Chances of a Strike?- Page 3

[Kad]

Posted: 10/13/25 at 6:12pm

Observation said: "Kad said: "ACL2006 said: "Noted in the Playbill article is that five shows would not be affected by this strike: Beetlejuice, Mamma Mia, Ragtime, Punch and Little Bear..."

That's applicable to shows affected by an AEA strike. AFM 802, the musician's union, is also looking at a strike, which may change affected productions."

I have a tickets to see Jane in "Oh, Mary!" in a couple of weeks. Trying to keep track of which productions will be affected by whichever strike and come up with a backup just in case. Right now it seems like "Little Bear" would be in the clear if a strike does occur?



Also... is it gauche to go see a show that is open during a strike, would it be better to avoid any shows to showsolidarity?"

It does appear that in the event of a strike by either union, Little Bear would be a safe pick. In terms of upcoming shows, Oedipus would also be safe as a non-Production contract play. 
 

I personally don’t see anything wrong with attending a production that is unaffected by a strike. You wouldn’t be crossing the picket line. 

[two ladies tickets]

Posted: 10/13/25 at 6:16pm

Is Little Bear Ridge Road not on a league contract? 

[uncamark]

Posted: 10/13/25 at 6:22pm

two ladies tickets said: "Is Little Bear Ridge Road not on a league contract?"

Rudin either left the League or got kicked out--I don't remember which. I assume he's doing this under a Letter of Agreement. It should be noted that Steppenwolf in Chicago, where this production originated, is not a producer because they did not want to work with Rudin.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 10/13/25 at 6:49pm

Also... is it gauche to go see a show that is open during a strike, would it be better to avoid any shows to show solidarity? 

No, supporting artists is crucial if this actually happens. With the busiest season for Broadway coming, this would be a complete disaster. I hope they can avoid it and meet their extremely reasonable demands.

[broadwayboy223]

Posted: 10/13/25 at 9:35pm

Frankly, I think it's apparent the whole country needs to go on strike or we are going to lose everything to Trump and his crook friends.

[DrMonicaDeMoneco]

Posted: 10/13/25 at 9:48pm

Where is the article on BWW? It’s front page news on Playbill

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 10/13/25 at 10:28pm

They wrote one earlier today. I had no idea that it was 98% in favor. I guess this thing is really going to happen. Wow. 

Strike

Updated On: 10/13/25 at 10:28 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 10/13/25 at 11:28pm

DrMonicaDeMoneco said: "Where is the article on BWW? It’s front page news on Playbill"

BWW, for whatever reason, keeps a chronological front page, which means major stories regularly get bumped by such breaking stories as "Andrew Lloyd Webber Reacts to Lady Gaga's Phantom Tribute." 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 10/14/25 at 1:47am

" I guess this thing is really going to happen."

Actually, that's not necessarily true. A strike authorization is NOT a strike vote, it is a way of upping the ante with a view to avoiding a strike. 

Equity's issues seem likely to be resolved, with the obligatory brinksmanship, and I think they have the upper hand in this negotiation. The musicians, on the other hand, are in the midst of an existential crisis I'm sorry to say. It's no secret that there is a contingent of producers - not a majority but a determined lot - are ready for a fight and angling for a strike. The authorization is the best ammo the union has, and it will probably work towards cooler heads prevailing, as long as it can avoid blowing themselves up (something that is not one of their strong suits unfortunately). 

The bottom line is that no one can answer the question posed in the subject line.

[uncamark]

Posted: 10/14/25 at 2:05am

HogansHero said: "" I guess this thing is really going to happen."

Actually, that's not necessarily true. A strike authorization is NOT a strike vote, it is a way of upping the ante with a view to avoiding a strike.

Equity's issues seem likely to be resolved, with the obligatory brinksmanship, and I think they have the upper hand in this negotiation. The musicians, on the other hand, are in the midst of an existential crisis I'm sorry to say. It's no secret that there is a contingent of producers - not a majority but a determined lot - are ready for a fight and angling for a strike. The authorization is the best ammo the union has, and it will probably work towards cooler heads prevailing, as long as it can avoid blowing themselves up (something that is not one of their strong suits unfortunately).

The bottom line is that no one can answer the question posed in the subject line."

The last time there was the possibility of an AFM strike, there was lots of talk about the so-called "virtual orchestra" that could replace the musicians. Could that be rearing its ugly head again?

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 10/14/25 at 2:33am

HogansHero said: "" I guess this thing is really going to happen."

Actually, that's not necessarily true. A strike authorization is NOT a strike vote, it is a way of upping the ante with a view to avoiding a strike.

…

Very much appreciate your thoughtful analysis!

[DrMonicaDeMoneco]

Posted: 10/14/25 at 11:14am

Kad said: "DrMonicaDeMoneco said: "Where is the article on BWW? It’s front page news on Playbill"

BWW, for whatever reason, keeps a chronological front page, which means major stories regularly get bumped by such breaking stories as "Andrew Lloyd Webber Reacts to Lady Gaga's Phantom Tribute.""

Oooooooooh ok, got it. I think that’s weird how they bump it down, but, I don’t run this page, so I have no say! 

[kdogg36]

Posted: 10/14/25 at 11:18am

uncamark said: "The last time there was the possibility of an AFM strike, there was lots of talk about the so-called "virtual orchestra" that could replace the musicians. Could that be rearing its ugly head again?"

If productions used a virtual orchestra in response to a strike, I can't imagine Equity actors would be required/encouraged/allowed to cross the musicians' picket line. Or am I being too naive there?

[Kad]

Posted: 10/14/25 at 11:34am

kdogg36 said: "uncamark said: "The last time there was the possibility of an AFM strike, there was lots of talk about the so-called "virtual orchestra" that could replace the musicians. Could that be rearing its ugly head again?"

