WILL BROADWAY SHUT DOWN NEXT WEEK?
Will there be a lockout? Like five years ago, will nearly all of Broadway shut down due to this conflict between the League of American Theatres and the stagehands union?
Check out this Times Article for a good summary of what's going on.
What's my take on the issue? This is very much unlike the musicians' strike, which was far more emotionally charged. With all due respect to the stagehands union, the League is probably right. The expense for the load-in for most any Broadway show is outrageous and extremely prohibiting financially. But the stagehands union does deserve SOMETHING in return. I don't know what... but something.
Do I think Broadway will shut down? If it did, I don't think that would help anyone... Honestly, I think people cared more about the musicians strike. Why? Because audiences can tell the difference between a 20 and 10-person pit orchestra. Do audiences really care how many stagehands were paid in pre-production?
