Broadway stagehands strike

NEW YORK, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- Broadway stagehands walked off the job and set up picket lines Saturday, darkening stages across New York.

"How the Grinch Stole Christmas" at St. James Theater was the first show hit by striking members of stagehands union Local One, who walked after contract negotiations stalled over rules regulating the number of stagehands required at shows, NY1 News reported.

Theater owners will refund tickets during the strike. The Actors' Equity Association also announced its support of the striking stagehands Saturday, the online news site reported.

Among the dozens of shows darkened by the strike are "Chicago," "A Chorus Line," "Les Miserables," "The Lion King" and "Phantom of the Opera."

"It's devastating because we have seven sold-out shows between Saturday and Sunday and not a lot of notification for the customers," Grinch producer James Sanna told NY1.