Nutcracker - Transit Strike policy

[Dale]

From NYCB:

STRIKE ALERT: ATTENTION TICKET HOLDERS FOR GEORGE BALANCHINE'S THE NUTCRACKER™

In the event of a New York City transit strike, performances of George Balanchine's The Nutcracker™ at the New York State Theater will go on as scheduled. Please check your tickets carefully for your performance time and leave ample time for alternate travel arrangements. No refunds or exchanges can be granted due to strike actions, which are beyond our control.

[atm711]

From NYCB:

No refunds or exchanges can be granted due to strike actions, which are beyond our control.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

And 'Bah, Humbug' to you, too. The very least they can do is to offer people their empty seats during the regular season.

[carbro]

The Broadway theaters, it was just announced on WNYC, will honor tickets at a later date.

I guess they had some control over the strike.

[liebs]

The difference is that Broadway shows have an indefinate run, and much more opportunity to make back their income. Nutcracker is a limited engagement more akin to Big Appe Circus or Radio City. How are those shows handling the situation?

[drb]

Ailey, currently playing at City Center, sets a different tone. Quoting the City Center website:

TRANSIT STRIKE:

During the transit strike, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Manhattan Theatre Club performances will continue as scheduled. The performers and crew are making extraordinary efforts to travel to New York City Center. We encourage you to make every effort to attend.

For Alvin Ailey performances: if it is impossible for you to travel to the theater and you must reschedule, we suggest you call back once the strike is over at 212.247.0430 ext. 238 and leave your name, date and time of the performance you would like to attend and number of tickets you have. Every effort will be made to accommodate you at another performance. As a reminder, the location of replacement passes will be on an as available basis. However, we ask that you hold on to your tickets as proof of purchase. Please note: replacement passes are not available for the Dec. 31st performance at 7:30pm.

[drb]

Directly following this icy announcement

...

STRIKE ALERT: ATTENTION TICKET HOLDERS FOR GEORGE BALANCHINE'S THE NUTCRACKER™

In the event of a New York City transit strike, performances of George Balanchine's The Nutcracker™ at the New York State Theater will go on as scheduled. Please check your tickets carefully for your performance time and leave ample time for alternate travel arrangements. No refunds or exchanges can be granted due to strike actions, which are beyond our control.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

on NYCB's website are the words

"POSITION OPENING: MARKETING MANAGER

New York City Ballet is seeking to fill a full-time opening in its Marketing Department. The ideal candidate will possess strong interpersonal and communication skills ..."

Ironic...

[Dale]

An update:

STRIKE ALERT: ATTENTION TICKET HOLDERS FOR GEORGE BALANCHINE'S THE NUTCRACKER™

In the event of a New York City transit strike, performances of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™ at the New York State Theater will go on as scheduled.

Our dancers, musicians, crew and theater staff are all working hard to make sure that the show will go on and the magic of this production will be wonderful part of your holiday season. We hope that during this hectic and challenging time, you are able to find an alternate method of transportation so we may welcome you at the theater.

However, should you find that you are not able to attend, please contact our Box Office at 212-870-5570 to find out what options may be available to you.

We wish you a safe and happy holiday season.

[oberon]

From looking at the NUTCRACKER ticket availability board in the lobby, it looks to me like there might have been a drop-off in sales as the strike loomed. NYCB may feel now that they can offer some replacement tickets to the available performances in the final week to people who cannot attend on their scheduled night this week - that of course being tangent upon the strike being settled soon, which begins to look less probable with each passing day.

This will most likely be snipped, but I got a kick out if it: Mayor Giuliani was shopping at the store where I work yesterday and a colleague of mine asked him, "Mr. Mayor, what do you think of the transit strike?" and he said "Toussaint should be negotiating from a jail cell!"