The day the musicals died

last updated 8 January 2015

New York

Nearly every musical on Broadway shut down for four days this week after entire orchestras walked out on strike. Broadway producers had wanted to cut costs by reducing the minimum number of musicians required for big shows. The musicians’ union said no, and actors and stagehands joined them on the picket lines. All but one of Broadway’s 19 musicals went dark—including Hairspray, The Producers, and The Lion King. The strike ended with a compromise: All shows in major theaters will have to feature live music with at least 18 musicians, down from a minimum of 24. The dispute cost the city millions, and upset thousands of ticket holders. Sharan Mandell, a Pennsylvania teacher, was at a restaurant when she heard Aida had been canceled. “Our dinner was ruined,” she said.