Where's Wald...Uh....Ben?Is it just me, or wouldn't the entire month of November be one of the singular most important times for
The New York Times'
chief theatre critic to
have been around, say, Broadway?
(Hat tip to
The Playgoer)
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Ben Brantley, Broadway, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, League of American Theatres and Producers, Local One, Lockout, Settlement, Stagehands, Strike
Hallelujah! The Portly Woman Has SungWith a 23% increase in wages,
according to NY1,
Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E.) has voted overwhelmingly in favor of its new five year contract with
The League of American Theatres and Producers.
But in case you think all of Broadway's labor woes are behind us now that the stagehands are happy, think again. Apparently the most visible aspect of the Great White Way -- the actors -- may be next in less than six months (hat tip to
The Playgoer, who also details some of the various
surprising nuances of the stagehands' deal).
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Related Stories:December 9 - Time To Cue Portly Woman's Tune? (December 1, 2007)
What The League And Local One Are Saying (November 29, 2007)
STRIKE IS OVER! (November 28, 2007)
Strike By The Numbers (November 13, 2007)
STRIKE! (November 9, 2007)
Before The Holidays Strike? (September 25, 2007)
Thanks, Mel! (July 6, 2007)
Labels: Broadway, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, League of American Theatres and Producers, Local One, Lockout, Settlement, Stagehands, Strike
December 9 - Time To Cue Portly Woman's Tune?From the "just when you thought it was safe to talk about something else department" comes the
timely reminder from Playbill that it ain't over 'til it's over.
While the picket signs may have come down on the Broadway stagehands strike against
The League of American Theatres and Producers,
Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E.) is now set to vote on whether to ratify its new contract on December 9.
Wonder if
George Wendt as Edna Turnblad would do? I could see the current star of
Hairspray cued to sing "You Can't Stop The Beat."
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Broadway, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, League of American Theatres and Producers, Local One, Lockout, ratification, Stagehands, Strike
Thank You...
Thank You...To AutoFly
and Decksound
and Ongo
and PropGal
and SpotOne
and RocketRon
and WorkerBee
and KathyLongIsland
and JerseyGuy
and BC
and what seemed like an endless parade of Anonymouses (is the plural Anonymi??) for using Steve On Broadway (SOB) as a people's forum on the strike.
You have my ongoing admiration and respect.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, next time I take in a Broadway show -- and yes, there will be a next time -- as a member of the audience, I'll be applauding for those of you we never see behind the curtain every bit as much as for the cast and production itself.
You've taught me a lot about an aspect of the theatre I had never really known too much about. I've certainly been wowed by your wizardry, but now I have a newfound appreciation of what it is you do to make live theatre so magical.
Thank you for that! And I invite you to keep coming back.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB)
Labels: Broadway, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Stagehands, Thank You
What The League And Local One Are SayingNow that the new reality of a post-strike Broadway world is beginning to set in, I wanted to share for a moment what the two sides in the bitter stagehands strike were saying.
The League of American Theatres and Producers has posted the following statement:
November 28, 2007
THE LEAGUE OF AMERICAN THEATRES AND PRODUCERS AND LOCAL ONE/I.A.T.S.E. STAGEHANDS REACH TENTATIVE AGREEMENT ENDING BROADWAY STRIKE
The League of American Theatres and Producers and Local One of the I.A.T.S.E. are pleased to announce that a tentative agreement has been reached ending the Broadway strike.
Performances will resume Thursday evening, November 29. All shows except The Homecoming will play their normal performance schedules. For more information, as well as refund/exchange information for canceled performances, visit our website www.ILoveNYTheater.com.
League Executive Director Charlotte St. Martin said: "The contract is a good compromise that serves our industry. What is most important is that Broadway's lights will once again shine brightly, with a diversity of productions that will delight all theatregoers during this holiday time. We look forward to celebrating the season and welcoming our talented stagehands, and the theatergoing public, back to Broadway."
