As the WGA Strike enters its third week, EGOT-winning composer Alan Menken will be joining the picket lines for a singalong.

Menken posted about the May 18 strike event over the weekend, headlining it SEIZE THE DAY AT DISNEY!

Calling All Newsies: grab your caps and vests and join us for an afternoon picket and singalong, Thursday May 18th from 3-5. With special guests!

Because when you’ve got a hundred writers singing, who can hear a lousy CEO?

I’m assuming the Alan Menken is referring to an event taking place outside of the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank in the LA area as I’m not sure where it would be in NY. One would expect that we will find out more details in the coming days. In any event, the WGA strike singalong comes as Disney is preparing to open its newest live-action remake of The Little Mermaid.

The strike activities are not just being limited to pickets and rallies in New York and Los Angeles. Elsewhere, there is a WGA strike event planned for Chicago on May 17 12 PM CT outside of NBC Tower. This comes as a contingent of WGA Chicago writers continue to shut down production on The Chi. Brett Neveu, who penned the Tribeca-premiering Eric LaRue, is one of the organizers for this Wednesday’s WGA Chicago strike event.

BIG NEWS! WGA Chicago Strike Event CONFIRMED! Join us WEDNESDAY MAY 17TH at 12:00 PM at NBC Tower (454 N Columbus Dr.)! Wear red and/or black & make your signs of SUPPORT! Can't wait to see SAG/AFTRA & DGA & other amazing unions there! #WGAStrong @WGAWest @WGAEast pic.twitter.com/xTO10Wsm9E

— Brett Neveu (@bneveu) May 10, 2023

The studios know that they could end this strike today. While there will those who will blame the WGA for the Tonys no longer airing on television in June, the blame lies solely with the AMPTP. They could come back to the table at any point with a fair contract offer for the WGA but unfortunately, they’ve chosen not to. In any event, what I’m seeing online are more people standing with the WGA. Maybe it’s because social media looks strikingly different this time around but I’m seeing more solidarity for the writers.

People are referring to this year’s strike as the Netflix strike within the industry. It’s not surprising at all. They didn’t just disrupt the industry but more studios followed them in going direct-to-consumer. Unfortunately, it also comes at the expense of residuals. PAY THE WRITERS!

For more information on the WGA strike, head to WGAContract2023.org.

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