Sanna's Clause Is Coming To Court?In something eerily reminiscent of "
Miracle On 34th Street," it appears that a court play may be likely for
Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! according to a late breaking report.
Throughout today,
I've been providing updates on the little Broadway show that looked like it was about to stage a comeback.
A week ago Saturday, this show became the first casualty in the stagehands strike.
Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E.) has been striking against
The League of American Theatres and Producers over the past nine days.
Because the producers of
The Grinch have their own contract with IATSE, they argued -- successfully -- that the union should lay down its picket signs and allow the production to move forward. But there was one gigantic hitch. The League nixed that with Jujamcyn, owner of the
St. James Theatre, saying that regardless of the production's contract, it would stand in solidarity with the rest of The League by essentially locking out its stagehands, and by extension, its audiences.
Grinch producer
James Sanna apparently is not willing to take Jujamcyn's decision lying down. He's ready to fight this battle in court.
According to WABC-TV Eyewitness News:
"This is unbelievable that this show is not going to happen because of this larger dispute," Sanna said. "We really need to take action tomorrow, so what we are going to do is go to court and try to get our show open."
So there you have it folks, a tale of a production -- ironically about greed and stealing Christmas away from the children -- fighting to perform just in time for the throngs who have already purchased their tickets for the show.
I can't help but cheer Mr. Sanna on.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Broadway, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, League of American Theatres and Producers, Local One, Lockout, Refunds, Stagehands, Strike
Could The Grinch Reopen?
Thanks to its high frequency of scheduled performances that hit as early as 11 a.m., the very first casualty of the Broadway stagehands strike was
Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas at the
St. James Theatre when the labor action began a week ago Saturday. It certainly made for a lot of headlines as disappointed children were showcased in an endless parade of news stories.
But
according to Playbill.com, the production might possibly be able to reopen as early as tomorrow because the production had negotiated its own contract with
Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E.). Since only the theatre is technically covered by
The League of American Theatres and Producers contract, there's new hope that a meeting currently underway might enable the show to go on, even as all other shows that have been closed by the strike will remain so through this Sunday under a
League edict (click
here for the complete list of shows as well as
ticket refund procedures).
Playbill notes:
While the League's contract with the stagehands expired in July, Grinch began negotiating its own contract with the stagehands in the spring, came to an agreement August 30, and executed it a few weeks later, Grinch general manager David Waggett recently told Playbill.com. Therefore, he says, "Our point of view is that our contract is, in fact, still in effect," but the stagehands still decided to include the show in its strike.
New York Post's Michael Riedel has suggested that if
The Grinch doesn't reopen soon, it could shutter permanently:
Already the producers of The Grinch are screaming. They lost $500,000 over the weekend. And since they're checking out of the St. James in January anyway, there's no point in reopening if the strike lasts past Thanksgiving.
Will a miracle happen? Given that I have tickets to see this very production at 11 a.m. on Wednesday morning, you can bet I'll keep you posted on any late breaking developments here.
UPDATE 12:30 p.m. EST: Hat Tip to The Gothamist for reporting that:
[A] producer of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! announced that show would go on starting tomorrow thanks to a “special arrangement” with Local One.
As of this moment, there is no official announcement on The Grinch Web site, which still carries an apology for being closed.UPDATE 12:39 p.m. EST: Campbell Robertson is reporting in The New York Times
that:
The union has ordered that the picket line come down for Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! which is playing at the St. James Theater, said James Sanna, one of the show’s producers.
Grinch, which runs on an unusual 12-performances-a-week schedule, had negotiated a special arrangement with Local 1 last year, said Mr. Sanna, who argued that arrangement put it outside the current negotiations. Mr. Sanna, who is not a member of the league, said he expected the show to be up and running for the Tuesday evening performance.
Certainly, The League will not dare play the role of the Grinch on this one, will they?
UPDATE 1:56 p.m.: Apparently the answer to that last question is "Yes, they will." According to Newsday's Robert Kahn:
But a spokeswoman for the League of American Theaters and Producers, which represents Broadway theater owners, said the show would remain closed.
"The Grinch is not playing and is not opening during the strike," said the spokeswoman, who requested anonymity.
Looks like The League is giving us nothing but a "bah humbug." UPDATE 2:26 p.m.: All but confirming that The Grinch will not
reopen is The New York Times' Campbell Robertson and Anahad O'Connor in a story that just posted:
[T]he Jujamcyn theater chain, which owns the St. James, said that its theaters would remain dark until a settlement was reached with the stagehands.
