The Broadway League is a business league representing theater producers, presenters, entertainment and travel agencies, and suppliers associated with New York City’s live-theater productions (branded as Broadway). 1 It represents theater owners and producers in contract negotiations with labor unions representing performers (Actor’s Equity), stage managers, and production crews (IATSE). 2
Background
Founded in 1930, the Broadway League is a business league that includes theater owners, operators, producers, general managers, and presenters. 1 It also represents the interests of theatrical suppliers, restaurateurs, shipping companies, booking agents, travel agents, ticket agents, designers, and hotel managers. 3
As of December 2025, the Broadway League has over 700 member firms across 200 cities in the United States and Canada. It creates programs to increase interest in the theater industry and advocates on behalf of its member groups. 1
2025 Contract Negotiations
At the end of August 2025, the contracts covering unions representing actors, musicians, and stage managers on Broadway, Actors’ Equity and the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) Local 802, were set to expire with The Broadway League. In response, the unions were organizing to have members agree to go on strike if wages, pension, and healthcare benefits were not set to increase. The Broadway League told the New York Times that the unions “mischaracterized” an unwillingness to provide benefits such as for health care by leaving out the different ways producers fund benefits programs to request for increased funding. 2
In October 2025, The Broadway League announced that it successfully renegotiated its contract with Actors’ Equity and AFM Local 802 through September 2028, averting any strikes or interruptions in productions. 4
Black to Broadway
Formerly named “Let’s Do Broadway,” Black to Broadway is a program of The Broadway League that was founded in 2019 to advocate Black issues in the theater industry. 5 It has hosted events featuring Black writers, directors, performers, and theater producers to discuss their contributions to the theater industry. It advocates for the inclusion of Black individuals in theater productions and seeks to attract Black audiences. 6
Black to Broadway hosts an annual free Juneteenth outdoor concert that hosts Black performers and “allies” and presents a Legacy Award to a Black artist for their contributions to Broadway. The annual Juneteenth concerts have been sponsored by The Musical Trust Fund, Film Funds, the New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, Equity Fights AIDS, Broadway.com, Hell’s Kitchen, MAC Cosmetics, Audience Rewards, and Sweet Hospitality Group. 7
Tony Awards
In 1967, the American Theatre Wing (Wing) invited the Broadway League to co-present the Tony Awards, an annual musical-theater award program named after actress and producer Antoinette Perry following World War II. In 1987, the Wing and the Broadway League formally created Tony Awards Productions that has organized the Tony Awards since. 8
Sponsors
The Broadway League lists J.P. Morgan and the New York Times as partner organizations. 9 The Broadway League offers corporate partnerships as an opportunity for partners to advertise their brand, and in 2023, it reported receiving $514,500 from corporate sponsorships. 10 11
Leadership
Jason Laks was named the president of the Broadway League in December 2024 after having worked as general counsel and executive vice president of labor relations beginning in December 2021. From 2014 to 2017, Laks worked as the director of labor relations for the Broadway League before working as senior vice president of labor relations for NBCUniversal Media from 2017 to 2021. 12
Financials
In 2023, The Broadway League reported $13.3 million in total revenue, including $168,300 in government grants, making up 1.2 percent of its total revenue. It also reported receiving $8.6 million in membership dues, $1.4 million in conference revenue, $1.0 million in ticketing fees, and $885,663 in marketing and event revenue. 11 Additionally, The Broadway League reported $11.0 million in total expenditures, including $5.9 million in salary and compensation for its employees. 13
References
- “About Us.” The Broadway League. Accessed December 20, 2025. https://www.broadwayleague.com/about/about-us/.
- Paulson, Michael. “Broadway Could Face a Strike This Fall. Here’s What to Know.” New York Times. October 8, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/theater/broadway-strike-actors-musicians-unions.html.
- “Membership.” The Broadway League. Accessed December 20, 2025. https://www.broadwayleague.com/about/membership/.
- “Actors’ Equity Association Membership Ratifies New Production Contract with The Broadway League.” The Broadway League. October 30, 2025. https://www.broadwayleague.com/press/press-releases/actors-equity-association-membership-ratifies-new-production-contract-with-the-broadway-league/.
- “Black to Broadway.” The Broadway League. Accessed December 21, 2025. https://www.broadwayleague.com/belonging-on-broadway/black-to-broadway/.
- “Black to Broadway Other Events.” Belonging.Broadway. Accessed December 21, 2025. https://belonging.broadway/black-to-broadway/other-events/.
- “Past Events.” Belonging.Broadway. Accessed December 21, 2025. https://belonging.broadway/black-to-broadway/broadway-celebrates-juneteenth/.
- “Celebrating Excellence in Theater.” Tony Awards. Accessed December 22, 2025. https://www.tonyawards.com/history/our-history/.
- “Partners.” The Broadway League. Accessed December 21, 2025. https://www.broadwayleague.com/about/partners/.
- “Your Company’s Name in Lights!” The Broadway League. Accessed December 21, 2025. https://www.broadwayleague.com/about/partnership-opportunities/.
- Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). The Broadway League Inc. 2023. Part VIII.
- “Jason Laks.” LinkedIn. Accessed December 21, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-laks-b781a415/.
- Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). The Broadway League Inc. 2023. Part I, Lines 15-18.