If productions used a virtual orchestra in response to a strike, I can't imagine Equity actors would be required/encouraged/allowed to cross the musicians' picket line. Or am I being too naive there?"

Hard to say because it's so unprecedented. There's no formal reciprocal relationship between AEA and AFM, unlike AEA and SAG or AGMA. And CBAs like the Production contract have a provision that prevents work actions like that, so if AEA and the League agree and then ratify a new Production contract, it could put AEA in a legal bind. But I have to imagine that if the League producers pulled something like that, AEA membership would not take it well. 

[Ensemble1698878795]

Posted: 10/14/25 at 12:38pm

HogansHero said: "" I guess this thing is really going to happen."

Actually, that's not necessarily true. A strike authorization is NOT a strike vote, it is a way of upping the ante with a view to avoiding a strike.

Equity's issues seem likely to be resolved, with the obligatory brinksmanship, and I think they have the upper hand in this negotiation. The musicians, on the other hand, are in the midst of an existential crisis I'm sorry to say. It's no secret that there is a contingent of producers - not a majority but a determined lot - are ready for a fight and angling for a strike. The authorization is the best ammo the union has, and it will probably work towards cooler heads prevailing, as long as it can avoid blowing themselves up (something that is not one of their strong suits unfortunately).

The bottom line is that no one can answer the question posed in the subject line."

802 doesn't play. This strike will indeed happen if the Broadway League doesn't crack a proper deal. They don't play about their money. AEA is always afraid to follow through. I'd mentally prepare for it. 

[ChairinMain]

Posted: 10/14/25 at 2:15pm

So hypothetically lets say the musicians but not AEA goes on strike. Musicals are effected (except Ragtime), most plays are uneffected. "Oh Mary" features an actor who plays piano onstage  - Would that be shuttered as well? 

[blaxx]

Posted: 10/14/25 at 2:29pm

ChairinMain said: "So hypothetically lets say the musicians but not AEA goes on strike. Musicals are effected (except Ragtime), most plays are uneffected. "Oh Mary" features an actor who plays piano onstage - Would that be shuttered as well?"

Affected, love.

[Kad]

Posted: 10/14/25 at 2:43pm

blaxx said: "ChairinMain said: "So hypothetically lets say the musicians but not AEA goes on strike. Musicals are effected (except Ragtime), most plays are uneffected. "Oh Mary" features an actor who plays piano onstage - Would that be shuttered as well?"

Affected, love."

We all knew what they meant, love. 

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 10/14/25 at 11:35pm

Even shows now affected, and please correct me if I’m wrong about the last strike….wouldn’t they likely join in solidarity?

[HogansHero]

Posted: 10/14/25 at 11:56pm

Play Esq. said: "Even shows now affected, and please correct me if I’m wrong about the last strike….wouldn’t they likely join in solidarity?"

As I think someone else said, there is a problem with doing that because there is a provision in the production contract that would preclude joining since AEA and AFM are not affiliated unions. If there were an AEA strike, rather than an AFM strike, AEA actors would be instructed not to cross their own union's picket line.

[kdogg36]

Posted: 10/15/25 at 12:06am

HogansHero said: "If there were anAEA strike, rather than an AFM strike, AEA actors would be instructed not to cross their own union's picket line."

If the musicians strike, and the producers try to keep shows open with synthetic music or some such nonsense, this is going to become a very sensitive thing. I will not cross the musicians' picket line as a ticket-buyer, and I will judge the **** out of any actor who crosses it.

 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 10/15/25 at 2:22am

kdogg36 said: "If the musicians strike, and the producers try to keep shows open with synthetic music or some such nonsense, this is going to become a very sensitive thing. I will not cross the musicians' picket line as a ticket-buyer, and I will judge the **** out of any actor who crosses it."

You are confounding two or actually three separate things. Crossing a picket line of an unaffiliated union is a "secondary boycott" and that is illegal (and actionable). Adding in the idea of a virtual orchestra (something, as Kad notes, that is just theoretical at this point) is a separate can of worms for a bunch of reasons. I don't think that is a viable result from any perspective so I am not going to fret about it too much now. Finally, what you and I would or would not do doesn't really address a meaningful issue. Personally, I can't imagine being interested in a musical without music, and I can't imagine it would ever be financially feasible for a producer on Broadway.

As I believe I said earlier, I think there is a subset of producers of musicals who would like to break 802. At present the majority of producers want "cooler heads to prevail" (on both sides) but 802 needs to be more careful than it has been. Nuclear options are not good for anyone, and I would caution that Here Lies Love lit a fuse for some producers that will not end up pretty for the union.. 

I am a lot more concerned about this touring productions than I am about virtual orchestras.

[kdogg36]

Posted: 10/15/25 at 12:25pm

HogansHero said: "Crossing a picket line of an unaffiliated union is a "secondary boycott" and that is illegal (and actionable)."

Thank you for your careful analysis, as usual! I'll try to keep a cool head about it. 

I just wanted to clarify the sentence quoted above. Are you saying it would be illegal for actors to cross the musicians' picket line, or the opposite?

[HogansHero]

Posted: 10/15/25 at 10:35pm

The opposite but that should not be read as suggesting that an individual actor breaks the law when they choose to do or not do something. The aim is to prevent a boycott, which is a sort of collective action, although of course a person who does not show up for work may suffer consequences of their actions just as most others would.

[sppunk]

Posted: 10/15/25 at 11:04pm

I work for a union that has had two strikes.  We are back in nyc to see shows Nov 7-10 and I am packing signs to join picket lines. I am assuming the league won’t agree to being good and a strike is called. 
 

#1u