Local One President James J. Claffey, Jr. said: "The people of Broadway are looking forward to returning to work, giving the theatregoing public the joy of Broadway, the greatest entertainment in the world."
For its part Local One's official statement comes from Robert C. Score, the union's recording-correspondence secretary:
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
President James J. Claffey, Jr., Business Manager Kevin McGarty, Business Manager Michael Wekselblatt, Attorney and Brother Steve Spivak, Attorney James Murphy and the Local One Negotiating Committee have successfully completed the contract negotiation with the League of American Theatres and Producers.
The strike is over. Do not, I repeat, do not report for picket duty.
The Executive Board of Local One has ordered the picket lines to cease. If you receive a call to report to work, please do so.
The Local One Negotiating Committee is firmly behind the ratification of the contract.
Thank you all, Brothers and Sisters, for all the support and understanding during this historic time.
As for who won and who lost,
The New York Times'
Campbell Robertson reports that while neither side
officially would discuss terms of the agreement:
[A]mong the changes The League was able to achieve, according to officials involved in the talks, was a daily minimum of 17 stagehands on the load-in, the lengthy and costly period when a production is loaded into a theater. In the recently expired contract, producers would set a number of stagehands needed for a load-in -- say, 35 -- and all of them would have to stay every day for the entirety of the load-in, an arrangement that producers said often left large groups of stagehands with nothing to do.
The League was also able to gain an extra hour on the continuity call, the hour before or after a performance when stagehands perform duties related to that performance. In the old contract, any work that took longer than one hour required a minimum four-hour work call. In the tentative deal, stagehands can be called for two hours before a performance or for an hour before and after, though they would earn double for the hour after the show.
In return,
according to Robertson, there are gains in pay for the union:
[U]nion members would get yearly raises well above the 3.5 percent that the league had been offering.
So there you have it, folks.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Broadway, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, League of American Theatres and Producers, Local One, Lockout, Settlement, Stagehands, Strike
All Of Great White Way Gleams TonightEvery show that had shuttered during the 19-day Broadway stagehands strike will reopen for business this evening.
Without missing a beat last evening, the 11-year old production of
Chicago announced that it is hoping to lure audiences back tonight with
discounted seats offered at just $26.50. If you ask me, all shows should be doing something along those lines and for longer periods of time. Producers need to really roll the red carpet out for the people paying the tickets.
Meanwhile, rescheduled opening nights are in the news:
The Farnsworth Invention will now open on December 3.
August: Osage County's limited, but already extended run opens on December 4.
The Seafarer will open on December 6.
Is He Dead?, which was originally scheduled to open this evening will now open December 9.
The Little Mermaid has now pushed its opening all the way into the New Year to January 10.
The net result is one crazy busy week for critics, especially considering that one of the eight shows that remained opened for business during the strike was
Cymbeline, which officially opens this Sunday, December 2 at Lincoln Center.
I'll be providing my reviews of
The Farnsworth Invention and
Cymbeline over the next week as well.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Broadway, Chicago The Musical, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, League of American Theatres and Producers, Local One, Lockout, Stagehands, Strike
STRIKE IS OVER!At long last, negotiations between
The League of American Theatres and Producers and
Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E.) have reached a settlement.
Hat tip to my pal Sarah over at
Adventures in the Endless Pursuit of Entertainment for sharing a text message she received a half hour ago from a producer friend of hers that said, "THE STRIKE IS OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
The news has been
confirmed by NY1 that states:
After 19 days of a walkout that cost the city and the Theater District tens of millions of dollars in lost revenue and earnings and forced dozens of shows to go dark, sources close to the negotiation say an agreement has been reached between the Broadway stagehands and the American League of Theatres and Producers.
There has been no official word yet from either the stagehands union or the League.
The agreement is a tentative agreement. Union members would have ten days to vote on the decision. However, workers will return to work right away under this tentative agreement.
