By Alfred Branch, Jr.

Negotiations between the League of American Theatres and Producers and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees to resolve the current Broadway stagehands strike are scheduled to resume Wednesday morning, Nov. 28, according to the two parties.

The sides spent several hours negotiating over the last couple of nights, according to published reports, but they decided to take a break and get back together Wednesday. Performances at the 26 shuttered theaters are cancelled through Wednesday’s matinees, which could be a sign that the two sides are close to finalizing a deal in principal. “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, the popular family show, was allowed to re-open because of a court order obtained by the show’s producers.

Since the strike started earlier this month, ticket sales on Broadway have fallen precipitously, and according to the New York Times, quoting a source in the New York City’s comptroller’s office, the nearly 20-day-old strike is costing the City $2 million per day lost revenues.

The main sticking point between the two sides appears to still be the number of stagehands required to work on each show, with the union wanting more than the producers believe are necessary.

(The image accompanying this story is from Gothamist.com)