The Show Musn't Go On: Broadway Strike Continues in NYC

UPDATE, 11/29/07: The producers and the stagehands unions have come to a tentative agreement after two full days of negotiations. According to several news sources, the only remaining point to be discussed is salary. As the union agreed to reduce the restrictions on producers that required them to hire numerous stagehands, the union in turn is seeking wage enhancements to make up for the change. 

Lineups for tickets to shows are already wrapping blocks up and down Broadway. 

UPDATE: During my hunt for photos of the strike, I came across great black and white photos of a few actors on the line. I recognized these actors as Rufus Sewell and Sinead Cusack, stars of the new play Rock 'n' Roll by Tom Stoppard. The photographer, who signed on to NowPublic as NYCEnfantTerrible, also sent me the following message:

"I am an actor currently doing Tom Stoppard's "Rock N Roll". It's an
interesting irony that this strike should happen during this show's run
as one of the themes of the play is that workers should own the means
of production. It's hard on us actors, as we've taken massive pay cuts
(80% or more) to support Local One. However, we DO support them.
Broadway is a Billion Dollar industry now. The Producers want to cut
down on costs, but those savings aren't going to be passed on to the
public in lower ticket prices. They are going directly into the
producers pockets. The Actor's contracts are the next to be negotiated.
If we don't support Local One in this we will be the next ones that are
screwed by the greed of the producers. On a side note. No one has
mentioned that Local One has been in existence for 120+ years. In all
of that time this is the FIRST time they've ever gone on strike.

Thanks for reporting on this..."

More information about Tom Stoppard's new play Rock 'n' Roll can be found at www.rocknrolltheplay.com
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New York's Broadway strike continues after talks broke down between the stagehands union (Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees) and the producers once more on Sunday night. The Local One strike, along with the television writers' strike is putting a lot of economic pressure on the city for the early holiday season. It's a complex issue, one that's been building for months:

The strike continued into Thanksgiving weekend, which typically sees the highest ticket sales on Broadway all year. The Gothamist estimates that the city loses about $2 million per day during the strike, something that will continue at least until November 25th, according to a statement by the producers.

So, who is in the right, here? Like many complex labour disputes, it's hard to say: Several new shows have had to suspend their openings in view of the strike, and others with limited runs (or those struggling to pick up views) now face possible shut down. Here's hoping the strike is soon resolved favourably for all parties, though that hardly looks like the case.