According to the Associated Press:
The agreement ending the 19-day work stoppage was confirmed by Bruce Cohen, a spokesman for the union.
There are bound to be plenty of champagne corks popping among elated theatre fans.
But even if it's over, what will it take to lure you back to a Rialto theatre? I invite you to vote in my latest SOB Poll to tell me whether you won't hesitate going back or if you've sworn off the Great White Way or are somewhere in between.
Personally, I do have tickets that I purchased prior to the onslaught of the strike, but I can't help but harbor some contempt for those who allowed the situation to reach such an ugly point with no regard for the people who keep Broadway in business: the audience.
I'd love to know what you think.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Broadway, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, League of American Theatres and Producers, Local One, Lockout, Stagehands, Strike
The End Is Nigh?According to NY1, the end of the 19-day Broadway stagehands strike may be announced yet this evening.
NY1 says:
A press conference will reportedly be held tonight at the Midtown law offices where the talks are taking place.
Also in the very hopeful camp is the Nederlander Organization's Herschel Waxman:
As optimistic as I was the other day, I’m equally as optimistic that we’ll have it done today. Now, I've been wrong, but I swear to you, I believe we will have a deal finished today....I told you, if it’s not done, you will see my name in the obituaries tomorrow. Look in the Times and everything else, and NY1 will report it first –- "Waxman died trying to get a deal done."
Even
Local One's favorite object of derision, Charlotte St. Martin of
The League of American Theatres and Producers offers this glimmer of hope:
We made a lot of progress yesterday, and we’re looking forward to getting a deal today....We're being as cautious as we can.
Finally,
Playbill's Andrew Gans is quoting NY1 on its report that:
In a sign that the stagehands strike may be at an end, NY1 reports that those picketing have been ordered to return their picket signs to the union office.
Could this really be the end of the strike? Stay tuned!
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Broadway, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, League of American Theatres and Producers, Local One, Lockout, Stagehands, Strike
Extra Innings!
Extra Innings!Progress is reportedly being made in the talks to end the 19-day old Broadway stagehands strike. Negotiations between
The League of American Theatres and Producers and
Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E.) continue at the law offices of
Proskauer Rose, the firm representing The League.
Optimism is running high, even as Local One spokesperson Bruce Cohen can't seem to dispense with the baseball metaphors.
New York Post's Michael Riedel, Dan Kadison and Andy Geller
quote the union rep who says:
We're in extra innings. We don't have to turn the lights off.
Shows impacted by the strike are obviously not going on.The League issued a statement today:
As you know, the talks between the League and Local One resumed this morning and are ongoing. Due to the complexities of getting a show up and re-running, Wednesday evening’s performances for the affected shows have been canceled, regardless of the outcome of the negotiations. We will keep you updated.
According to Riedel and Co., the only issue that remains to be hammered out is the wage issue.
For its part, Local One has issued the following statement taking umbrage with
Michael Riedel's earlier column from today that they considered incendiary:
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Please be advised that the article that appears in the New York Post today, Wednesday, November 28, under the byline of Mr. Michael Riedel is completely false, inaccurate, and incorrect. Please disregard the information contained in his column.
The Local One negotiating committee is meeting today at 10 AM as previously announced.
In Solidarity,
Robert C. Score
Recording-Corresponding Secretary
For those keeping "Score," it would be nice to know what exactly in that column set him off.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Broadway, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, League of American Theatres and Producers, Local One, Lockout, Stagehands, Strike
Bottom Of The Ninth?
Bottom Of The Ninth?
The Broadway stagehands strike continues into its 19th day as negotiations between
The League of American Theatres and Producers and
Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E.) begin again this morning after adjourning about 24 hours ago.
