Category: theatre

Broadway is all but shut down on it’s busiest week of the year. “Behind-the-scenes chatter contends that the breakdown in negotiations was spurred by a rift in union leadership.”

“The producers said in the lawsuit that to date their nine shows have lost $35 million in gross revenues from ticket sales, concessions, merchandise and other related items.”

“er ruling came a day after she heard arguments from producers of the show and owners of the theater housing the $6 million production. Producers, citing a special contract between the show and Jujamcyn Theaters, wanted the show to go on.”

“The New York city comptroller, William Thompson Jr., estimated that the city was losing about $2 million per day because of the [stagehands’] strike… But the League of American Theaters and Producers, which includes production costs and theater maintenance in its figure, says it believes a more accurate estimate is about $17 million per day.”

“The tiny union that has shut down Broadway was really ready to rumble. Local One of the stagehands union quietly amassed a $5 million strike fund and is well-prepared for a long, drawn-out battle with theater owners and producers.”

“The Nederlander Producing Company, which owns 9 of the 27 Broadway theaters affected by the stagehands’ strike, is suing their union for $35 million in damages, claiming that the strike against the Nederlander theaters is illegal.”

The Broadway strike isn’t the only problem. “The Broadway musical, at its best a form of popular entertainment that reaches the realms of high art, is in a state of possibly terminal decline. Originality and panache have been largely replaced by rip-offs from old movies, or juke-box shows featuring songs the audience already know.”

The West End production of the musical, starring David Soul, was seen by 425,000 people and was watched by an audience of 2.4m when it was broadcast on BBC Two.

Ian McKellan’s King Lear in the West End has already become the hottest ticket in London…

Striking Broadway stagehands decided to show “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” to open. “But the theater where the show is playing says it will not open the house to allow the show to go on.”