Broadway Strike - Day Five: The League and the Union will return to the negotiation table this weekend.


Local One Pickets


Update: 5:30pm, 14 Nov 2007

The League of American Theatres and Producers and Broadway's unionised stage hands, (members of Local one - part of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees), released the following joint statement this afternoon:

"Talks have been scheduled between Local One and The League of American Theaters and Producers beginning this weekend, at an undisclosed place and time. No interviews or comment from either organization will be issued until further notice."

It is not known if the planned presumption of talks will mean an end of the strike. The League and the Union last met for negotiations on 8 Nov 2007.

New York mayor, Michael R. Bloomberg, said in a statement, �Today�s announcement that talks have been scheduled between Local One and the League of American Theaters and Producers is a very important step forward. I spoke with both sides again today and reiterated that we will provide any help we can to help resolve these disagreements and let the shows go on.�

The strike has already had a severe financial impact on Broadway, with two of the top selling shows, 'Jersey Boys' and 'Wicked' have lost almost half-a-million dollars apiece. It is also being rumoured that the producers of the Christmas musical "Dr Suess' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, which is on a limited run over the holiday period, may decide it is not financially viable to re-open the show, if the strike does not end before Thanksgiving.


Michael Riedel, a columnist for the New York Post, the man who usually gets the low down on what is happening behind the scenes on Broadway, reports that both the Union and the League appear to be taking a hard line position.

Riedel reports that one producer, who is unnamed, said "Right now, there's euphoria out there. They've defied us, and they're united with the musicians and the actors. But let's see how they feel when there's blood on the street."

Both sides believe the strike will last for some weeks, and appear to be playing a game of brinkmanship. Riedel reports that the producers are prepared to allow one or two shows to fall, hoping that by that time, the union will feel the financial pressure to end the strike.

On the other hand, the union believes that once the holiday season hits, the Producer's will be losing so much money, that they will be willing to make further concessions at the negotiation table.

If Riedel is correct, then this strike seems unlikely to end before the thanksgiving holidays!

As the strike by Local One, Broadway's unionised stage hands, enters its fifth day it looks as if it is going to be long and drawn-out.

In the meantime the situation remains as it was when the strike first began with only eight Broadway shows playing and all remaining shows closed. Off-Broadway remains unaffected by the strike and looks forward to showing any disappointed tourists that Off-Broadway has plenty of excellent entertainment to offer.

Broadway Strike! - Day one
Broadway Strike! - Day two
Broadway Strike! - Day three
Broadway Strike! - Day four


Click here to find out which Broadway shows are playing, and which ones are not.

Originally published on

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