Talks to end NY theatre strike collapse

"We are profoundly disappointed to have to tell you that talks broke off tonight, and that no further negotiations are scheduled," Charlotte St Martin, executive director of the League of American Theatres and Producers, Inc, said in a statement.

She said the union representing theatre stagehands rejected compromise proposals offered by the league and "continues to require us to hire more people than we need."

"Out of respect for our public and our loyal theatregoers, many of whom are traveling from around the world, we regret that we must cancel performances through Sunday November 25," St. Martin said.

Bruce Cohen, a spokesman for Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, is quoted by The New York Times as saying that "producers informed Local One that what Local One offered was not good enough, and they left."

The strike, which started on November 10 without notice, brought the curtain down at 27 Broadway theatres, with disappointed ticket holders arriving at theatres to find the doors closed and picket lines set up outside.

However, for shows such as hit musical Mary Poppins, which are not run by members of the league and therefore not hit by the strike, the stoppage was helping ensure sell-out shows.

Off-Broadway productions were also reportedly experiencing a mini-boom thanks to the strike, with many visitors from across the United States and around the world still anxious to see some New York theatre during their visit. © 2007 Australian Broadcasting Corporation