While the west coast has been focusing much attention on the Writers’ Guild strike, New York has been having some problems of its own. This week, the stage worker’s unions have threatened to go on strike, which could mean a blackout on Broadway shows like
Wicked, Grease, Cyrano, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, The Drowsy Chaperone, Rent, Hairspray and Legally Blonde during the holiday season.
The strike, which could begin as early as Saturday morning, was authorized by the president of the international stagehands union
Thomas C. Short last Thursday. It comes as a final attempt to resolve stalled negotiations between the two sides whom have been unable to meet a compromise about work rules, staffing requirements, and pay.
Ironically, the first show to be affected by the blackout would be the 11AM performance of
How the Grinch Stole Christmas at the St. James Theatre, which is how most New Yorker’s would feel if Broadway went dark during its biggest revenue earning season.
The
New York Times explained that show “producers have proposed loosening rules on when stagehands are needed for work, how many are needed and what tasks they are allowed to perform. The union has said “that any alterations to the rules that would mean less work for stagehands needs to come with exchanges of equal value."
Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, and the League of American Theatres will most likely leave producers holding the bag on presale tickets during the duration of the strike. There are currently 35 shows running, and 27 will go dark while the unions sort out their current negotiations.
But don’t be too disappointed; since they are under a different union contract you can still catch
Young Frankenstein, Mary Poppins, Xanadu and
Spelling Bee if you are really desperate.
