According to the New York Times, The Nederlander Organization has filed a lawsuit against Local One, the stagehands union. The Nederlander Organization owns 9 of the 27 Broadway theatres that are currently closed due to the Local One strike.

Producers of 7 shows that are closed due to the strike have joined the suit (Richard Rodgers, Palace, Neil Simon, Nederlander, Minskoff, Marquis, Lunt-Fontanne, Gershwin and Brooks Atkinson), which claims the union has been striking the Nederlander houses only to pressure the League of American Theatres and Producers to make a settlement with the union and this makes the strike “an unlawful secondary boycott.”

The Nederlander organization is a member of the League, but the company has its own, expired, contract with the union. The Nederlander and the union had agreed that they would pretty much abide by whatever contract the League and the union eventually agreed upon. Due to this agreement, the Nederlanders did not begin implementing rules from the rejected contract on the union last month when the other theatre owners did.

A letter was sent by the Nederlanders to the union prior to strike authorization vote. The Vice Preseident of Labor Relations for the Nederlander Oraganization, Hershel Waxman, sent a hand-delivered letter to James Claffey Jr., Local One’s President, which read, “Should Local One engage in a strike against the League, it would be in Nederlander’s best interest to lock out the Local One bargaining unit so that the entire theatre industry achieves the best possible terms in any new agreement with Local One.” In the end the union was not locked out by Nederlanders and continues to strike the 9 Nederlander

As the strike presses on in NYC shutting down 27 Broadway productions one show decided to do something about it.

According to NY1, Supreme Court judge Helen E. Freedman granted an injunction filed by the producers of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas that will allow the musical to reopen at the St. James Theatre.

Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas, which has been closed since November 10 along with 26 other Broadway productions, will reopen just in time for the busy holiday weekend on November 23.

According to David Waggett, the general manager for Grinch, the picket lines have moved from the St. James Theatre and the stagehands union has agreed to work this show. After making this major stride they still needed to gain approval from Jujamcyn Theaters which was not granted. That is when they decided to go to court to get the injunction that would require Jujamcyn to reopen its doors. James Sanna, the producer of the show filed the injunction on November 20 and the ruling to reopen the theater was announced today, November 21.

This should bring joy and happiness to many people this holiday season. Unlike most of the shows that are affected by the strike Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas is running for a limited engagement which concludes its run on January 6, 2008.

For a list of Broadway shows affected by the current strike click here.

The stagehand strike hits again.

The Little Mermaid was originally schedule to open officially at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on December 6 but due to the current strike that has temporarily shut down most of Broadway the opening has been delayed. No new opening date has been announced at this time.

The show will resume previews, which started on November 3, when the strike is over and then will announce a new date for opening night.

The show starts Sierra Boggess as Ariel, Sean Palmer as Prince Eric, Norm Lewis as King Triton, Tituss Burgess as Sebastian, Eddie Korbich as Scuttle, Jonathan Freeman as Grimsby, Derrik Baskin as Jetsam, Tyler Maynard as Flotsam, Cody Hanford and J.J. Singleton as Flounder and Sherie Rene Scott as Ursula.

It as has been announced that due to the ongoing stagehand strike, that has shut down must of Broadway until further notice, August: Osage County will extend its limited engagement run by 3 weeks, now closing on March 9.

The show is about a missing patriarch and the reunion of the Weston clan to their three-story home in rural Oklahoma.

The cast includes, Ian Braford, Francis Guinan, Mariann Mayberry, Amy Morton, Sally Murphy, Jeff Perry, and Rondi Reed. The show is directed by Anna D. Shapiro and had original music by David Singer, costumes by Ana Kuzmanic and sets done by Todd Rosenthal.

Although the production opened for previews on October 30 it has been dark since the strike began on November 10.

The 27 shows that are currently dark due to the Local One strike will continue to be closed for the rest of the Thanksgiving week and possibly longer. This is not only affecting the shows that aren’t running their usual weekly performances but also the entire Time Square area.

It is estimated by the city comptroller’s office that lost revenue from ticket sales, dining, and shopping is costing the city roughly $2 million a day. This will continue to go up if the strike were to continue on through the busy holiday season when the city is inundated with visitors.

After the negotiations on Saturday no additional talks have been scheduled at this point. For a full list of shows affected click here.

On Saturday November 17^th the League of American Theatres and Producers and the Stagehand’s union, Local One, met for negotiations at the Westin Hotel on West 43^rd Street.

The meeting started around 10:00AM and went until after 11:00PM. This was the first time the two groups met since November 8. Currently 27 shows are affected by the strike with only 8 Broadway shows running.

The mood of the strikers was very somber on Saturday after the death of Frank J. Lavaia. Lavaia was a 57 year old stagehand who worked at the Minskoff Theater and died on Friday after suffering a heart attack on the picket line. Picketers wore black armbands made by the wardrobe union and a memorial was held in front of the Minskoff on Saturday.

The following productions are affected by the current and will be closed until at least Saturday November 17, 2007

August:Osage County, Avenue Q, A Bronx Tale, A Chorus Line, Chicago, Curtains, Cyrano de Bergerac, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Farnsworth Invention, Grease, Hairspray, Is He Dead?, Jersey Boys, Legally Blonde, Les Miserables, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Mamma Mia!, Monty Pythons Spamalot, Phantom of the Opera, Rent, Rock ‘n’ Roll, The Seafarer, The Color Purple, Spring Awakenings, Wicked 

There are still some really great shows that are currently running for all regularly schedule performances 

Young Frankenstein, The Ritz, Xanadu, Mauritius, Cymbeline, Pygmalion, The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Mary Poppins

As the strike that started November 10 continues into its 6^th day today it has been announced that performances for Friday November 16 and Saturday November 17 (matinee and evening performances) will be cancelled and the 27 shows affected will continue to be dark.

As previously reported the stagehands union and the League of American Theatres and Producers will return to the negotiating tables this weekend. We can only hope that a resolution is reached over the weekend and the shows will be back in business next week. This is not only affecting the cast and crew of the shows, and theater goers but also local business that thrive on the shows traffic.

Since last Saturday, Broadway was been dark for the most part due to the stagehand unions strike. The union has been working without a contract since the end of July. This coming weekend though The League of American Theatres and Producers and Local One will be returning to the negotiating table.

In a statement released today, November 14^th, by the League and Local One states that “Talks have been scheduled between Local One and The League of American Theaters and Producers beginning this weekend, at an undisclosed place and time. No interviews or comments from either organization will be issued until further notice.”

Hopefully these talks will help the negotiating process more forward. The strike has already severely affected the 27 Broadway shows that are currently dark because of the strike. Both Wicked and Jersey Boys were down nearly half-a-million dollars each. Less popular shows have suffered even bigger hits.  

As the Broadway stagehands strike continues Mayor Michael Bloomberg and senior members of his administration have been reaching out privately to the stagehands and the producers, in hopes of getting them to negotiate and even offering the use of his mansion and a mediator.

Although the producers would be happy to accept the mayor’s offer of support, a spokesman for the League of American Theaters and Producers has said, the Union had turned down the mayor’s offers.

The mayor has publicly reiterated his position on this issue and feels that the two sides are private organizations and that the most the city could do is to provide an opportunity for them to get together.

The two sides have not met for more talks since they ended discussions on Thursday. Yesterday it was announced that all shows tonight as well as the matinees tomorrow would we cancelled.