Only eight Broadway shows will be performing for certain this evening. They are are either performing in non-profit houses or are covered by other contracts:
CymbelineDr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas!Mary PoppinsPygmalionThe RitzThe 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling BeeXanaduYoung FrankensteinIf you're holding tickets to one of the following Broadway shows for Wednesday's matinee, each of them remain closed by the strike (click
here for ticket exchange policies):
A Bronx TaleA Chorus LineAugust: Osage CountyAvenue QChicagoCurtainsCyrano de BergeracGreaseHairsprayIs He Dead?Jersey BoysLegally BlondeLes MisérablesMamma Mia!Monty Python's SpamalotRentRock 'N' RollSpring AwakeningThe Color PurpleThe Drowsy ChaperoneThe Farnsworth InventionThe Lion KingThe Little MermaidThe Phantom Of The OperaThe SeafarerWickedWhile it remains doubtful that many if any of these shows could reopen in time for this evening's performance if a deal is struck, tonight's shows have yet to be officially cancelled.
The
good news is that The League and Local One have come to terms on the issue surrounding the much debated load-ins, but remain at odds over pay, as well as work calls and rules on rehearsals.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Broadway, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, League of American Theatres and Producers, Local One, Lockout, Stagehands, Strike
Seventh Game, Ninth InningUnless it's
Damn Yankees or
Take Me Out, baseball metaphors are rarely in vogue on Broadway. But that doesn't faze Bruce Cohen of
Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E.), who likens the current state of negotiations with
The League of American Theatres and Producers to:
...the ninth inning of the seventh game of the World Series
In other words, we should soon have an outcome to the 18-day old Broadway stagehands strike that continues to grip all but eight Rialto shows. Although
talks broke down...
again...earlier this morning, The League has issued the
following statement:
The League of American Theatres and Producers and Local One talked through the night and were unable to reach an agreement. Talks will resume tomorrow (Wednesday, November 28) at 10 a.m. Performances are canceled through Wednesday's matinees.
Does the fact that Wednesday evening's performances have not yet been cancelled signal the possibility that a settlement may be reached sometime tomorrow?
Meanwhile, Local One has issued its own statement:
Please be advised that negotiations with The League of American Theatres and Producers broke off early this morning, Tuesday November 27th at 7:30 a.m. We have made progress and believe that we are closer to making a deal. Talks will resume tomorrow morning, Wednesday November 28th at 10:00 a.m.
Please consult the Local One Hotline at 646-459-1916 or the Local One Web site for any additional updates.
The Local One Negotiating Committee remains committed to achieving a fair and equitable contract.
Thank you for your support and understanding.
That certainly has me hoping that we are indeed beyond the 7th inning stretch. Now if only the two sides play ball fair and square, maybe we'll see the lights of the Great White Way turned back on sooner than later.
In the meantime, since
this is the time of year when castmembers of Broadway shows typically make their appeal to audiences on behalf of
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, I hope you'll join with me in donating directly to the organization by clicking
here.
It's estimated that every week the strike goes on, BC/EFA loses approximately $350,000 in donations it would normally have received by direct appeals from the stage:
At an average loss of over $350,000 per week, BC/EFA will not be able to award the usual annual grants to six programs at The Actors' Fund - including The AIDS INITIATIVE; The Phyllis Newman WOMEN'S HEALTH INITIATIVE, The Al Hirschfeld FREE HEALTH CLINIC and more, which include the food pantries, meal delivery programs, housing initiative and health clinics of over 400 AIDS and family service providers across the country.
BC/EFA Executive Director Tom Viola joins those of us in the audience hoping that both sides resolve the strike soon.
Finally, ticketholders to
Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! can rest easy that their show will go on. According to
Campbell Robertson of The New York Times:
Officials from the Jujamcyn theater chain, the owners of the St. James, appealed the decision and had initially sought to stay the injunction. But on Sunday, they told the producers of The Grinch that they would not seek a stay, and that the show could remain open for its entire scheduled run through the holidays.
