Radio City Christmas Spectacular Goes On With Pre-Recorded Music
Audiences at the Radio City Christmas Spectacular will have to content themselves with listening to pre-recorded music until Radio City Entertainment and Local 802, American Federation of Musicians come to a settlement over labor issues.
A musicians’ strike cancelled the first two scheduled performances of the run yesterday, disappointing thousands of ticketholders. All other participants in the show — including the Rockettes — returned for today’s performances at Radio City Music Hall, which went on with taped music. The musicians were willing to return to work today but Radio City won’t let them do so until a new contract is in place or the musicians agree not to walk out again during the show’s two-month run.
Local 802’s contract with Radio City Entertainment expired in May. Among the issues that the two sides haven’t been able to agree on are base pay rates and overtime pay. Negotiations are reportedly ongoing; the Christmas show will go on with pre-recorded music until further notice. According to a spokesman for Local 802, “the musicians were prepared to sign a contract yesterday and are still ready to sign a contract, but they have been locked out.”
A statement issued by Radio City Entertainment reads as follows: “The Radio City Christmas Spectacular has become a beloved holiday tradition in every market in which it has been performed. We are proud that in 2005, ten cities, including New York, will experience the one-of-a-kind show, featuring the world-famous Rockettes. The show has begun its official run in New York today, where its first regular season performances are being enthusiastically enjoyed by a full house. The dispute between Radio City Entertainment and the musicians’ union at Radio City Music Hall will have no impact on the performance schedule in New York and does not in any way affect productions enjoyed by families in cities across America. All shows, in all markets, will go on and the cherished family tradition will continue to dazzle audiences wherever it is performed.”
