By Parveen Chopra, IANS
New York : Theatre shows on Broadway here were set to resume Thursday after a 19-day strike as stagehands reached a settlement with theatre owners and producers.
This puts an end to work stoppage that has cost producers and New York City millions of dollars in lost revenues, darkened 31 theatres, shuttering 27 shows, and forcing tourists to look elsewhere for entertainment.
The settlement was announced Wednesday night by representatives of Local 1, the stagehands union, and the League of American Theatres and Producers. Details of the new five-year contract were not disclosed though.
The two parties have been hashing out issues of work assignments, setting of a production’s run crew, load-in costs and labour minimums.
“The contract is a good compromise that serves our industry,” said Charlotte St. Martin, the league’s executive director.
“What is most important is that Broadway’s lights will once again shine brightly, with a diversity of productions that will delight all theatre-goers during this holiday time.”
Local 1 president James J. Claffey Jr. said, “The people of Broadway are looking forward to returning to work, giving the theatre-going public the joy of Broadway, the greatest entertainment in the world.”