To round out the baseball metaphors, score another one for the audience.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Broadway, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, League of American Theatres and Producers, Local One, Lockout, Stagehands, Strike
No Deal Yet
The Broadway stagehands strike continues into its 18th day as negotiations between
The League of American Theatres and Producers and
Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E.) adjourned this morning at 7 a.m. after pulling another all-nighter with "
incremental progress" being made.
Talks have yet to be rescheduled.
The Associated Press quotes Local One spokesman Bruce Cohen as saying:
There is no deal...There are no talks scheduled.
Yet that same news story reports that Cohen says that there is "not a breakdown" in the bargaining.
Only eight Broadway shows will be performing this evening. They are are either performing in non-profit houses or are covered by other contracts:
CymbelineDr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas!Mary PoppinsPygmalionThe RitzThe 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling BeeXanaduYoung FrankensteinIf you're holding tickets to one of the following Broadway shows, each of them remain closed by the strike (click
here for ticket exchange policies):
A Bronx TaleA Chorus LineAugust: Osage CountyAvenue QChicagoCurtainsCyrano de BergeracGreaseHairsprayIs He Dead?Jersey BoysLegally BlondeLes MisérablesMamma Mia!Monty Python's SpamalotRentRock 'N' RollSpring AwakeningThe Color PurpleThe Drowsy ChaperoneThe Farnsworth InventionThe Lion KingThe Little MermaidThe Phantom Of The OperaThe SeafarerWickedThis is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Broadway, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, League of American Theatres and Producers, Local One, Lockout, Stagehands, Strike
Is Strike Drama Reaching Eleventh Hour?Forget about
Grease.
"
Hope"
appears to be the new word this evening as
The League of American Theatres and Producers are back at the negotiating table with
Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E.) in an attempt to resolve the 17-day old Broadway stagehands strike.
After working 20 hours right through last night, only to break at 6:30 this morning, the two sides returned to the bargaining table this evening at The League's attorney's office --
Proskauer Rose -- at Broadway and 48th Street.
Stoking the optimism last evening was IATSE Local One Spokesman Bruce Cohen, who was widely quoted sounding upbeat and determined:
There's a lot of hard bargaining and good-faith negotiations going on, and we're hoping at some point before the day breaks tomorrow there will be a settlement....The teams are working very hard, but at this point there's still a good chunk of work to do. We'll stay here until there's a deal.
Will there be a breakthrough? I'm certainly hoping that last night's discussions greased the skids for a successful conclusion that's acclaimed by all. At this point, hope is all we have.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Broadway, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, League of American Theatres and Producers, Local One, Lockout, Stagehands, Strike
All Night LongTalks between
The League of American Theatres and Producers and
Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E.) lasted through the night and recessed at 6:30 this morning. The bargaining will resume at 6:30 p.m. this evening,
according to Variety.
Mondays are typically quiet days on the Great White Way as most shows are usually dark. Today marks the 17th day of the Broadway stagehands strike.
Let's hope for a positive outcome when the two sides return to negotiate tonight.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, League of American Theatres and Producers, Local One, Lockout, roadway, Stagehands, Strike
Talks Resume As Number Of Open Shows Drops Back To EightSorry folks for the interruption in my reports, but I'm back home again this evening after a whirlwind trip to Germany.
I was sincerely hoping my first post-trip post would be able to herald the return of Broadway, but I guess I'll just have to settle for
the welcome news that
The League of American Theatres and Producers and
Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E.) have at least returned to the negotiating table.
The New York Times' Campbell Robertson and Steven Greenhouse provide
yet another excellent report on how the two sides are trying to court favorable public opinion.
So far, there's no word on how this latest round of talks is going, but I have to think that
anything would be preferable to
the result from the last round a week ago today. That's when The League abruptly left the table and promptly said that none of the struck shows would play during the entire week. It no longer seemed to matter to The League -- which has been telling the world that the economic impact of the strike was hitting $17 million per day, about $15 million more than the
estimates by the New York City Comptroller's Office -- how much this strike would cost them during one of the single most lucrative weeks of the year.
