In a significant development for Broadway, the musicians’ union and commercial producers have reached a tentative labor agreement, forestalling a strike that could have silenced nearly two dozen musicals. This agreement was struck just in time on Thursday, alleviating fears of a disruption to the vibrant Broadway scene.

The American Federation of Musicians Local 802, representing 1,200 talented musicians, had been on the brink of striking. After intense mediation on Wednesday, they stood firm in their demand for a new contract by Thursday morning, ready to take action if their conditions were not met.

In the early hours of Thursday, a breakthrough was announced. The union revealed they had secured a tentative deal that promises not only wage increases but also enhanced contributions to the musicians’ health fund.

Bob Suttmann, President of AFM Local 802, expressed relief and satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “This three-year agreement provides meaningful wage and health benefit increases that will preserve crucial access to healthcare for our musicians while maintaining the strong contract protections that empower musicians to build a steady career on Broadway.”

With this tentative deal in place, the next step is for union members to ratify the agreement, ensuring stability and continued harmony on Broadway stages.

The 23 shows that could have gone silent ranged from megahits like “Hamilton” and “The Lion King” to newcomers like “Queen of Versailles” and “Chess,” which are still in previews. Plays would not have been automatically impacted.

It was the second Broadway labor deal in less than a week. Labor tensions had already seemed cool after Actors’ Equity Association — which represents over 51,000 members, including singers, actors, dancers and stage managers — announced a new three-year agreement with producers over the weekend.

Members of both unions had been working under expired contracts. The musicians’ contract expired on Aug. 31, and the Equity contract expired Sept. 28.

The health of Broadway — once very much in doubt due to the coronavirus pandemic that shut down theaters for some 18 months — is now very good, at least in terms of box office. It has been a long road back from the days when theaters were shuttered and the future looked bleak, but the 2024-2025 season took in $1.9 billion — the highest-grossing season in recorded history, overtaking the pre-pandemic previous high of $1.8 billion during the 2018-2019 season.

The unions pointed to the financial health of Broadway to argue that producers could afford to up pay and benefits for musicians and actors. Producers, represented by The Broadway League, had countered that the restored health of Broadway could be endangered by potential ticket price increases to accommodate the demands.

The most recent major strike on Broadway was in late 2007, when a 19-day walkout by stagehands dimmed the lights on more than two dozen shows and cost producers and the city millions of dollars in lost revenue.

On Wednesday, three U.S. senators from New York and New Jersey — Democrats Kirsten Gillibrand, Cory Booker and Andy Kim — wrote to both sides, urging them to “participate in good faith negotiations and continued communication.” The senators noted that Broadway supports nearly 100,000 jobs and is “an essential cornerstone in the economic well-being of surrounding businesses and sectors, including hospitality, retail and transportation.”