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Broadway actors reach tentative contract deal, but musicians’ strike still looms
By
Mike Hayes
Published Oct 18, 2025
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By
Mike Hayes
Published Oct 18, 2025
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The Actors’ Equity Association, which represents more than 50,000 professional actors and stage managers working in live theater, has reached a tentative agreement with The Broadway League for a new production contract, the union said Saturday.
Specifics about the tentative deal weren’t immediately available on Saturday, but health care had been a sticking point in the negotiations. In a statement on Saturday, union leaders said the parties held a marathon negotiation session lasting until 6 a.m.
“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 association’s executive director and lead negotiator. He added that the deal will now be brought to union members for ratification.
Broadway League President Jason Laks also hailed the tentative agreement in a statement.
“Our focus has been negotiating in good faith at the bargaining table to reach a fair contract and we thank our mediators for their diligent work bringing us together,” he said.
But the tentative deal comes as Broadway musicians, who have been working without a contract since August, have threatened to strike if they can’t come to their own agreement with the Broadway League. Vincent said his union was offering “full support” to the musicians’ union, AFM Local 802, as it works to reach a deal.
AFM Local 802 President Bob Suttmann said in a statement the union is looking to return to the table for mediation with the Broadway League as soon as it can.
“Local 802 is still in negotiation for a fair contract and everything remains on the table, including a strike,” he said.
Last Sunday, about 98% of the 1,000 musicians’ union members who cast ballots voted in favor of a potential strike.
On Oct. 1, the musicians sent an open letter to the Broadway League that outlined their demands, which included higher wages, better health care coverage, and protections from layoffs.
These negotiations are happening in the wake of Broadway grossing a record $1.89 billion in 2024-25, according to the Broadway League. The theater season had a total attendance of 14.7 million, its second best attended season ever.
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Mike Hayes
Mike Hayes covers equity and access to opportunity in New Jersey. He joined WNYC and Gothamist in 2023. Before that, he worked as a freelance journalist writing about policing and criminal justice. He has written for ProPublica, CNN, HuffPost, BuzzFeed News and The Appeal. He is also the author of the book, “The Secret Files: Bill De Blasio, The NYPD, and the Broken Promises of Police Reform.” In 2019, he was a finalist for the Livingston Award for Young Journalists.
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