Almost all of Broadway's musicals had shut down

Talks through the night on Monday resulted in agreement on Tuesday morning.

"Broadway is no longer dark and that is great for the city and that is great for people who work in the theatre," announced New York mayor Michael Bloomberg.

"Every single Broadway show will be lit tonight honouring ticket holders."

Musicians from Broadway shows had walked out of performances on Friday over a dispute about the minimum size of orchestras in theatres.

Musicians' union President Bill Moriarity announced an agreement that the 13 largest theatres will have minimums of 18 to 19 musicians.

"While we have made some reductions in the house minimum, we have preserved live Broadway ... and we will continue to provide the best music that you will ever hear in your life," he said.

Missing musicals 42nd Street Les Miserables The Phantom of the Opera The Lion King Rent Hairspray The Producers

Mr Bloomberg called the two sides to talks because the strike was crippling businesses such as restaurants and hotels which depended on Broadway.

The cost of the strike to the local tourism industry has already been put at $7.2m (�4.4m).

The strike effectively lasted three days because Broadway shows are traditionally closed on Mondays.

Compromise

The American Federation of Musicians' union wanted the minimum number of musicians to be kept at about 26, depending on the size of the theatre, but the League of American Theaters and Producers had wanted a significant reduction.

League president Jed Bernstein said: "Neither side got everything it wanted and neither side was able to get through the process without making compromises."

The union had been worried that producers wanted to phase out their services altogether and use recorded or computer-generated music instead.

The curtain remained down on 18 shows including The Lion King and Phantom of the Opera, during the strike - the first time in 30 years such a strike has taken place.

Theatres had planned to go ahead with performances by using recorded music, but actors and stagehands refused to cross musicians' union picket lines.

Below are some of your views on the strikes and the effect they have had on New York.

The striking Broadway musicians, and the actors and stagehands who fervently support them, deserve the thanks of the entire theatregoing public. We want a future filled with real, live musicals, from orchestra pit to stage; instead of what actor Harvey Fierstein so aptly labelled "roller rink" ambiance.

I stand with the musicians. Going to theatre should enliven our sense, not deaden them.
Judy Polan, New York, US

I saw Beauty and the Beast on Broadway over Christmas and half the excitement and fun was because of the orchestra. Putting in recorded music would be like seeing an artist lip sync. I support the strike fully!
Matthew Beevor, Wales

Being a musician in Paris the pre-recorded music started over 10 years ago. First step, mixing live musicians and pre-recorded music, 10 years later, not one single live orchestra in the big clubs like Moulin Rouge or Folies Berg�res.

Next step would be to mix computers and live musicians in classical orchestras ? Why not, there is big money to make, to do, imagine 110 musicians who cost a lot of money, compare to a computer who never complains, a dream for the boss. But, life becomes boring with a computer and you don't get a chance to learn from a computer because he never disagrees. Live artists are the same as eating good food and good wine, it needs taste.

Good luck to the American musicians, I hope they can succeed. M. Damant
Damant Jean-Louis, France

Yes they are right.
Aakruti Dave, India