Broadway Talks Off; or How Charlotte St. Martin Mourns the Death of a Stagehand

Talks between the producers and the stagehands have broken off. Here's how Charlotte St. Martin, executive director of the League of American Theatres and Producers, is expressing her sorrow over the untimely, unfortunate death of a striking stagehand on Friday.

Yes, Virginia, it would have nice for Ms. St. Martin to have issued a public declaration of sorrow over the death of Frank Lavaia, but maybe she's too busy quenching her thirst for union blood.

Meanwhile, I just got an emailed press release from the publicist for Local One. It reads:

NEW YORK, November 18 - Talks between Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and the League of American Theatres and Producers broke off late this even (Sunday, November 18).

Just before the talks broke off, the producers informed Local One that what Local One had offered was simply not enough. The producers then walked out.

Local One will have no further comment.

For 121 years, Local One <http://www.iatselocalone.org/> has been the premiere stagehand union of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. The union represents 3,000 property persons, stage and studio electricians, set carpenters, sound designers, audio technicians, moving-light operators, riggers and special effects people in New York. For a history of Local One, click www.iatselocalone.org/about/history.html.

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