Thanks Jujamcyn. When this strike is over, audience members will be wise to remember who was naughty and who was nice.This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Broadway, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, League of American Theatres and Producers, Local One, Lockout, Refunds, Stagehands, Strike, Ticketmaster
Strike Statements From Both Sides - You DecideLate last night,
I posted the following statement from Charlotte St. Martin, executive director of
The League of American Theatres and Producers issued shortly after it walked away from
Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E.) at the bargaining table in the ongoing Broadway stagehands strike:
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.
-- Charlotte St. MartinExecutive DirectorThe League of American Theatres and Producers, Inc.
In the interest of presenting both sides, I just found the following
statement from IATSE spokesperson Bruce Cohen that Playbill said was released at 11 p.m. last evening (the statement is not on Local One's Web site):
Talks between Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and the League of American Theatres and Producers broke off late this [evening]. Just before the talks broke off, the producers informed Local One that what Local One had offered was simply not enough. The producers then walked out. Local One will have no further comment.
As I have since stated, The League's walking away from the bargaining table and promptly announcing that all Broadway shows currently closed would remain so through the entire Thanksgiving holiday weekend is tantamount to behaving like ill-behaved children taking all their marbles away.
This really is a sorry moment in Broadway history. I'd be embarrassed for The League and everyone they purport to represent if I weren't so angry with them.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Broadway, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, League of American Theatres and Producers, Local One, Lockout, Refunds, Stagehands, Strike, Ticketmaster
Get Your Refunds!Last evening -- despite approximately 25 hours of weekend 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.) -- The League walked away from the bargaining table and promptly announced like ill-behaved children taking all their marbles away that all Broadway show currently closed because of the strike will remain shut down through November 25, the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
With the stagehands strike now in its 10th day, if you're holding tickets for the following shows through Sunday, (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 SeafarerWickedThe following eight Broadway shows continue to perform during the strike because they are either in non-profit houses or are covered by other contracts:
CymbelineMary PoppinsMauritiusPygmalionThe RitzThe 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling BeeXanaduYoung FrankensteinDon't forget that throughout this week (with the exception of Thanksgiving Day itself),
you can take advantage of 15% off a wide array of the Theatre District's dining establishments through their strike-related promotion
Dining in the District campaign.
And since you'll be saving money on both your meals and the no-shows, 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.
Finally, on a personal note, I had tickets this week for three of the struck shows, including
August: Osage County,
Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas and
Is He Dead? But I will now be taking in
Cymbeline and Off-Broadway's
The Glorious Ones instead (making life easier, both shows are performing at
Lincoln Center).
Happily, I already had purchased tickets to see the still performing
Radio City Christmas Spectacular for this coming Wednesday. After my profound disappointment with the outcome of yesterday's lack of resolution, this will serve as a much needed salve in giving me at least a little holiday cheer.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Broadway, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, League of American Theatres and Producers, Local One, Lockout, Refunds, Stagehands, Strike, Ticketmaster
Plenty Of Nothing!I'm about ready to give up on bringing my hard-earned dollars to Broadway.
Twelve hours after 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.) began again this morning -- and 13 additional hours after yesterday's long marathon session -- all we in the audience are getting is bupkus.
According to Linda Winer at
Newsday:
Talks broke down between the stagehands and the producers Sunday night, leaving 27 Broadway shows dark at the start of the Thanksgiving week.
According to a representative for Local One, the League of American Theatres and Producers informed the union around 9:30 p.m. that its offers "were not enough. The producers left the building."
Additionally,
The League has just issued the following statement:
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.
-- Charlotte St. Martin
Executive Director
The League of American Theatres and Producers, Inc.
For all those folks that were holding out hope like me that the two sides would negotiate in good faith, I'm sorry to tell you that they don't appear capable of doing that, and it appears that The League must be called to reckon for walking away from the table when so many theatre fans were counting on them.
They've essentially proffered a big "F" you, not only to the stagehands, but especially to the audience. They are increasingly proving that they don't deserve our loyal patronage.
We are the people who pay for tickets long in advance. We are the people who take a chance on a show before it's even opened simply because we love the theatre. We are the people who have
chosen to spend our dollars on the
entertainment offered by the Great White Way rather than on all the myriad options available to us.
Since you The League can so easily decide to suspend negotiations, here's something you should know. We the audience can easily move our discretionary dollars elsewhere.
And guess what?! We will!
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Broadway, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, League of American Theatres and Producers, Local One, Lockout, Refunds, Stagehands, Strike, Ticketmaster
Around The Clock?
