NEW YORK - Producers and theater owners say they're just looking for a fair agreement that wouldn't force them to hire extra workers they don't need.
Stagehands counter by declaring their union “is open to exchanges on work rules and other areas,” but will absolutely refuse any plan that would cut jobs.
Therein lies the seemingly unbridgeable gap that has shut down most of Broadway, closing such well-known shows as “Wicked,” “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Hairspray” as well as newer productions such as the Kevin Kline “Cyrano de Bergerac” and Disney's “The Little Mermaid,” which was in previews and hadn't even officially opened.
Local One struck more than two dozen plays and musicals Saturday, causing confusion in the Times Square theater district and sending disappointed theatergoers home or to other entertainments. Actors were left without audiences.
Patrick Page, who plays the celebrated green meanie in “Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” appeared in front of the St. James Theatre and sang for unhappy children who couldn't see him on stage.
“It's disappointing, most of all for these kids,” said Page. “They don't understand anything about contract negotiations.”
The performer said there were four sold-out shows of “Grinch” scheduled on Saturday and three on Sunday. “That's a lot of kids to turn away from the theater,” he added, although he said he had sympathy for the stagehands, too. “They're the guys who keep me safe when I get hoisted up; they're the guys who put light on me,” he said. Solidarity among various theatrical unions appeared strong. Actors' Equity Association, issued a statement saying members of Local One “deserve fair wages and working conditions and, most importantly, the respect of everyone who is part of the theatrical community.”
And the musicians union, Local 802, which struck Broadway for four days in 2003, was equally supportive. “They stood strong for us, and now we are here to return the favor,” the union said.
Disgruntled theatergoers were not as sympathetic.
Outside the Gershwin Theatre where “Wicked” plays, Wanda Antonetti, of DuBois, Pa., and her daughter, Sherry Antonetti, of Dover, Del., contemplated where to shop. They arrived Saturday morning to celebrate Wanda Antonetti's 70th birthday and did not know about the strike until they arrived at the theater. “We came a long way for lunch,” Wanda Antonetti said.
No new negotiations have been scheduled between Local One and the League of American Theatres and Producers, so the outlook for a quick settlement is uncertain.
The two sides have been in contentious talks for more than three months. Much of their disagreements involve work rules and staffing requirements, particularly rules governing the expensive process of loading in and setting up a show. The producers want more flexibility in hiring; the stagehands don't want to give up what they say are hard-won benefits without something in return.
“We must remain committed to achieving a fair contract,” Charlotte St. Martin, executive director of the league, said. “Our goal is simple: to pay for workers we need and for work that is actually performed.”
City officials said Saturday that it was too early to estimate the economic impact of the strike. Mayor Michael Bloomberg expressed disappointment that the two sides couldn't settle their differences without a strike, but reiterated, “The city continues to stand ready to help in any way we can.”
Not all Broadway theaters went dark. Eight shows are still performing since they are playing in theaters with separate Local One contracts. They include “Young Frankenstein,” “Mary Poppins,” “Xanadu,” “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” “Mauritius,” “Pygmalion,” “The Ritz” and “Cymbeline.”
The same-day discount tickets booths in Times Square and at the South Street Seaport remained open, too, serving all the Broadway shows unaffected by the walkout as well as all off-Broadway productions, which were up and running.
---
Associated Press writer Amy Westfeldt in New York contributed to this story.
AP-ES-11-10-07 1959EST
Therein lies the seemingly unbridgeable gap that has shut down most of Broadway, closing such well-known shows as “Wicked,” “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Hairspray” as well as newer productions such as the Kevin Kline “Cyrano de Bergerac” and Disney's “The Little Mermaid,” which was in previews and hadn't even officially opened.
Local One struck more than two dozen plays and musicals Saturday, causing confusion in the Times Square theater district and sending disappointed theatergoers home or to other entertainments. Actors were left without audiences.
Patrick Page, who plays the celebrated green meanie in “Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” appeared in front of the St. James Theatre and sang for unhappy children who couldn't see him on stage.
“It's disappointing, most of all for these kids,” said Page. “They don't understand anything about contract negotiations.”
The performer said there were four sold-out shows of “Grinch” scheduled on Saturday and three on Sunday. “That's a lot of kids to turn away from the theater,” he added, although he said he had sympathy for the stagehands, too. “They're the guys who keep me safe when I get hoisted up; they're the guys who put light on me,” he said. Solidarity among various theatrical unions appeared strong. Actors' Equity Association, issued a statement saying members of Local One “deserve fair wages and working conditions and, most importantly, the respect of everyone who is part of the theatrical community.”
And the musicians union, Local 802, which struck Broadway for four days in 2003, was equally supportive. “They stood strong for us, and now we are here to return the favor,” the union said.
Disgruntled theatergoers were not as sympathetic.
Outside the Gershwin Theatre where “Wicked” plays, Wanda Antonetti, of DuBois, Pa., and her daughter, Sherry Antonetti, of Dover, Del., contemplated where to shop. They arrived Saturday morning to celebrate Wanda Antonetti's 70th birthday and did not know about the strike until they arrived at the theater. “We came a long way for lunch,” Wanda Antonetti said.
No new negotiations have been scheduled between Local One and the League of American Theatres and Producers, so the outlook for a quick settlement is uncertain.
The two sides have been in contentious talks for more than three months. Much of their disagreements involve work rules and staffing requirements, particularly rules governing the expensive process of loading in and setting up a show. The producers want more flexibility in hiring; the stagehands don't want to give up what they say are hard-won benefits without something in return.
“We must remain committed to achieving a fair contract,” Charlotte St. Martin, executive director of the league, said. “Our goal is simple: to pay for workers we need and for work that is actually performed.”
City officials said Saturday that it was too early to estimate the economic impact of the strike. Mayor Michael Bloomberg expressed disappointment that the two sides couldn't settle their differences without a strike, but reiterated, “The city continues to stand ready to help in any way we can.”
Not all Broadway theaters went dark. Eight shows are still performing since they are playing in theaters with separate Local One contracts. They include “Young Frankenstein,” “Mary Poppins,” “Xanadu,” “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” “Mauritius,” “Pygmalion,” “The Ritz” and “Cymbeline.”
The same-day discount tickets booths in Times Square and at the South Street Seaport remained open, too, serving all the Broadway shows unaffected by the walkout as well as all off-Broadway productions, which were up and running.
---
Associated Press writer Amy Westfeldt in New York contributed to this story.
AP-ES-11-10-07 1959EST
Citizen
Hot Jobs
New! Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are No comments posted.