Rachael “Raygun” Gunn said “we’ve worked through all the issues” after comedian Steph Broadbridge’s musical Raygun was suspended in early December.
The Aussie Olympics spoiler said on Thursday “we have a deal” after a “crazy journey”, meaning the show may continue under a different name and poster.
Gunn also insisted “we are not seeking any fees as a result,” although her attorneys are seeking $10,000 in legal fees from promoter Anthony Skinner.
So why is this back in the news? Who said what and when?
When was the show announced?
The poster for “Raygun: The Musical” was released on September 25. The show was due to premiere on December 7 at the Skinner-owned comedy club at the Kinselas Hotel in Darlinghurst.
The show is billed as a “parody exploration” of Breaker’s Olympic journey, with musical numbers including “You May Be a B-girl But You’ll Always Be an A-girl to Me,” “I’m Breaking Down and I Will” won, but I strained.
Broadbridge, the musical’s creator, told the Sydney Morning Herald the show would be “a piss-take, but it’s full of love”.
“I really want [Raygun] Go see it,” she told the Herald. “But I’m still scared. What if she doesn’t like it?
Was Raygun informed of the musical?
Broadbridge admitted Thursday that she had not contacted Gunn before creating the title and poster. She wrote on Instagram that she had no intention of “misleading” people into thinking saboteurs were involved in the production.
Gunn said in a video posted to social media a week ago that she first heard about the musical in a Herald article and on Channel 7 News.
“We were completely unprepared for this,” she said on Friday. “Unfortunately, the backlash was quick. People thought we had developed it, we had approved it, but it damaged a lot of personal and professional relationships.
Skinner, owner of iD Comedy Club and Stand Up Sydney, which is staging the musical, noted that Gunn’s legal team registered a trademark for her silhouette of a kangaroo dance pose on September 25, the same day it was shown Posters of the silhouette’s performance were also distributed.
Gunn described this as a “misinformation.” “We were told that there were applications from other parties trying to use my name and image for commercial purposes – I mean, totally crazy,” she said in the first video she posted on Instagram last week.
Why was it cancelled?
The musical was canceled at the 11th hour after receiving a legal notice from Raygun’s lawyers.
Broadbridge posted a video on Instagram on December 7, claiming that lawyers had contacted the venue and were “concerned that I would damage her brand, but I would never do that.” “She doesn’t need me to do this,” she said at the time.
Broadbridge said B-girl’s legal team also instructed her not to do the kangaroo dance because Gunn “owned” it.
“That one really confused me — I mean, that’s Olympic-level dancing,” she said. “How could I possibly do this without any formal breakdancing training?”
In a statement provided to Guardian Australia, Gunn’s legal and management teams said they had “tremendous respect” for the work and effort put into the show but needed to take steps to maintain the integrity of its brand.
Broadbridge said this week that she was “deeply sorry” to learn that Raygun had faced negative reactions due to media attention. “The last thing I want to see is anyone feeling hate or pain over this situation,” she wrote on Instagram on Thursday.
What does the legal letter say?
On December 6, Skinner received a letter from Gunn’s legal representatives, XVII Degrees, requesting an “urgent response” to “significant concerns” about the show.
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“Our client is concerned that her name, trademarks, choreography, and likeness are being used without her prior permission, permission, authorization, or sponsorship and that her intellectual property rights are infringed,” the statement read.
“In our opinion, you have caused significant disruption…Our client has in some way endorsed your show, has a direct relationship with you, and has the right to tell our client’s story.”
The letter claimed that Gunn’s Olympic choreography was “the culmination of more than a decade of training” and that she was the “creator and author” of the choreography and that Broadbridge would be infringing copyright if she performed her moves.
It demands that the comedian immediately cancel the show and not use Gunn’s name, poses, images, choreography, stories or history in future performances.
After Skinner notified Gunn’s attorneys that 70 tickets had been sold, resulting in a $500 profit, the XVII Degrees law firm again called for the show to be canceled and for the comedy club owner to agree to “reimburse our client what we estimate to date.” legal fees”. is $10,000.”
The second letter continued: “We also note that upon receipt of a notice of infringement, the court may choose to award additional damages, taking into account the seriousness of the infringement and the conduct of the infringer.”
What did Gunn say about the $10,000?
On Thursday, Gunn said she was “very pleased” that her team and Broadbridge’s team “have reached an agreement … that she can still continue with the show under a different name and poster.”
“We are not seeking any costs from this,” Gunn said Thursday.
“There was a lot of discussion around the $10,000. That started very early on… My lawyers were acting on my behalf. They sent out letters… and they didn’t hear back and we were concerned that we might have to go to court. So if we don’t have to Without going to court, that $10,000 would have been my potential legal fees, but luckily we didn’t and Stephen’s statement settled that.
Gunn added: “I’ve said before it’s not about the money and it’s still not about the money. We didn’t get any fees from them – we didn’t get any fees from Stephen, we didn’t get any fees from the comedy club.
What will happen now?
Broadbridge decided the show must go on.
On Thursday, she released a promotional poster for Breaking Down the Musical, which is described as a “completely legitimate parody musical” that has been named “the No. 1 musical by the World Federation of Music Movements.”
“This show is a comedy show based entirely on something I read online,” she said. “It’s a fictionalized account of a moment in Australia’s history.”
Gunn said it was a stressful time for her and a difficult time for Broadbridge and everyone on her show.
“I deeply apologize for any harm caused.
“I really want to get it all figured out…I’m looking forward to 2025. 2024 is going to be a little bit of a tough year for me.”