(Credit: Perrie Samotin )
At long last, the strike that began on Nov. 10 by Local One, the stagehands union has come to an end. A tentative agreement was reached between the League of American Theatres and Producers and the union late last night—an agreement the union will have 10 days to approve, though they will return to work right away.
Both Charlotte St. Martin, the executive director of the League and James J. Claffey, the president of Local One issued small statements, though the details of the final agreement have yet to be made public.
It’s not definite that all shows will resume immediately, although it’s widely expected the majority of Broadway productions will raise curtains tonight.
Day 17: Monday, Nov. 26
Negotiations between the League of American Theatres and Producers and Local One, the stagehands union began the morning of Nov. 25 and continued through 6:30 a.m. this morning, though they have adjourned for 12 hours, according to Playbill.com. The two sides will resume negotiating this evening.
Day 12: Wednesday, Nov. 21
After talks of it opening, and subsequently not, the producers of "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" presented their case against Jujamcyn Theaters in front of a Supreme Court Judge. As reported by Playbill.com:
"The producers had filed an injunction Nov. 20 to force Jujamcyn Theaters, who own the St. James, to allow the musical to resume performances. Judge Freedman grants the injunction filed by The Grinchproducers. Jujamcyn plans to appeal the decision; however, the motion has been tabled until Tuesday, Nov. 27. The Grinch will therefore play this holiday weekend: Nov. 23-25."
Day 11: Tuesday, Nov. 20
After two 12-hour days of negotiations came to an abrupt end late Sunday and Charlotte St. Martin, executive director of the League of American Theatres and Producers announced cancellation of performances through next Sunday—shocking news considering Thanksgiving weekend is among Broadway's most lucrative times and income must be stockpiled to get productions through the bleak months of January and February, reported Newsday.
Though there was talk of "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" reopening prior to Thanksgiving, it was confirmed yesterday that productions of the holiday-themed "Grinch" will remain halted alongside the other darkened shows.
Day 10: Monday, Nov. 19
Talks between the League of American Theatres and Producers and Local One, the stagehands union, broke off last night with no resolution in sight, prompting cancellations of darkened Broadway shows through Nov. 25, according to the below statement issued yesterday by Charlotte St. Martin, executive director of the League:
"We are profoundly disappointed to have to tell you that talks broke off with Local One, IATSE tonight, and that no further negotiations are scheduled.
We presented a comprehensive proposal that responded to the union’s concerns about loss of jobs and earnings and attempted to address our need for some flexibilities in running our business. The union rejected our effort to compromise and continues to require us to hire more people than we need.
Out of respect for our public and our loyal theatergoers, many of whom are traveling from around the world, we regret that we must cancel performances through Sunday November 25."
Day 8: Saturday, Nov. 17
As the stagehand strike officially enters its second week, the League of American Theatres and Producers and Local One, the stagehands union are preparing to begin negotiations today, marking the first time throughout the weeklong strike the two sides have actually attempted resolution.
Day 7: Friday, Nov. 16
As the seventh day of the stagehand strike rolls on, there's hope throughout the community that both sides—
The League of American Theatres and Producers and Local One, the stagehands union—can reach a resolution starting tomorrow at 10 a.m., which is when they will heading to the negotiating table. Striking shows have been cancelled through the weekend and most are dark on Mondays, so the earliest we can expect to see Broadway back on its feet is sometime early next week—if all goes well during negotiations, otherwise who knows how much longer the bargaining will go on.
Day 6: Thursday, Nov. 15
Nearly a week after it began, the stagehand strike is still going strong—although it appears some headway is being made, as The League of American Theatres and Producers and Local One, the stagehands union issued a statement yesterday announcing that both sides will plan to meet at the negotiating table at some point this coming weekend. Details were undisclosed.
After yesterday’s inevitable postponing of Aaron Sorkin’s buzzed-about play "The Farnsworth Invention,” today’s newest casualty of the strike is Conor McPherson’s “The Seafarer,” which had been set to open tonight at the Booth Theatre. No future date has been announced.
Day 5: Wednesday, Nov. 14
The League of American Theatres and Producers and Local One, the stagehands union, will take to the negotiating table this weekend, according to this statement posted today on the League's Web site:
"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."
Officially outlasting the musician's strike that affected Broadway for four days in 2003, the present stagehand strike is now settling into its fifth full day. Naturally, the slowdown of visitors to the area has been felt by local businesses as well as the shows themselves, many of which took a big hit in terms of grosses after not being able to play typically profitable weekend performances. Even airlines are feeling the impact, as JetBlue has seen an increase in cancellations of flights to New York over the past few days, as reported by the Daily News.
The opening of Aaron Sorkin's much-awaited new play "The Farnsworth Invention" was scheduled for tonight and obviously is being postponed, with a new date to be announced indefinitely.
In other strike news, there seems to concern over whether or not the strike will spread to touring companies of major musicals, as reported by the Associated Press, who states:
"No one, not the union nor the producers, is talking on the record about what might be the next step in Local 1’s battle with the League of American Theatres and Producers. Such a move would need the endorsement of the local’s parent union, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. It would seriously undermine producers since such mega hits as “Wicked” and “Jersey Boys” on the road regularly pull down weekly grosses of $1 million or more.”
