donaldduck1967 said:
the strike has been averted for now. the actors will go back to work while both sides still work things out
Broadway Producers, Union Keep Talking
Associated Press/AP Online
NEW YORK - Talks between Broadway producers and the actors' union broke down as a midnight deadline approached Sunday night, but the union said its members would still perform Monday.
The two sides had been in intense discussions since June 10 in an effort to resolve several difficult issues including nonunion tours of Broadway shows and rising health care costs.
"Our expectation is that the talks will continue tomorrow. There won't be a strike," said Bob Chlopak, a spokesman for the League of American Theatres and Producers.
Talks faltered at about 10:45 p.m., according to Maria Somma, a spokeswoman for the Actors' Equity Association.
Earlier in the day, Equity and the League of American Theatres and Producers released a joint statement that progress had been made and that the "parties ... remain committed to reaching a mutually agreeable contract."
Equity and the League imposed a news blackout during their last two weeks of talks as they met for a series of all-day sessions.
Although union tours still dominate, nonunion tours - which are cheaper to produce - have become more numerous, including current road companies of "Oliver!" and "Oklahoma!" Many union actors fear their jobs are being outsourced to younger, more inexperienced actors who have never worked on a Broadway stage.
In March 2003, more than a dozen Broadway musicals shut down for four days after the musicians' union walked out, resulting in lost theater revenue of more than $5 million.
