The labor union representing over 51,000 Broadway performers and stage managers is encouraging its members to strike. The strike comes following two years of unsuccessful negotiations with management. Actors’ Equity is particularly displeased with the salaries being offered to developmental lab participants. Developmental labs are used to test material that is being created for new shoes- actors and writers create and evaluate material in labs before bringing a final product to the stage. The strike currently has no end date, and may negatively impact musicals and plays that are currently being produced.
See "Broadway actors' union strikes over developmental labs", Mark Kennedy, The San Diego Union-Tribute, January 7, 2019