AMPTP

Just in case you've been hiding under a rock (or, like me, you don't watch the TV):

The TV and movie writers are on strike! (And another blog here.) Let me tell you, I have never been so disappointed in Ellen. (Though the article does point out this, It was not clear why the WGA East singled out DeGeneres rather than her syndicated TV peers, including Oprah Winfrey, kitchen guru Rachael Ray or psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw. Hmmmmmmmmmm. Good point!)

However. This is mostly a theater blog, so what concerns me just as much is that the stagehands in New York are on strike — for the first time in their 121 year history.

OMG, if these strikes go on, people might have to start reading books. Crazy times, eh? (Luckily, we're putting out our "Winter Reading" special issue in a couple of weeks ... )

Here's The NY Times' primer on the strike issues on Broadway.
Here's IATSE Local One's website.
Here's the League of American Theaters and Producers' website.

Here are some good blogs about the Broadway stagehands strike:
The Humble Nailbanger
One NYC Stagehand
Steve on Broadway
Full Force Theater Musings

And for kicks, I'm going to paste in my entire article from last January's BRAVO about the stagehands' union in Eugene/Springfield, IATSE Local 675. Those people work freakin' hard, and they work almost every day of the year (when they can — the Hult Center has been a bit underutilized since 9/11, weirdly).

And you know what? This is dangerous work. Sad that the Broadway producers, who are making record profits, want take-backs in the contract.

Read more after the jump.