When
Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! reopened Friday at Broadway's
St. James Theatre, the total number of Great White Way shows available to audiences during the typically busy Thanksgiving weekend increased to nine. But tonight, one of those shows --
Mauritius at the not-for-profit Manhattan Theatre Club's Biltmore Theatre -- shutters as originally scheduled, returning the total number of open shows back to eight.
The following shows remain open despite the strike because they are either performing in non-profit houses or are covered by other contracts:
CymbelineDr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas!Mary PoppinsPygmalionThe RitzThe 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling BeeXanaduYoung FrankensteinOf these, I have not had the opportunity to see
Grinch, but can recommend each of the other shows with varying degress of enthusiasm
except for The Ritz, which I thought was just plain awful (click
here for my SOB Review). You'll find each of my reviews in the right hand column of this site.
Barring a miracle this evening, the following Broadway shows remain closed by the strike (click
here for ticket exchange policies):
A Bronx TaleA Chorus LineAugust: Osage CountyAvenue QChicagoCurtainsCyrano de BergeracGreaseHairsprayIs He Dead?Jersey BoysLegally BlondeLes MisérablesMamma Mia!Monty Python's SpamalotRentRock 'N' RollSpring AwakeningThe Color PurpleThe Drowsy ChaperoneThe Farnsworth InventionThe Lion KingThe Little MermaidThe Phantom Of The OperaThe SeafarerWickedFinally, before closing out this message, I want to express my deepest appreciation for all the individuals who've commented and graciously provided updates while I've been incomunicado. Thanks so much for keeping Steve On Broadway current even when I was unable to do so myself.
Now that I'm back, I'll be once again providing regular updates, but please keep those comments coming!
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Broadway, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, League of American Theatres and Producers, Local One, Lockout, Stagehands, Strike
Strike Day 14: One Big Happy ReturnToday, as the Broadway stagehands strike is now 14 days old --
The League of American Theatres and Producers is being struck by
Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E.) -- one show is making a comeback today:
Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! is reopening at Broadway's
St. James Theatre.
It joins the following shows that remain open despite the strike because they are either in said non-profit houses or are covered by other contracts:
CymbelineDr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas!Mary PoppinsMauritiusPygmalionThe RitzThe 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling BeeXanaduYoung FrankensteinIf you're holding tickets through Sunday for any of the other Broadway shows listed below, (click
here for ticket exchange policies), your show will not be performing:
A Bronx TaleA Chorus LineAugust: Osage CountyAvenue QChicagoCurtainsCyrano de BergeracGreaseHairsprayIs He Dead?Jersey BoysLegally BlondeLes MisérablesMamma Mia!Monty Python's SpamalotRentRock 'N' RollSpring AwakeningThe Color PurpleThe Drowsy ChaperoneThe Farnsworth InventionThe Lion KingThe Little MermaidThe Phantom Of The OperaThe SeafarerWickedSpeaking of that very last one, I'm currently in Stuttgart, Germany to see the German language version of
Wicked: Die Hexen Von Oz. I only wish New York City audiences were still able to see the production that started it all.
Here's hoping that The League gets itself back to the bargaining table with Local One soon.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Broadway, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, League of American Theatres and Producers, Local One, Lockout, Stagehands, Strike
Which Shows May Close?Should the ongoing stagehands strike go on indefinitely, look for several Broadway shows to shutter permanently. One such show that may be forced to close sooner than planned is the pretty good production of
Cyrano de Bergerac.
Earlier today, I talked with a high-placed source with the show who relayed frustration with the ongoing situation and said that if the impasse between
Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E.) and
The League of American Theatres and Producers is not resolved "soon," the show will indeed shutter.
I can only hope that prediction will not come to fruition, but with each day passing without any word of further negotiations, I can't help but wonder how many other productions are in the same boat.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Broadway, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, League of American Theatres and Producers, Local One, Lockout, Stagehands, Strike
Judge: The Show Must Go On!Finally,
some news for audiences to cheer in the nearly two week old Broadway stagehands strike.
