AEA and Broadway League Start Negotions Friday; BroadwayWorld Spoke to Both

Actors' Equity Association will begin production contact negotiations (Broadway, road and major sit-downs) with The Broadway League this Friday, April 18th. 

AEA states, "We anticipate the talks to be collegial and it is our intention to wrap up the negotiations by the current contract's expiration date of June 29th.  Issues are going to include the overall compensation package, tours (in the last negotiation the two sides jointly created the successful experimental touring package and we'll look at ways to continue to improve it that makes sense for both sides), safety (this is something that always is discussed - its important to keep actors safe while continuing to make the technological advancements that are the wow factors in big musicals), publicity and promotion (with the economy the way it is right now, the producers are interested in marketing and promotion and the Union is interested in how that impacts the actors)."

Charlotte St. Martin Executive Director of The Broadway League said, "Actors and producers enjoy a very special bond.  The collaborative nature of this relationship is of fundamental importance to our industry.  We anticipate that the Equity talks will proceed with both sides seeking to forge a timely and mutually beneficial agreement – one that will encourage the success of individual productions and the future of the industry."

Stay tuned to BroadwayWorld.com for more news as negotiations begin, and Broadway tries to avoid another strike.