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.

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.

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.

"Our goal is simple: To pay for workers we need and for work that is actually performed. Stagehands are highly skilled and highly paid. They are -- and will remain -- the highest paid stagehands in the theatrical world," said Charlotte St. Martin, executive director of the League of American Theatres and Producers.

Essentially, the League of American Theatres and Producers wants to be able to use less than the minimum of four stagehands required by the former contract for a theater or musical. 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.

There are eight Broadway shows unaffected by the strike, as their stagehands have different Local One contracts. The shows which are still on are: "Young Frankenstein," "Mary Poppins," "Xanadu," "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," "Mauritius," "Pygmalion," "The Ritz" and "Cymbeline."