Nov 19, 2007 6:14 am US/Eastern
Broadway Lights Stay Dim, Talks Break Down
Broadway Shows Canceled Through November 25
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
-
-
Theatrical Protective Union - Local No. 1 member walks the picket line outside a theater on Broadway in November.
AP
They say the lights are always bright on Broadway. But they won't be bright anytime soon. The latest talks between producers and striking stagehands have broken off, and Broadway performances have been canceled through Sunday, November 25.
Broadway stagehands and theater producers met again Sunday, the second day of intense negotiations to find a solution to a strike by Local One that has kept 27 plays and musicals closed for more than a week. The two sides held a marathon, more than 12-hour session Saturday in a theater-district hotel. Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director of the "League of American Theatres and Producers" sent out a statement Sunday evening to announce the cancelations. The statement reads: "We are profoundly disappointed to have to tell you that talks broke off 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." St. Martin continued, "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." Pressure has mounted for a solution to the work stoppage, which began Nov. 10, because Monday starts the lucrative Thanksgiving holiday week, which is 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.
Meanwhile, a small memorial service was held Saturday in front of the struck Minskoff Theatre, home of "The Lion King," for Frank Lavaia, a 57-year-old prop master who suffered a heart attack on the picket line Friday night and died.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Chestnut Still Top Dog At Coney Island 29 mins ago 
Police Crackdown On DWIs Over Holiday Weekend 37 mins ago 
Stumble It!
Reporting
