Actors and Stagehands Will Not Cross Local 802 Picket Lines; Broadway Musicals Dark Until Further Notice

It was announced early this evening that members of Actors’ Equity Association and IATSE (the Broadway stagehands’ union) will not cross picket lines that have been set up by the American Federation of Musicians, Local 802. As a result, all Broadway musicals — except for the Roundabout Theatre Company’s production of Cabaret at Studio 54, which functions under a special contract — will be dark until further notice.

AEA president Patrick Quinn said at a press conference at the union’s headquarters that all actors currently appearing in Broadway musicals were to report to the picket lines at 6:30 to show support for the musicians.

The labor dispute between Local 802 and the League of American Theatres and Producers continued all day today, with the musicians’ union protesting outside Broadway theaters that currently house musicals. Meanwhile, the two sides waged a public relations war of words. A statement on the League’s website today read that, “Rather than allowing the musicians’ union strike to force Broadway shows to close, throwing 6,000 people out of work, the producers decided to keep the shows open. Producers will use virtual orchestras and other measures to provide musical accompaniment to the live performers on stage.” But now that the actors and stagehands are refusing to cross the musicians’ picket lines and performances of Broadway musicals are canceled, the effectiveness of virtual orchestra technology is moot — for the time being, at least.

For updated information about the continuation of the strike, visit the various websites of Actors’ Equity Association, the League of American Theatres and Producers, Local 802, and IATSE.