Broadway hit shows cancelled
2007-11-19 12:16
New York - Talks broke off between striking Broadway stagehands and theatre producers, and performances for more than two dozen Broadway shows were cancelled through November 25, the lucrative Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
"We are profoundly disappointed to have to tell you that talks broke off tonight, and that no further negotiations are scheduled," Charlotte St Martin, the executive director of the League of American Theatres and Producers, said in a statement.
"Out of respect for our public and our loyal theatregoers, many of whom are travelling from around the world, we regret that we must cancel performances through Sunday November 25," she added.
Local 1, the stagehands' union, said through its spokesperson Bruce Cohen, that "Just before the talks broke off, the producers informed the union that what the local had "offered was simply not enough."
The union declined further comment.
The two sides met on Sunday for more talks about holding a marathon, more than 12-hour session on Saturday.
Thanksgiving holiday week
Pressure has mounted for a solution to the work stoppage, which began November 10, because Monday starts the Thanksgiving holiday week, one of Broadway's best weeks of the year.
The stagehands - who include scenery and prop handlers, carpenters, electricians, and lighting and sound technicians - have been working without a contract since the end of July.
Negotiations have focused on work rules - how many stagehands are required to open a Broadway show and keep it running.
Before Saturday, the two sides had not talked since November 8.
The shows idled by the strike include some of Broadway's biggest hits such as Wicked, Jersey Boys, The Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King and Mamma Mia!
"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," St. Martin said.
"The union rejected our effort to compromise and continues to require us to hire more people than we need."
- AP