| Broadway strike claims lucrative Thanksgiving weekend
NEW YORK -- Talks broke off Sunday between striking Broadway stagehands and theater producers, and performances for more than two dozen Broadway shows were canceled through Nov. 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 theatergoers, many of whom are traveling from around the world, we regret that we must cancel performances through Sunday Nov. 25," she added.Bruce Cohen, a spokesman for Local 1, the stagehands' union, said that 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 Sunday for more talks about holding a marathon, more than 12-hour session on Saturday.Pressure has mounted for a solution to the work stoppage, which began Nov.
Just the Shows: Who's Playing Nov. 14 and Who's Not
Only eight Broadway shows will play Wednesday, Nov. 14 � both matinee and evening performances � due to the strike by Local One, the stagehands union. The remaining Broadway productions will be dark. The eight Broadway shows that are running follow:
Cymbeline at the Vivian Beaumont Theater Mary Poppins at the New Amsterdam Theatre Mauritius at the Biltmore Theatre Pygmalion at the American Airlines Theatre The Ritz at Studio 54 The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Circle in the Square Xanadu at the Helen Hayes Theatre Young Frankenstein at the Hilton Theatre Broadway shows that will be dark until further notice:
August: Osage County at the Imperial Theatre
Avenue Q at the Golden Theatre
A Bronx Tale at the Walter Kerr Theatre
Chicago at the Ambassador Theatre
A Chorus Line at the Schoenfeld Theatre
The Color Purple at the Broadway Theatre
Curtains at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre
Cyrano de Bergerac at the Richard Rodgers Theatre
Dr.
Just the Shows: Who's Playing Nov. 17 and 18 and Who's Not
Only eight Broadway shows will play Saturday, Nov. 17 and Sunday, Nov. 18 due to the strike by Local One, the stagehands union. The remaining Broadway productions will be dark. The performance schedule for the eight Broadway shows that are running follow: (The Monday performance schedule for each of these eight shows is also provided.) Cymbeline at the Vivian Beaumont Theater
Saturday, Nov. 17 at 2 and 8 PM
Sunday, Nov. 18 at 3 PM
No Monday performance Mary Poppins at the New Amsterdam Theatre
Saturday, Nov. 17 at 2 and 8 PM Sunday, Nov. 18 at 1 and 6:30 PM No Monday performance Mauritius at the Biltmore Theatre
Saturday, Nov. 17 at 2 and 8 PM
Sunday, Nov. 18 at 2 PM
No Monday performance Pygmalion at the American Airlines Theatre
Saturday, Nov.
Broadway strike disappoints fans traveling to N.Y. on bus tours
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Bus tour packages are a popular way for many out-of-state theater fans to get dinner and see a Broadway show in New York. But the stagehands' strike has led to waves of disheartened day-trippers, logistical headaches for organizers, and lower revenues for tour companies. Starr Tours, with offices in Philadelphia and Trenton, New Jersey, usually sends more than 10,000 people to see Broadway shows every year. Vice president Sandy Borowsky says that number will be down this year. The show stoppage has forced the cancellation of 8 buses so far. That represents more than 400 would-be theatergoers. Deborah Joyce of Senior Citizens United Community Services of Camden County, New Jersey, says her group canceled a busload of travelers planning to see "Mamma Mia!" on Sunday.
ONSTAGE & BACKSTAGE: Max, Laura and Hilarity at The Ritz
What? The strike is still on? Didn't I specifically ask Local One and the producers to kiss and make up? What part of "start making out" don't you understand? It's definitely been a hardship on audience members and everyone involved, but the most devastating thing about the strike is that it took place during BC/EFA's audience appeal fundraising period. They lose $40,000 a day! And that money is counted on by AIDS organizations all over the world�soup kitchens, hospices, etc. If you get a chance, go to BCEFA.org and buy something from their holiday catalogue. Their annual CD ("Carols for a Cure") just came out, and it's fabulous: $20 for a two-CD set and tons of Broadway shows are on it. My friend Tim is completely obsessed with the Spring Awakening track, but he's the kind of fanatic who would be obsessed if Spring Awakening came out with a CD of Juice Newton hits.
Just the Shows: Who's Playing Nov. 10 and Who's Not
According to the official website of the League of American Theatres and Producers, only eight Broadway shows will play Nov. 10 due to the strike by Local One, the stagehands union. The remaining 28 Broadway productions will be dark. The eight Broadway shows that will be running follow:
Cymbeline at the Vivian Beaumont Theater
Mary Poppins at the New Amsterdam Theatre
Mauritius at the Biltmore Theatre
Pygmalion at the American Airlines Theatre
The Ritz at Studio 54
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Circle in the Square
Xanadu at the Helen Hayes Theatre
Young Frankenstein at the Hilton Theatre Broadway shows that will be dark until further notice:
August: Osage County at the Imperial Theatre
Avenue Q at the Golden Theatre
A Bronx Tale at the Walter Kerr Theatre
Chicago at the Ambassador Theatre
A Chorus Line at the Schoenfeld Theatre
The Color Purple at the Broadway Theatre
Curtains at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre
Cyrano de Bergerac at the Richard Rodgers Theatre
Dr.
PLAYBILL ON OPENING NIGHT: Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical — Lean, Mean and Green
For the second time in as many days, a green-skinned monster invaded Broadway: Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical bowed at the St. James on Nov. 9, one day after its previous Broadway home (the Hilton) was taken over by that rampaging mass of used body parts Young Frankenstein, stitched together and struck with lightning. "Struck" turns out to be an unfortunate choice of word. Ten hours after its opening-night party at the Tropic Zone at Seventh and 49th Street, it became How the Stagehands Stole the Grinch. Its 11 AM Saturday matinee was the first show not to go on because of the walk out by Local One, the stagehands union, that shuttered 27 Broadway houses. And because this limited-run musical is on a 12-to-15-performance week (almost twice the normal performance schedule for Broadway shows), it stands to lose the most from the strike.
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