Broadway actors have reached a tentative agreement with The Broadway League, but theater musicians could still strike. 

On Oct.18, the Actor’s Equity announced on Instagram that negotiations were successful. “After a marathon mediation session lasting until 6 a.m., Equity and The Broadway League have reached a tentative agreement on the Production Contract.”

But Local 802 AFM, a union that represents Broadway musicians, still hasn’t made a deal. The ongoing contract dispute could shutdown one of New York City’s most iconic cultural hubs and tourist attractions, resulting in millions of dollars in lost revenue.

The previous contract between Actor’s Equity, the union representing Broadway actors and stage managers, and The Broadway League, the trade organization for producers and theater owners, expired September 28. 

More than 1,000 members of the Actor’s Equity signed a letter to the Broadway League, listing three main demands: adequate paid time off, improved health insurance, and safely staffed workplaces. The previous contract allowed performers to work for 16 consecutive shows without a day off even during the holiday season. 

“The majority of the working labor body on Broadway is making minimum,” said actress Joanna Tsui-Carpenter in an Instagram post. 

Under the previous contract, the minimum weekly salary for a Broadway actor was $2,638, which Joanna Tsui-Carpenter noted isn’t sufficient after factoring in taxes, agent commissions, manager fees, and union dues.

“This three-year agreement saves the Equity-League Health Fund while also making strides in our other priorities, including scheduling and physical therapy access,” said Al Vincent, Jr., the executive director of the Actor’s Equity and lead negotiator, in a statement. “Now we will bring the deal to our members for ratification, and in the meantime, we are putting our full support behind AFM Local 802 as they work with the League to reach a deal that averts a strike.” 

The most recent Broadway strike was by stagehands in 2007, which resulted in 19 days of cancelled shows. 

Local businesses in Times Squares would also be deeply affected by a strike.

“It is scary because for us who work in the merch industry, we bank on the show happening,” said Josh B. a merchandise manager at One Shubert Alley store, who didn’t want to give his last name while the strike remains a possibility. “I believe I can say for most of us, we are very much on the side of ‘If it needs to happen, let it happen.’”

In the middle of Times Square on West 47th Street is the TKTS booth where theatergoers can buy same-day discounted tickets to shows on and off Broadway. 

“Ninety-five percent of what we sell is Broadway tickets,” said Michael Naumann, the managing director of the Theatre Development Fund, which oversees TKTS. The booth makes its money from ticket service charges only. If a strike were to happen for an extended amount of time, TKTS would need to pivot its marketing strategy to Off Broadway theaters, he added.

“The cost of living in New York has gone up and health insurance has gone up, so I understand where the unions are coming from,” said Naumann. “At the same time, with the theater producers, the cost of musicals have gone skyrocketing—everybody is between a rock and a hard place.”

Even the U.S. Congress wants the parties to reach an agreement.

Thirty-one congressional members sent a letter on Oct. 9 to the presidents of the Broadway League, Actors’ Equity Association, American Federation of Musicians, and Local 802 AFM encouraging them to avoid a strike.

“Broadway and all theater is essential not just to New York, but to our national identity, culture and economy,” the letter stated. “A disruption to Broadway will result in significant economic disruption to not just the New York metropolitan area but harm theater workers and patrons across the country and around the world.”

Although the pandemic shutdown devastated the performing arts business, the 2024-2025 theater season marked the highest grossing season in recorded history with $1.89 billion in earnings. Much of this success can be attributed to major stars like George Clooney in “Good Night, and Good Luck” and Denzel Washington in “Othello.” Musicals, on the other hand, are struggling. According to a New York Times article, none of the musicals on Broadway have made a profit this year. 

“When a strike like this happens, it hurts both sides and the people in between,” said Naumann. “As an institution that is trying to support everyone being able to come to the theater, we really hope that it doesn’t come to that.”