News

Might take a judge to save 'Grinch'

Monday, November 19, 2007

(New York - WABC, November 19, 2007) (WABC) -- It was another tumultuous day on Broadway Monday, as theater owners stepped in to block a show that was set to reopen Tuesday.

Click here for the list of restaurants offering dining discounts in wake of the Broadway strike

There had been a brief glimmer of hope in Whoville after the union voted to allow the restart of "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" for the holiday season, but the move was blocked by the Broadway producers' league.

The surprising move by the management of the St. James Theater, members of the League of American Theaters and Producers, effectively left the producers of the "Grinch" planning to take action against the very theater they call home.

It was the latest stunning turn of events in the Broadway strike that dragged into its second week -- with no end in sight.

"Grinch," the first show shuttered by the strike, appeared to get a temporary reprieve when the union representing stagehands approved the reopening of the seasonal holiday musical.

The musical, which runs on an unusual 12-performance-a-week schedule, negotiated a special arrangement with Local 1 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees last year.

The show's producer, James Sanna, successfully argued that arrangement puts it outside the current negotiations. The union agreed, instructed members to stop picketing at the theater, and Sanna expected the show to be running by tomorrow night.

But the league responded by locking the "Grinch" producers out of the St. James Theater, where the musical opened November 9.

"This is unbelievable that this show is not going to happen because of this larger dispute," Sanna said. "We really need to take action tomorrow, so what we are going to do is go to court and try to get our show open."

Theater owners say it is because of solidarity that they are blocking "The Grinch." They say until the union goes back to work at all the theaters, they will not make an exception for one show.

The Local One released the following statement:

"We took our picket line down at 'The Grinch' because we felt these producers are not members of the League and have not contributed to the $20 million that the League has raised to attack Local One. We have an agreement with them that allows them extra performances that were negotiated with them over the summer. They did not implement the horrendous work rules. And they have a show that cannot run in February. And we don't want these people to go bankrupt. We want these producers to make money."

"The Grinch" is scheduled to close at the St. James Theatre on Jan. 6.

Meanwhile, it appears that one of Broadway's busiest weeks will be a bust after producers canceled all shows through the holiday weekend. They say a weekend of talks went nowhere.

Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director, League of American Theatres and Producers, released a statement just before 11:00 p.m. Sunday, which read: "We are profoundly disappointed to have to tell you that talks broke off tonight, and that no further negotiations are scheduled."

The statement went on to say, "We presented a comprehensive proposal that responded to the union's concerns about loss of jobs and earnings and attempted to address our need for some flexibilities in running our business. The union rejected our effort to compromise and continues to require us to hire more people than we need."

"Out of respect for our public and our loyal theatergoers, many of whom are traveling from around the world," Martin said, "we regret that we must cancel performances through Sunday November 25."

Both sides had for more than 12 hours Saturday in a theater-district hotel.

Pressure has mounted for a solution to the work stoppage, which began November 10, because Monday starts the lucrative Thanksgiving holiday week, one of Broadway's best weeks of the year.

The stagehands - who include scenery and prop handlers, carpenters, electricians, and lighting and sound technicians - have been working without a contract since the end of July. Negotiations have focused on work rules - how many stagehands are required to open a Broadway show and keep it running.

Before this weekend, the two sides hadn't talked since November 8.

A small memorial service was held Saturday in front of the struck Minskoff Theatre, home of "The Lion King," for Frank Lavaia, a 57-year-old prop master who had a heart attack on the picket line Friday night and died.

The shows idled by the strike include some of Broadway's biggest hits such as "Wicked," "Jersey Boys," "The Phantom of the Opera," "The Lion King" and "Mamma Mia!"

Ticket sales for Thanksgiving week could normally top $1 million for several of those shows.

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