On Wednesday, a mediator will begin trying to broker a deal between Actors' Equity Association and the Broadway League, which represents producers and theater owners. The two sides have met 11 times since August, and Equity has begun collecting signatures from its members on cards that say "if the time comes, I am ready to strike."
"We knew this was going to be a hard negotiation, and it has been; thus far they have not really moved on any of our proposals," said Al Vincent Jr., the executive director of Equity.