Broadway enters an anxious time as labor action threatens to roil theaters
October 15, 2025
Broadway is tense as two major labor unions have authorized strike action amid ongoing contract negotiations with producers. Actors’ Equity Association and the American Federation of Musicians Local 802 have voted in favor of a strike authorization. Members of both unions are working under expired contracts. They want pay increases and higher contributions toward health care costs. Broadway’s financial health is strong, with the 2024-2025 season hitting a record $1.9 billion in box office revenue. Producers argue that increasing pay could lead to higher ticket prices. More than 30 members of Congress have urged all sides to bargain in good faith.