For 2 Riverhead Broadway buffs, looming strikes unwelcome dramas

Sisters and Broadway buffs Christine Zuhoski and Deborah Harris of Riverhead had been nervous that the show wouldn’t go on.

Actually, shows.

The retired Long Island schoolteachers had back-to-back tickets, purchased a month ago, for a matinee of the musical "Death Becomes Her" and an evening performance of the play "ART."

Their day in the city turned out to be the eve of a threatened strike that could begin Thursday by the theater musicians labor union. Also looming: a threatened strike by a different union, the one representing actors and stage managers that could happen at any time.

"We were holding our breath," Harris, 71, who taught in West Islip, said as she and Zuhoski stood in line on West 46th Street, outside the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, before the matinee curtain. Earlier, they had driven to Ronkonkoma then rode the railroad into Manhattan.

Mediation was ongoing Wednesday, union spokesman Rush Perez said. Talks to avert a strike were expected to last well into the night, according to Dan Point, the recording vice president of the musicians’ union, the American Federation of Musicians Local 802, and a member of the negotiating team. At 2:23 a.m. Thursday, Perez said the talks were ongoing.

A musicians strike would shutter 23 Broadway musicals, and a strike by actors and stage managers would close almost all of Broadway, including plays.

Wiley Norvell, an outside spokesman for The Broadway League, which represents owners and producers, said in a statement on behalf of the organization: "Good-faith negotiations happen at the bargaining table, not in the press. We value our musicians and we are committed to working in good faith to get a fair contract done."

Musicals affected in the event of a strike are “& Juliet," "Aladdin," "Beetlejuice," "The Book of Mormon," "Buena Vista Social Club," "Chess," "Chicago," "Death Becomes Her," "The Great Gatsby," "Hadestown, "Hamilton," "Hell’s Kitchen," "Just in Time," "The Lion King," "Mamma Mia!," "Maybe Happy Ending," "Operation Mincemeat," "MJ," "Moulin Rouge!," "The Outsiders," "The Queen of Versailles," "SIX" and "Wicked," according to a past union statement.

The musicians want pay hikes, "the protection of the musicians' health care benefits," as well as no change to an attendance requirement, the union has said.

During the last major Broadway strike, in 2007, tickets under some circumstances were refunded automatically if purchased by credit card, depending on whether the tickets were purchased on platforms like Telecharge, Ticketmaster or at the box office.

No refunds were needed for Zuhoski and Harris, the Riverhead theatergoers. In fact, before the theater they went to St. Patrick's Cathedral and between the shows got an early dinner at 5 Napkin Burger, just up the street from the Lunt-Fontanne.

By Matthew Chayes

matthew.chayes@newsday.comchayesmatthew

Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.