"I can inform you that the talks have broken off and the producers have informed Local One and what Local One had offered was not enough and that the producers have left the negotiation," said Local One spokesman Bruce Cohen.

The union represents 3,000 property persons, stage and studio electricians, set carpenters, sound designers, audio technicians, moving-light operators, riggers and special effects people in New York.

The League of American Theatres and Producers (LATP) then promptly announced theaters would remain dark through Nov. 25, knocking out a potential US$30 million in income. No new talks were scheduled.

"We presented a comprehensive proposal that responded to the union's concerns about loss of jobs and earnings, and attempted to address our need for some flexibilities in running our business," Charlotte St. Martin, the executive director of the LATP, said in a statement.

"The union rejected our effort to compromise and continues to require us to hire more people than we need."

"Out of respect for our public and our loyal theatergoers, many of whom are traveling from around the world, we regret that we must cancel performances through Sunday Nov. 25," she added.

The main sticking point is that the two sides could not agree on the number of stagehands needed during the "load in," when a set is put in place in preparation for the show.

Current rules require that a stagehand hired for part of the load-in must be employed for the show's full run. Producers want the practice to end.

The two sides negotiated for 24 hours over the weekend but failed to reach a deal.

The strike which started on Nov. 10 has affected 27 plays and musicals, including some of Broadway's biggest hits, such as "Chicago," "Jersey Boys," "The Phantom of the Opera," "The Lion King" and "Mamma Mia!"

Eight shows remain open under separate contracts with producers.

But the walkout is also hitting businesses that serve the theater crowd. Over two dozen eateries are offering a 15-percent discount on lunch and dinner.

On Tuesday, the fourth day of the strike, the city comptroller, William C. Thompson Jr., estimated that the economic losses from the theater strike amounted to about 2 million dollars per day.

The estimate was based on survey data relating to Broadway ticket sales, the proportion of tickets sold to different market segments, and the total spending of those patrons on tickets, dining, shopping and other nontheater activities.

However, the comptroller's office warned that the strike losses could easily rise beyond US$2 million a day if the strike lasted longer than six weeks and began "to affect the vacation planning decisions of long-distance domestic and international tourists."

The Thanksgiving weekend is second only to the week between Christmas and New Year's in bringing big bucks to Broadway. Many shows top more than 1 million dollars for the week.