Bravo to State Court Justice Helen Freedman for proving that someone in New York still has some common sense and infinite wisdom by allowing
Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! to reopen at Broadway's
St. James Theatre. Barring any last minute injunction, the show will reopen Friday morning. For me, it was quite a welcome sight to see all the television camera crews hovering around that theatre -- even their typically jaded selves seemed genuinely excited.
Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E.) continues to strike against
The League of American Theatres and Producers.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Broadway, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, League of American Theatres and Producers, Local One, Lockout, Stagehands, Strike
Who's Suing WhoWhile we await a verdict from New York State Supreme Court Judge Helen E. Freedman on whether Whoville and
Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! will be able to reopen at Broadway's
St. James Theatre, the Nederlander Organization has filed suit against
Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E.) saying that they are unfairly striking against its theatres as part of the action against
The League of American Theatres and Producers.
Even though Nederlander had originally stated that it would lockout its stagehands in solidarity with the rest of The League, it now maintains it never did and thus the action by Local One is an unlawful secondary boycott. For more, go to the
Playbill.com story.
I profess to being a bit confused here. Didn't Nederlander's public pronouncements that they would lockout the union provide the stagehands with the necessary green light to strike? Can someone please explain that one to me?
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Broadway, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, League of American Theatres and Producers, Local One, Lockout, Stagehands, Strike
Hoping For Miracle On 44th StreetLast evening at 7 p.m., something truly heartwarming happened on 44th Street.
What appeared to be around a hundred theatre devotees gathered outside Broadway's
St. James Theatre to witness a profile in courage and strength as the cast of
Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! gathered to serenade the assembled crowd with tunes that Jujamcyn won't allow them to sing on stage, due to their lockout. I was there cheering them on, and for the first time in the last couple weeks, I felt thankful for being a live theatre fan.
Later this morning, New York State Supreme Court Judge Helen E. Freedman will hear further arguments from the show's producers, who contend that since they are operating under their own negotiated contract with
Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E.) and since the stagehands have already laid down their picket signs outside the St. James, they should be able to trump Jujamcyn's decision to lockout the union
and the audience in lockstep with
The League of American Theatres and Producers.
I'm hoping for Judge Freedman to take a page out of "
Miracle On 34th Street" and not only deftly display a hearty dose of thoughtful jurisprudence, but also some much needed holiday cheer just in time for Thanksgiving.
On this twelfth day of the stagehands strike, the following eight Broadway shows continue to perform during the strike because they are either in said non-profit houses or are covered by other contracts:
CymbelineMary PoppinsMauritiusPygmalionThe RitzThe 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling BeeXanaduYoung FrankensteinIf you're holding tickets through Sunday for any of the other Broadway shows listed below, (click
here for ticket exchange policies), your show will not be performing:
A Bronx TaleA Chorus LineAugust: Osage CountyAvenue QChicagoCurtainsCyrano de BergeracDr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole ChristmasGreaseHairsprayIs He Dead?Jersey BoysLegally BlondeLes MisérablesMamma Mia!Monty Python's SpamalotRentRock 'N' RollSpring AwakeningThe Color PurpleThe Drowsy ChaperoneThe Farnsworth InventionThe Lion KingThe Little MermaidThe Phantom Of The OperaThe SeafarerWickedAs previously noted in this space, New York City is going all out to increase business in the Theatre District by offering
15% off a dine-in lunch or dinner at wide array of the Theatre District's dining establishments via their
Dining in the District campaign. The offer lasts all week long, with the exception of Thanksgiving Day.
And speaking of Thanksgiving, please please remember that
this is the time of year when castmembers of Broadway shows typically make their appeal to audiences on behalf of
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. To donate directly to the organization, click
here.
Happy Thanksgiving.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Broadway, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, League of American Theatres and Producers, Local One, Lockout, Stagehands, Strike
