Philadelphia Theatre Company Will Proceed With THE MOUNTAINTOP Previews This Weekend Despite Stagehand Strike

The first preview performances of Philadelphia Theatre Company's production of The Mountaintop by Katori Hall will take place on Saturday, January 19 at 8:00 PM (Broad and Lombard Streets) and on Sunday, January 20 at 3:00 PM at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre. The remainder of the performance schedule remains unchanged through Sunday, February 17.

"We have been negotiating in good faith with the stagehands and have offered them a reasonable and fair contract which they have rejected. Our first responsibility is always to our audiences and our community, and we are focusing on delivering a quality production of this inspiring show about DR. Martin Luther King, Jr. The show will go on," said PTC's Producing Artistic Director Sara Garonzik.

"We are eager to come to a resolution with the Union but we cannot allow this situation to impede our ability to bring this marvelous production to the community," said Managing Director Shira Beckerman. "It is ironic that, while we are producing a play about DR. Martin Luther King, Jr. who urged cooperation and consensus, we are engaged in a disruptive and distracting situation prompted by the stagehands' union walkout."

Set in Memphis on April 3, 1968, The Mountaintop imagines the events that might have taken place the night before the assassination of Civil Rights leader DR. Martin Luther King, Jr. After delivering his magnificent "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech, an exhausted and defeated Dr. King retires to Room 306 at the Lorraine Motel where he encounters a mysterious and spirited stranger as an epic storm rages outside.

The Company's stagehand employees voted in September to become members of IATSE Local 8. PTC and the Union negotiated an interim labor agreement in October. Since that agreement's expiration in late November, members of the PTC management team have been in negotiations with representatives of the union on an ongoing basis. At the last negotiating session the parties agreed to meet on Monday, January 21.