Striking Broadway stagehands and theater producers agreed early today to a 12-hour break in negotiations aimed at reopening darkened theaters.

A spokesman for Local 1 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Bruce Cohen, announced the break about 6:30 a.m. He offered no details on the talks that began yesterday evening and lasted through the night except to say that progress had been made.

The two sides are trying to resolve a thorny labor dispute that threatens a third week of mounting box-office losses. More than two dozen plays and musicals have been closed since November 10, when the stagehands walked off the job.

Earlier, Mr. Cohen had said that the fact that both sides were together was progress.

“The only progress, if it could be described as such, is that we’re still here,” he said. “You can’t make a deal if you are not negotiating. We’re still negotiating.”

The walkout was particularly felt during last week when most shows and theater-district restaurants do strong business during the Thanksgiving holiday. Not so this year, when only nine productions, including the newly reopened “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” were playing, and 26 others were shut.

A settlement was believed to have been in the works November 18 after a marathon weekend of negotiating, but the talks ended abruptly with producers walking out.

The complicated contract dispute has focused on how many stagehands are required to open a Broadway show and keep it running. That means moving scenery, lights, sound systems and props into the theater; installing the set and making sure it works; and keeping everything functioning well for the life of the production.