A lockout by Broadway producers and theatre owners, which many theatre insiders considered a likely possibility after final offers from both parties were rejected on Oct. 9, will not occur the weekend of Oct. 12.

On Oct. 12, Charlotte St. Martin, executive director of the League of American Theatres and Producers, issued the following statement: "This weekend, the shows will go on. All Broadway theatregoers who have tickets should come in and enjoy the performances. To those of you who have followed media reports of the Broadway contract negotiations with Local One and have heard that we may be shutting down today or over the weekend, we want to assure you that that is not the case."

The stagehands union, which has been working without a contract since July, 31, has been in discussions with Broadway producers and theatre owners for a month, attempting to come to agreeable terms for a new contract.

During the month-long negotiations, the League has been bargaining on behalf of the Jujamcyn and Shubert theatre owners, who account for 22 of the 39 Broadway houses. The Nederlanders, representing 9 Broadway theatres, are under a separate contract with Local One and are at the table as observers.

The two parties have been unable to come to agreement on points of flexibility within designated work assignments, as well as in the reduction of labor and cost for the load-in process of scenery for a new production.