Broadway labor talks continue 'round-the-clock'
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The labor talks continued through the night at the mayor's mansion.
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NEW YORK (CNN) -- After prodding from Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Broadway musicians and producers Monday night returned to the negotiating table.
The labor talks resumed around 9 p.m. at the mayor's mansion on the Upper East Side and are slated to continue "round-the-clock." It is the first time both sides have sat down for talks since last Friday, when the musicians' walkout shut down 18 of the Great White Way's 19 musicals.
"I am encouraged that theater owners, producers and the musicians' union have taken the city up on its offer, and I am determined that they reach an agreement so Broadway can come back to life," Bloomberg said in a statement.
The talks were being mediated by Frank Macchiarola, the president of St. Francis College, a liberal-arts school in Brooklyn Heights.
Bloomberg said he extended the request for the producers and musicians to resume negotiations in phone calls to Jeb Bernstein of the League of American Theatres and Producers, and Bill Moriarity of Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians.
"I pointed out to them the severe economic impact on a city still recovering from the terrible tragedy of the September 11th attack, the financial hardships being experienced by those employed in this and related industries, and the disappointment of theater-goers from around the world that the strike was causing," Bloomberg said.
About 325 musicians put away their instruments when the strike deadline passed at 12:01 a.m. Friday without an agreement. The Actors' Equity Association and Stagehands' union Local 1 are honoring the musicians' strike.
"Chicago" producer Barry Weissler arrives at Gracie Mansion on Monday night.
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The musicians and producers disagree on the minimum number of orchestra players required for Broadway shows. The producers have offered 15 as the minimum number of musicians they were willing to accept in Broadway's large theaters, where the current minimums range from 24 to 26.
The strike so far has cost Broadway producers about $5 million, according to Bernstein. Exchanges or refunds are available for any cancellations.
Broadway plays -- such as "Take Me Out" and "Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune" -- were being performed as usual, as were all off-Broadway productions.
-- CNN's Jonathan Wald contributed to this report.
