Tony Awards and Stage Employee Union Reach Red Carpet Agreement for Sunday Ceremony

Tony Award Productions Inc. and Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) have reached an agreement on union staffing of the red carpet staging area for the 2011 Tony Awards, which will be held at the Beacon Theatre on Sunday, June 12.

Prior to the agreement, the union was making plans to picket the ceremony, as it had not been included in the organization of the red carpet, as had been the case in previous years. The change was made as a result of the awards ceremony’s move from Radio City Hall to the Beacon.

Although the terms and conditions of the agreement are not being publically disclosed, James J. Claffey, Jr. President of Local One IATSE and Allan Williams, General Manager of Tony Award Productions Inc. issued a joint statement, saying, “The Tony Awards and Local One IATSE are very pleased that, together, we were able to reach an agreement, to produce the Tony Awards red carpet on Sunday evening. The fact remains that Sunday is a true celebration of the Broadway community and all of the outstanding work that has been nominated this season.”

The red carpet staging area for this and future Tony Award shows at the Beacon Theater will be staffed by union labor.