| Most of Broadway darkened by stagehands' strike
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Most of Broadway's theaters went dark on Saturday when stagehands went out on strike in a dispute with theater owners and producers, leaving thousands of ticket holders seeking refunds and entertainment alternatives. The strike, which comes just as the crucial holiday season approaches, could last from days to several weeks, both sides in the dispute said. Refunds or exchanges would be issued for canceled performances, the League of American Theaters and Producers, which represents producers and theater owners, said in a statement. Picket lines went up in the morning outside the canceled 11 a.m. EST (1600 GMT) performance of "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas," with more expected later at other Saturday matinees. Some 25 other Broadway shows were also canceled, including cash cows like "Chicago," "The Phantom of the Opera," "Wicked," "Hairspray," "Mamma Mia" and "The Lion King." The theater league said the strike by the stagehands, who have been working without a contract since July, would cost about $17 million for every day it lasts.
Stagehands' strike renders Broadway dark
NEW YORK | Much of Broadway went dark Saturday, as a long-threatened strike by stagehands became a reality and thousands of theater-goers were left holding tickets to shows that shut down. It was the second strike to hit the Great White Way in five years and came as a shock to many people who had expected that talks between producers and the union representing stagehands would continue through the weekend. The work stoppage, which threatens to cast a shadow on New York's busy and lucrative holiday season, has thrown yet another branch of the American entertainment world into turmoil. Earlier this week, members of the Writers Guild of America went on strike, bringing movie and television show production to a halt. Twenty-six Broadway shows were affected by Saturday's walkout, including hits like "Wicked," "Mamma Mia!" "Jersey Boys" "The Lion King," "Chicago" and "Avenue Q" plus new shows in previews, including "The Little Mermaid" and "The Farnsworth Invention." Talks between Local One, which include stagehands, and the League of American Theaters and Producers, had been going on for three months, since the current contract expired on July 31.
STAGE COACH
WITH all the wailing and gnashing of teeth that's been going on since the beginning of the Broadway strike, you'd think that there was no other theater in this town. Well, think again. There are hundreds of off- and off-off-Broadway shows still going strong. We mean it - literally hundreds of productions in every genre you can think of. The tricky part is figuring out which of them are actually worth seeing. That's where we come in: The Post's highly selective guide to New York's non-Broadway theater. POST VIDEO: Can Disney Help End B'Way Strike? Musicals Off-Broadway can't offer the production values of a "Wicked" or "The Lion King," but then you don't have to shell out the big bucks, either. Where "Young Frankenstein" (which is still playing, by the way) can cost up to $450 per ticket, a typical off- ticket is $TK.
Stagehands and Producers Resume Talks
Broadway's stagehands and theater producers resumed talks at an undisclosed location in their first meeting since a walkout by Local 1 shut down more than two dozen plays and musicals.The two sides met Saturday for the first time since Nov. 8, when Thomas C. Short, president of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, gave the local authority to strike. The walkout two days later forced 27 productions to cancel shows during the run-up to one of the most lucrative times of the year for Broadway, Thanksgiving week.Local 1 and the League of American Theatres and Producers would not comment on the resumption of talks.Pressure to settle the contract dispute is increasing as the holiday approaches and losses mount for the shows, which include some of Broadway's biggest hits such as "Wicked," "Jersey Boys," "The Phantom of the Opera," "The Lion King" and "Mamma Mia!"Ticket sales for Thanksgiving week could easily top $1 million for several of those shows.
Striking Broadway stagehands and producers resume talks 1 week into walkout
NEW YORK - Broadway's stagehands and theatre producers resumed talking Saturday, a week after a walkout by Local 1 shut down more than two dozen plays and musicals. The two sides met at an undisclosed location, their first meeting since Nov. 8 when Thomas C. Short, president of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, gave the local authority to strike. The walkout two days later forced 27 productions to cancel shows during the run-up to one of the most lucrative times of the year for Broadway, Thanksgiving week. Local 1 and the League of American Theatres and Producers would not comment on the resumption of talks. Pressure to settle the contract dispute is increasing as the holiday approaches and losses mount for the shows, which include some of Broadway's biggest hits such as "Wicked," "Jersey Boys," "The Phantom of the Opera," "The Lion King" and "Mamma Mia!" Ticket sales for Thanksgiving week could easily top US$1 million for several of those shows.
Crews, theaters resume talks
Broadway's stagehands and theater producers resumed talking Saturday, a week after a walkout by Local 1 shut down more than two dozen plays and musicals. The two sides met at an undisclosed location, their first meeting since Nov. 8 when Thomas Short, president of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, gave the local authority to strike. The walkout two days later forced 27 productions to cancel shows during the run-up to one of the most lucrative times of the year for Broadway, Thanksgiving week. Local 1 and the League of American Theatres and Producers would not comment on the resumption of talks. Pressure to settle the contract dispute is increasing as the holiday approaches and losses mount for the shows, which include some of Broadway's biggest hits such as "Wicked," "Jersey Boys," "The Phantom of the Opera," "The Lion King" and "Mamma Mia!" Ticket sales for Thanksgiving week could easily top $1 million for several of those shows.
Broadway darkened by strike
Most of Broadway's theatres went dark on Saturday when stagehands went out on strike in a dispute with theatre owners and producers, leaving thousands of ticket holders seeking refunds and entertainment alternatives. The strike, which comes just as the crucial holiday season approaches, could last from days to several weeks, both sides in the dispute said. Refunds or exchanges would be issued for cancelled performances, the League of American theatres and Producers, which represents producers and theatre owners, said in a statement. Picket lines went up in the morning outside the cancelled 11am performance of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, with more expected later at other Saturday matinees. Some 25 other Broadway shows were also cancelled, including cash cows like Chicago, The Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, Hairspray, Mamma Mia and The Lion King.
Broadway darkened by stagehands' strike
Most of Broadway's theatres went dark on Saturday when stagehands went out on strike in a dispute with theatre owners and producers, leaving thousands of ticket holders seeking refunds and entertainment alternatives. The strike, which comes just as the crucial holiday season approaches, could last from days to several weeks, both sides in the dispute said. Refunds or exchanges would be issued for cancelled performances, the League of American Theaters and Producers, which represents producers and theatre owners, said in a statement. Picket lines went up in the morning outside the cancelled 4pm British time performance of Dr Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, with more expected later at other Saturday matinees. Some 25 other Broadway shows were also cancelled, including cash cows like Chicago, The Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, Hairspray", Mamma Mia and The Lion King.
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