| Broadway strike disappoints fans traveling to N.Y. on bus tours
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Bus tour packages are a popular way for many out-of-state theater fans to get dinner and see a Broadway show in New York. But the stagehands' strike has led to waves of disheartened day-trippers, logistical headaches for organizers, and lower revenues for tour companies. Starr Tours, with offices in Philadelphia and Trenton, New Jersey, usually sends more than 10,000 people to see Broadway shows every year. Vice president Sandy Borowsky says that number will be down this year. The show stoppage has forced the cancellation of 8 buses so far. That represents more than 400 would-be theatergoers. Deborah Joyce of Senior Citizens United Community Services of Camden County, New Jersey, says her group canceled a busload of travelers planning to see "Mamma Mia!" on Sunday.
Broadway stagehands, producers mum on resumed talks
NEW YORK (AP) - Broadway's stagehands and theater producers have resumed contract talks -- but they're still not talking publicly about how the negotiations are going. The two sides met yesterday at an undisclosed location. It's been more than a week since a walkout by the stagehands union shut down more than two dozen plays and musicals. Pressure to settle the contract dispute is increasing as the profitable Thanksgiving holiday week approaches and losses mount for the shuttered shows. They include some of Broadway's biggest hits, such as "Wicked," "Jersey Boys," "The Phantom of the Opera," "The Lion King" and "Mamma Mia!" Stagehands have been working without a contract since the end of July. Negotiations have focused on work rules - how many stagehands are required to open a Broadway show and keep it running.
St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran in New City marks 100 years
NEW CITY - The bishop opened his sermon with a line from a show tune. "Five hundred twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes. How do you measure, measure a year?" the Rev. Stephen P. Bouman, the bishop of the Metropolitan New York synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, sang yesterday morning during a sermon to celebrate the 100th anniversary of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in New City. After he delivered the line from "Seasons of Love," the theme song from the popular Broadway musical, "Rent," Bouman, a New City resident, examined St. Paul's 100 years of worship and service in Rockland. In a brief sermon that elicited laughter at several points, Bouman told the church that its work was a comfort to many, much like a light in the dark is comforting.
No Broadway shows this week
NEW YORK -- Broadway faces a gloomy Thanksgiving after the collapse of talks between stagehands and theater producers with more than two dozen shows now canceled through the end of the lucrative holiday week. Negotiations broke down Sunday after a weekend of marathon meetings between Local 1 and the League of American Theatres and Producers. .
Grinch Stars Beat Broadway Ban
LATEST: The stars of Broadway show THE GRINCH beat the ban on them returning to work - by giving fans an impromptu performance on the streets of New York. More than 30 performers, including many of the show's child actors, sang songs from the show, as hundreds of fans gathered outside the St James Theater on Tuesday (20Nov07). Cast and crew on all Broadway productions have been on strike since 10 November (07), supporting stagehands' quest for better pay. Union bosses gave workers on The Grinch permission to return to work, because the show is only due to run during the Christmas period and is in danger of shutting down for good. But theatre bosses refuse to let the strikers return, in support for other venues. Speaking outside the theatre on New York's 44th Street and Eight Avenue, The Grinch conductor David Rosenblum said, "We're being illegally locked out of the theatre.
UPI NewsTrack Entertainment News - November 20, 2007
B'way could lose $135M this holiday season NEW YORK, Nov. 20 Broadway could suffer a $135 million loss this holiday season due to a New York stagehand strike that has darkened the Great White Way for 10 days.
Last year, ticket sales brought in $134.4 million from Thanksgiving to Christmas, with $23 million generated during Thanksgiving week alone, the New York Daily News reported Tuesday. This year, most Broadway shows have been canceled at least through Nov. 25.
City Controller William Thompson said the strike is costing New York City about $2 million in lost revenue each day.
"It's not good for the city," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Monday, adding that it isn't just the loss of money that concerns him.
"I think what hurts more is our reputation," he said. "It's the psychic things rather than the dollars."
The stagehand walkout could also mean the end for at least two shows whose sales were sluggish -- "Rent" and "The Drowsy Chaperone" -- and for "The Seafarer," a new drama that was scheduled to open last week, the Daily News said.
Broadway Theatre Boss Bans Return Of The Grinch
The Christmas run of Broadway show THE GRINCH was doomed on Monday (19Nov07) when theatre bosses banned stagehands from ending their strike. Stagehands across New York's theatre district have been on strike since 10 November - crippling Broadway at its busiest time of the year. Union chiefs gave picketing Grinch staff members permission to return to work, because the show - which is only due to run during the Christmas period - is in danger of shutting down. But Jujamcyn Theaters has vowed to stand up to the strikers with other theatre owners. Jujamcyn boss Paul Libin says, "The Grinch will not re-open until the union signs agreements and ends the strike at all other theatres and all other shows that have been closed by their strikes." The move has left fans who have travelled to New York to see the show devastated - as well The Grinch's nine-year-old star Athena Ripka.
|