In what I can only characterize as good news, it appears that
The League of American Theatres and Producers and
Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E.) are still at work according to
Playbill. It's been revealed that the two sides in the ongoing Broadway stagehands strike met at the Westin Hotel at 43rd and 8th at 10 a.m. Saturday morning.
While early reports indicated that no progress had been made, the two sides are reportedly working around the clock.
Update 1:04 a.m.: According to New York's Daily News
, the two sides broke at 11:45 p.m. Saturday evening. No word yet on when the talks would resume.Update 11:47 a.m.: According to both NY1 and Michael Riedel in the New York Post
, talks began again this morning (Sunday) at 10:00 a.m. Riedel's brief column sounded hopeful.Update 7:02 p.m.: Still waiting on any word from the ongoing negotiations, but so far, I'm hoping no news is good news.As the strike goes into its ninth day, the picket lines claimed one casualty.
The Lion King stagehand Francis Levaia suffered a fatal heart attack at approximately 7 p.m. Saturday evening while picketing. My heart goes out to Levaia's family, friends and colleagues. This news is truly sad.
Despite the ongoing negotiations, all Broadway shows currently impacted by the strike will remain closed. So if you're holding tickets for the following shows this afternoon and evening, (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 SeafarerWickedThe following eight Broadway shows continue to perform during the strike because they are either in non-profit houses or are covered by other contracts:
CymbelineMary PoppinsMauritiusPygmalionThe RitzThe 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling BeeXanaduYoung FrankensteinLet's hope that all the silence from both sides means that they're truly serious about negotiating in good faith and that a fair and equitable settlement is in the offing. I wish both sides nothing but the best.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Broadway, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, League of American Theatres and Producers, Local One, Lockout, Refunds, Stagehands, Strike, Ticketmaster
Let's Hope For The BestRight now, somewhere in New York,
The League of American Theatres and Producers and
Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E.) are meeting once again -- thank you
Disney -- in hopes of ultimately reaching a settlement on this the first day of the second week of the Broadway stagehands strike. Nevertheless, all Broadway shows currently impacted will remain dark through Sunday.
So if you're holding tickets for the following shows this afternoon and evening, as well as on Sunday (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 SeafarerWickedThe following eight Broadway shows continue to perform during the strike because they are either in non-profit houses or are covered by other contracts:
CymbelineMary PoppinsMauritiusPygmalionThe RitzThe 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling BeeXanaduYoung FrankensteinLet's hope that some good news will be shared later today so that Broadway can be fully back in business. Here's wishing the best to both sides to reach a fair and equitable settlement.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Broadway, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, League of American Theatres and Producers, Local One, Lockout, Refunds, Stagehands, Strike, Ticketmaster
All Broadway Shows, Except 8, Now Closed Through Sunday
Although
The League of American Theatres and Producers and
Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E.) will come together tomorrow and hopefully begin the process of achieving a settlement in the nearly one week old stagehands strike, The League has now announced that all Broadway shows currently impacted will remain dark through Sunday.
So if you're holding tickets for the following shows this evening, Saturday or Sunday (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 SeafarerWickedThe following eight Broadway shows continue to perform during the strike because they are either in non-profit houses or are covered by other contracts:
CymbelineMary PoppinsMauritiusPygmalionThe RitzThe 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling BeeXanaduYoung FrankensteinThis is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Broadway, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, League of American Theatres and Producers, Local One, Lockout, Refunds, Stagehands, Strike, Ticketmaster
Riding In On A White...Mouse?Apparently, if there's any organization to thank for yesterday afternoon's announcement that
The League of American Theatres and Producers will finally go back to the bargaining table with
Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E.), it's
Disney.
The House of Mouse holds a 99-year lease on Broadway's
New Amsterdam Theatre, which as the current home to
Mary Poppins remains one of the eight houses still open for business during the stagehands strike. But with
The Lion King and
The Little Mermaid languishing unperformed at the
Minskoff and
Lunt-Fontanne Theaters, respectively, Disney is losing a lot of money. Missing just four performances last week, Disney's gross on
The Lion King alone was down more than one half million dollars.
Compounding the strike issues, Disney had just begun previews for its fragile
Little Mermaid production, while scuttling its long-planned November 11 gala performance to celebrate
The Lion King's 10th anniversary on Broadway, widely credited with helping revitalize Times Square and 42nd Street.
According to
New York Post's
Michael Riedel and Kaili McDonnough, Disney's worried about the other shoe to drop -- the
all-important touring productions that could be potentially struck.
