Broadway’s dark tonight. Again. That well-known writers’ strike that’s plaguing your daily
TV-watching habits and disrupting late-night viewings of Letterman, Leno and
the like is catching. On Nov. 10, the curtains dropped over Broadway as its stagehands
said “no more!” As a result, 27 Broadway shows in New York City are currently closed.
Since contracts expired in July, the largest stagehands’
union, Local One, and the League of American Theaters and Producers have been
at odds. Broadway’s last blackout was in 2003 when its musicians went on
strike, but it ended after just four days. The present strike – which affects
shows such as The Lion King, Wicked, The Phantom of the Opera, Avenue Q and holiday favorite How the Grinch Stole Christmas, which
opened the day the madness began – is predicted to cost New York $17 million a
day and will likely last through the holiday season, Broadway’s busiest time of
the year.
Shows not affected by the strike include Mary Poppins, Mauritius, Pygmalion, Young
Frankstein and Radio City Music Hall’s Christmas
Spectacular. Ticket holders will receive full refunds.
by Kristin Leigh
