Broadway is on the verge of an unprecedented pause as the Actors’ Equity, the union representing 900 performers and stage managers, has warned that its members are ready to strike, which would halt 32 productions at the height of the theater season.
The dispute centers on healthcare funding. The union says contributions from the Broadway League—the trade group for theater owners and producers—have remained flat for more than a decade, even as costs rise. According to Al Vincent Jr., the union’s lead negotiator, regional theaters in places like Kansas and Idaho sometimes pay more into health plans than Broadway itself.
Negotiations are ongoing, but the previous three-year contract expired on September 28. Without an agreement, the stage lights may soon dim on Broadway’s most celebrated productions.
Broadway has stood for centuries as a symbol of American theater, drawing millions to the heart of Manhattan. But today, the spotlight is on its workers, their demands, and the uncertain future of the shows they bring to life. Click through this gallery to explore how Broadway became the beating heart of world theater.