Show will go on for Broadway while union negotiates contracts

NEW YORK -- Leaders of the stage actors union, meeting in a marathon session, struggled Tuesday to reach a consensus on what to do next in their stalled negotiations with Broadway producers.

The meeting began in early afternoon and continued into the evening with no announcement by the union except that the shows would go on.

"The Equity Council, the governing body of Actors' Equity Association, has determined that the actors will report to the theaters [today] for both performances and will continue to do so until further notice," the union said in a terse statement.

Today is a two-show day for most Broadway plays and musicals, with matinee and evening performances.

There were no formal talks Tuesday between the two sides, although some contact was made, said Kelly Sullivan, a spokeswoman for the League of American Theatres and Producers.

"We're pleased that [the actors] are going to continue to perform, but it's really imperative that we start performing back at the bargaining table, and that's also where we are anxious to see them," Sullivan said.

At the center of the dispute between Equity and the League have been two major issues: nonunion tours of Broadway shows and rising health-care costs.

The union has been particularly vexed by the nonunion tours, which have increased over the past several years.

The talks collapsed late Sunday as a midnight deadline approached.

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On the Net:

Actors' Equity Association: http://www.actorsequity.org

League of American Theatres and Producers: http://www.broadway.org