The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees' Local One and the League of American Theatres and Producers jointly announced Wednesday they will resume negotiations this weekend "at an undisclosed place and time."

"Talks have been scheduled between Local One and The League of American Theaters and Producers beginning this weekend, at an undisclosed place and time," the two said in a joint statement. "No interviews or comment from either organization will be issued until further notice," it added.

However, the stagehand strike that has turned off the lights in Broadway theatres is set to continue through the end of the week after talks between union and theatre representatives broke down late Sunday night.

The breakdown of talks followed two days of negotiations centered on the number of stagehands needed for each show. Charlotte St Martin, executive director of the League of American Theatres and Producers, said the union "continues to require us to hire more people than we need," while a union spokesman said that the League had rejected the stagehand's proposal as "not enough."

The IATSE's Local One in New York went ahead with their planned strike against the League of American Theatres and Producers as of 10 a.m. Saturday. The strike shut down some 27 Broadway theaters, with disappointed ticket holders arriving at theaters to find doors closed and picket lines manned outside.

With many shows capable of earning 1 million dollars a day, the League estimates that the strike is costing 17 million dollars a day, not including the economic costs facing area restaurants and other businesses that rely on the theatre-going crowd.

The dispute has shut down 27 theatres, and will keep them closed during the normally lucrative Thanksgiving week.

The strike is the second in less than five years to shut down Broadway after a four day musicians' strike in 2003. The main point of contention between the sides involves work rules that govern the number of stagehands needed for each show. The previous agreement between the union and theatre owners expired at the end of July. The talks reached an impasse last month.

The current annual salary for stagehands allegedly ranges from $67,500 to $88,500, according to the union, which does not want to disclose what increases it seeks.