Broadway Curtain Could Fall as Musicians Authorize Strike

Broadway Labor Tensions Escalate Amid Dual Contract Fights

It could be lights out curtain drop for Broadway as the American Federation of Musicians Local 802 moves closer to a potential strike, a powerful step that amplifies the pressure on the Broadway League as it juggles negotiations with multiple crafts, including Actors' Equity Association (AEA).

Musicians Authorize Strike

Playbill reported that Local 802, which represents the city’s live theater musicians, announced that its members had voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike. This decision does not immediately halt performances but grants union leadership the authority to call a walkout should contract discussions with the League collapse. Reports indicate that nearly 98% of voting members supported the measure, with a strike possible within two weeks if the deadlock continues.

Musicians have been performing without a standard contract since late summer, and their bargaining priorities focus heavily on stability: wage increases, higher employer contributions to health care, and protections against job reductions to ensure employment and income security.

Local 802 President Bob Suttmann stated that the vote sends a clear message to management. In an October 9 statement, Suttmann emphasized the conflict: “Broadway musicians are speaking loud and clear: we will do whatever it takes to win a fair contract... The Broadway League recently reported its most successful season ever and can fully afford to provide fair pay and benefits, without reducing jobs. The Broadway League needs to know that musicians are considering the power of a strike if necessary. Their strike authorization vote is their strength.”

Parallel Negotiations with Actors' Equity

The musicians’ dispute unfolds alongside parallel negotiations involving the AEA, which represents actors and stage managers. The AEA's production contract expired in late September, and the union has begun collecting "Strike Pledge" cards from its members.

AEA's top demands center on making work sustainable and safe: they are pushing for more humane and sustainable scheduling, better coverage for workers who call out, and increased contributions to the union's health fund. A widely circulated letter to the Broadway League—signed by over 1,300 actors and stage managers—urges management to address these issues.

Brooke Shields, president of Actors’ Equity Association, framed the issue as a fundamental investment in the workforce. In an Equity statement, she declared, “Asking our employers to care for our bodies, and to pay their fair share toward our health insurance is not only reasonable and necessary, it’s an investment they should want to make toward the long-term success of their businesses. That’s just math.”

The Stakes for Broadway

Both unions are arguing that the League’s reported “highest grossing season in Broadway recorded history” must be reflected in their contracts through stronger benefits and staffing commitments.

In an October 1 open letter , Local 802 called for “fair wages that reflect Broadway’s success,” “stable health coverage,” and provisions to preserve existing jobs and in-house contractors, citing both safety and efficiency standards.

The Broadway League, representing producers and theater owners, is involved in all these talks. The strike authorization by Local 802 significantly heightens the stakes for New York’s vital live-theater sector, which is a major contributor to the city’s tourism and cultural economy. A walkout by either union would create widespread ripple effects across the industry.