losing work at BRT because of this move and calls on the theatre to reverse its decision. If you are a patron of Bristol Riverside Theatre, we encourage you to contact the theatre with your feedback. Musicians are the lifeblood of musical theatre, and live theatre must be live.

05/15/2026

Thanks to all who joined in ’s leafleting action this week in support of our colleagues at the Forrest Theatre! Our solidarity was audible, visible, joyful, and defiant! We are truly stronger and more powerful when we stand together and speak up for what is fair and right.

If you haven’t yet, you can add your name to show your support for our Philly musicians at https://philamusicians.org/forrest-theatre-unfair-labor-practices

05/13/2026

Learn more and add your name to the list of supporters! https://philamusicians.org/forrest-theatre-unfair-labor-practices

05/12/2026

CHICAGO is coming to the Forrest Theatre this week, and opens this evening, May 12, 2026. Unfortunately, this is a non-union production, where the musicians are not receiving the fair wages and workplace protections they deserve. That is in conflict with Local 77-274’s collective bargaining agreement with the Schubert Organization, which is in place to protect musicians working at the Forrest. Even more egregiously, the Forrest management has engaged in retaliation against our local musicians in response to Local 77-274’s continued efforts to address this unfair labor practice; after 5 of our musicians and one contractor had been hired to join the orchestra for the run of CHICAGO, they were abruptly un-hired by the Shubert Organization.

At a time when more and more touring productions are being sent out on non-union contracts, without proper protections and compensation for the musicians who play them, we are sending a strong message that Philadelphia is a union town, and that we will not tolerate producers who take advantage of their workers and violate our collective bargaining agreements. Please join us for an informational leafletting action outside the Forrest Theatre TONIGHT from 6:30-7:30 pm.

05/07/2026

As our city approaches the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, we couldn’t be prouder of our musicians who are helping to tell that story in ’s production of 1776!

Here’s to the revolutionary heroes of the 1776 orchestra:

Chris Burcheri - Keyboard 2/Conductor
Daniel Espie - Keyboard 1/Rehearsal Pianist/Associate Conductor
Bob Quaile - Reeds
Andrew Connors - Trumpet
Bob Gale - Trombone
Bryn Coveney - Horn
Rebecca Ansel - Violin 1/Concertmaster
Alexandra Cutler-Fetkewicz - Violin 2
Sue Lerner - Cello
David Weiss - Bass
Kevin Blanke - Percussion

Catch these awesome players (and their excellent subs) in 1776 through May 31st!

01/29/2026

Tonight! Please join us at 6 pm via Zoom for our annual chapter nominations meeting. All Philly theatre musicians are encouraged to attend for updates from our local community and conversation about our hopes for the coming year. All TMA Philly Chapter members in good standing are eligible for nomination, election, and voting as we select our leadership for the coming year.

Hope to see you there! Zoom link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/79324052217?pwd=PPEO3F1ur98UQabcmR8FRMyaGYBCiN.1

01/28/2026

A friendly reminder to all current TMA Philadelphia Chapter members – please plan to join us via Zoom this Thursday at 6 pm for our Annual Nominations Meeting, where we’ll select our chapter leadership for 2026! All chapter members in good standing are eligible for nomination, election, and voting. If you need to renew your membership for 2026 or want to join for the first time, you can do so on the TMA website at https://afm-tma.org/index.php/join-renew/.

All Philly-area theatre musicians, regardless of TMA membership, are warmly invited to log on to the meeting; in addition to the formal nominations business, we’ll share some updates on happenings in our community and have some time for open discussion on our hopes for the year ahead. It’s another great opportunity to connect with our colleagues and build solidarity.

Check this page for a Zoom link on Thursday - we hope to see you there!

01/14/2026

Happy 2026 to all!

The last few weeks of 2025 flew by in such a flash that we neglected to celebrate some of our fantastic musicians playing holiday shows. So before last year disappears completely from the rear-view mirror, we wanted to give some belated shout-outs!

Up first, the mighty Musicians of the Media Theatre who brought the score of ANNIE to life in December and January:

Music Director / Conductor - Val Zvinyatskovsky
Reed 1 - Tom Trinter, Len Defrank
Reed 2 - Gary Schneider
Trumpet - William Gregory, Alexander Freeman
Trombone - Barry McCommon, Anthony Triplett
Bass - Michael DiFebbo, Joshua Neale, Andrew Nelson
Drums - Jerry Tanenbaum

And subs extraordinaire:
Stirling Bowlick, Larry Spencer, Kaj Hansen, Larry Shusterman, Dave Sax Cubbler, Terry Rowlyk, Scott Porreca, Bob Wagner, Justin McAdams, Steve Glanzmann, Justin Moore, Dan McCain, Jordan Berger, Mike O’Rourke, Mike Kozak

The Media musicians voted unanimously to unionize with AFM Local 21 last year, and they deserve a fair CBA without delay – we call on The Media Theatre to make that a top priority in 2026!

Thanks to Val Zvinyatskovsky for sharing these great photos!

11/22/2025

Three cheers for our amazing musicians joining the band of the national tour of BACK TO THE FUTURE at the Academy of Music this month! This fun new musical runs through November 30th – don’t miss it! Discounted tickets are available at the TKTS Philadelphia Ticket Booth on Independence Mall.

Mark Allen - Reed 2
Jonathan Shaw - Lead Trumpet
Paul Arbogast - Trombone/Bass Trombone
Allan Slutsky - Guitar
Shane Aaserud - Bass
Sue Lerner - Contractor

And a special shoutout to Local 77 member Jaren Angud, drums, who’s been on the road with the production as a member of the traveling band!

10/23/2025

We're cheering this new chapter at The Arden Theatre Company, and the beginning of what we know will be a fantastic partnership with American Federation of Musicians Local 77!

A big thank you to all the Arden musicians involved in the organizing campaign, to our tireless leaders at American Federation of Musicians Local 77, to former TMA Philly president Robert Suttmann, the entire TMA Philly board, and the fantastic team at the Arden.

Catch our wonderful Local 77 musicians in FALSETTOS through this Sunday!

We are pleased to announce our new agreement with the Philadelphia Musicians’ Union Local 77, American Federation of Musicians (AFM). Pictured here is Terry Nolen with FALSETTOS musicians Emily Roane, Daniel Espie, Gina Giachero, and Will Mullen, AFM President Ellen Trainer and Vice President Marjorie Goldberg.

You have until this Sunday to experience the brilliant work of these remarkable musicians as the “teeny tiny band” of FALSETTOS. Up next, DEAR EVAN HANSEN this spring!