Stagehand Strike Cancels North Shore Mustic Theatre Show

BEVERLY, MA —Wednesday night's "Mamma Mia!" show at the North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly was canceled after stagehands went on strike late in the afternoon.

The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees said the workers are upset over low wages.

Stagehands walked out of the production about 4:15 p.m. during the dress rehearsal matinee of what was to be the first night of the show. The union said unionized actors and musicians followed the stagehands in the work action and the remaining cast and crew refused to cross the picket line..

The stagehands chanted outside of the theater and hoisted signs — among them "Have the UNDERPAID time of your life!"

"The stagehands and technicians say they love the North Shore Music Theatre, and they take tremendous pride in delighting audiences with fantastic productions day in and day out. They just want to be compensated appropriately for their skills and expertise," the union said.

Owner Bill Hanney initially told media outlets the show would go on, but later canceled the performance.

Thursday was to be the first run of shows at the theatre since it shuttered for the coronavirus health crisis in March 2020.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)