Stagehand strike didn't stop Macy's parade

NEW YORK, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- The ongoing strike by stagehands in New York City did little to limit the festivities Thursday surrounding Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

While the strike did impact some Broadway productions' efforts in the annual parade, New York's WABC-TV said the parade easily made up for those losses with a plethora of new entries among its regular enthusiastic members.

With the Radio City Rockettes and regular clowns being joined by three new balloons and the Virginia Tech Regimental Band, the ongoing strike appeared to be the last thing on most people's minds, the report said.

Virginia Tech's band took part in Thursday's parade to honor those lost in last year's tragic shooting on campus.

But while the strike appeared to have little impact on the day's festivities, "Legally Blonde" director Jerry Mitchell said his production's appearance was devastated by the labor dispute.

Before appearing in the parade's lineup, Mitchell told WABC-TV that the strike left his production's costumes and props locked away.

"We're going to be the only musical performing without our props and costumes, which I find very disheartening," he said.