Riedel and McDonnough write:
The entertainment giant is dispatching its top labor lawyers to the table for the talks, which are scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m. The meeting will be the first between the union and theater producers since the work stoppage went into affect over the weekend.
The stagehands consider Disney a good employer and believe it would be a neutral mediator in their battle, the sources said.
"We trust and respect Disney," a union source said.
Meanwhile, the producers also welcome Disney's involvement and think the company to bridge the wide gap between them and the stagehands.
Say what you want about Disney, but if they can truly help broker a deal, I say, give
The Little Mermaid a critical pass.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Related Stories:Finally, Back To The Table (November 14, 2007)
Will The Strike Go On Tour? (November 12, 2007)
Labels: Broadway, Disney, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, League of American Theatres and Producers, Local One, Lockout, Refunds, Stagehands, Strike, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid
With Exception Of 8, All Broadway Shows Closed Through SaturdayYesterday, the
welcome news came that
The League of American Theatres and Producers and
Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E.) would finally meet again this coming Saturday at an undisclosed location, although it's safe to say it's most definitely
not with Vice President Dick Cheney.
Since the stagehands strike continues until they reach an agreement, all Broadway shows that have been impacted thusfar will remain dark through Saturday. So if you're holding tickets for the following shows this evening, Friday or Saturday (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 SeafarerWickedThe following eight Broadway shows continue to perform during the strike because they are either in non-profit houses or are covered by other contracts:
CymbelineMary PoppinsMauritiusPygmalionThe RitzThe 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling BeeXanaduYoung FrankensteinThis is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Broadway, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, League of American Theatres and Producers, Local One, Lockout, Refunds, Stagehands, Strike, Ticketmaster
How Low Can They Go?With no end in sight for the stagehands strike -- let alone any potential for
Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E.) sitting down at the negotiating table with
The League of American Theatres and Producers -- the rhetoric is turning downright chilling.
According to New York Post's Michael Riedel, one unnamed producer has gone so far as to say this about the striking stagehands:
Right now, there's euphoria out there....They've defied us, and they're united with the musicians and the actors. But let's see how they feel when there's blood on the street.
No wonder Riedel now expresses doubt that this strike will be resolved in time for the busy Thanksgiving holiday.
While producers are making attacks via the news media, Local One President James Claffey, Jr. calmly pledges not to go "tit for tat" in this news conference from a couple days ago:
As I've previously noted, we the members of the audience have paid into the $20 million+ fund The League has amassed to guard themselves against a potential strike.
Yet while they're taking care of themselves, they can't even put pressure on their dubious partner
Ticketmaster to
refund the $3.10 "processing fees" they've charged us for the privilege of doing business with them when they can't even deliver the goods we've paid for?
What an outrage. And it's only compounded by the vile language spewing from those who have nothing to lose.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, League of American Theatres and Producers, Local One, Lockout, Refunds, Stagehands, Strike, Ticketmaster
Just The Ticket: Refund InformationAs
I noted on Saturday, some of the announced ticket refund procedures in light of the Broadway stagehands strike had me fit to be tied.
If you're holding tickets for a show that has been cancelled due to the strike (and it's important to note here that Wednesday matinee performances won't occur at theatres hit by the strike), you are due a full refund back on the face value of your tickets. Click
here to view the shows that
are not impacted by the strike.
However, if you purchased your tickets through Ticketmaster, you will not receive a refund for the company's $3.10 per ticket "processing fee" or ticketFast, which enables you to download your ticket so you can print it out (additionally, they will not reimburse you for UPS ticket delivery, either).
Fortunately, the other major ticket company for Broadway -- Telecharge -- will offer a full refund, including on all fees.
If you've purchased tickets through Ticketmaster, do what I have done in the past when a show has been cancelled -- call and politely demand all fees back. If you are told they cannot, politely ask to speak with a supervisor. Please note that it's important not to lose your temper!
If they refuse, contact your credit card company and set up a dispute with them. There is absolutely no reason why Ticketmaster should withhold any fees when you, as the audience member are not at fault.
Remind them that you bought the ticket in good faith. Remind them that
Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E.) is striking against
The League of American Theatres and Producers. Remind them that the Nederlander Organization locked out its stagehands to demonstrate solidarity with The League once the strike began.
As an audience member, you should not be held liable.
For a full rundown on the ticket refund policies, click
here.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, League of American Theatres and Producers, Local One, Lockout, Refunds, Stagehands, Strike, Ticketmaster