Day 4: Tuesday, Nov. 13
There's no end in sight for a nearly all-dark Broadway as stagehands continue to picket for the fourth consecutive day. Unlike Monday, which found Broadway 100 percent dark come time for curtain, there will be eight shows playing tonight (operating in not-for-profit houses or under separate contracts) including "Young Frankenstein," "Spelling Bee" and "Xanadu." The other 27 productions will remain halted.
Yesterday's picketing ceased briefly—several stagehands agreed to work a previously scheduled charity benefit for mentally challenged children at the Marriott Marquis theater (home to "The Drowsy Chaperone").
Union president James J. Claffey Jr. posted this announcement on the union Web site: "Please be advised that I am removing the picket line at the Marriott Marquis Theatre so that this worthy event can carry on for the benefit of these children. After the load-out of the event, the picket line will resume along with all others. In addition, Local One refuses to work under the expired collective bargaining agreement that we are exercising our legal rights against. We will work the event free of charge for the benefit of this Organization."
Clearly, neither the The League of American Theatres and Producers nor members of the Theatrical Stage Employees Union/Local One are budging on what remains the key issue: how many stagehands get hired to produce a show, and have rejected Major Bloomberg's offer to mediate.
Needless to say, the strike's effect is weighing heavily not just on Broadway shows, but the area's entire economy—restaurants, hotels, bars, shops, taxis—and Bloomberg is encouraging New Yorkers to patronize businesses around the Theater District (even he, according to NY1, changed his dinner plans last night and ate at Orso on W. 46th St.).
Day 3: Monday, Nov. 12
To the theater community, Mondays are typically quiet days. It's when the majority of Broadway productions take a breather from their rigorous eight-show week. This particular Monday—two full days following the walkout by members of the Theatrical Stage Employees Union/Local One—will be especially quiet, as the few shows that do play Monday nights are being effected by the strike.
As of the weekend, there were a handful of Broadway shows still running (see below) due to the fact they operated in not-for-profit houses or operated under separate contracts, but those plays—which include "Pygmalion" and the much anticipated (though poorly reviewed) "Young Frankenstein," Mel Brooks' flamboyant follow-up to "The Producers"—have no Monday night performances in their schedules, which means Broadway will be completely dark tonight.
Days 1 and 2: Saturday, Nov. 10, and Sunday, Nov. 11
At 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 10, the Theatrical Stage Employees Union/Local One went on strike, shutting down nearly all of Broadway. The decision for union members to walk came after stalled negotiations between the union and the League of American Theatres and Producers.The last time Broadway was similarly quieted was four years ago, a strike that only lasted four days. With no resolution in sight (the union hasn't even bothered to issue a statement), some say the current strike could easily last well into the revenue-crucial pre-holiday season—a producer's worst nightmare. Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director of the The League of American Theatres and Producers posted the following on the league's Web site:
"Local One, IATSE, the stagehands union, has shut down Broadway. They left the negotiating table and abruptly went on the picket line. They refused to budge on nearly every issue, protecting wasteful, costly and indefensible rules that are embedded like dead weights in contracts so obscure and old that no one truly remembers how, when or why they were introduced. The union wants you to believe they are the victims, the little guys.
We have the highest regard and respect for our stagehands. But, they are not, as the Union leadership characterizes them, the typical "little guys" as far as compensation is concerned. Their "average annual earnings," in salary and benefits, is more than $150,000, with many stagehands earning more than $200,000.
They are professionals and should be well paid, and will remain the best paid in this industry in the world. We simply don't want to be compelled to hire more workers than needed and pay them when there is no work for them to do."
The union includes more than just the men and women who move the scenery and props; it also represents each show’s electricians, carpenters and sound technicians. Stagehands work for individual theaters but don't get paid when shows aren't running.
According to the Telecharge Web site, anyone who purchased tickets online or at the box office with a credit card will be credited within two business days. For other purchases, theater patrons are urged to go the point of purchase for a refund."
The following is a list of shows that have currently gone dark:
"August: Osage County"
"Avenue Q"
"A Bronx Tale"
"Chicago"
"A Chorus Line"
"The Color Purple"
"Curtains"
"Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas"
"Duran Duran"
"The Farnsworth Invention"
"Is He Dead?"
"Jersey Boys"
"Les Miserables"
"Mamma Mia!"
"The Phantom of the Opera"
"Rock 'n' Roll"
"The Seafarer"
"Spamalot"
"Spring Awakening"
The not-for-profit houses as well as a few other productions operate under different contracts and will remain open, including:
"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee"
"Cymbaline"
"Mauritius"
"Pygmalion"
"The Ritz"
"Xanadu"
"Young Frankenstein"
Since midsummer, the union and the League have been in steadfast contract negotiations, which came to a deadlock in October when neither side would budge on their respective conclusions. Local One (which has been operating without a contract since negotiations began) was told on Friday by its parent union, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, to start the walkout on Saturday.
For now, tourists and other bitter theatergoers can still experience some semblance of classic New York theater —Off-Broadway has been virtually untouched by the strike, although that likely holds little appeal for a visitor with $100 tickets to "Mamma Mia!" or "Jersey Boys."
