Equity in the News January 2019

Actors’ Equity has approved a fund for members who may lose out on work during the strike against developmental work, according to a letter sent to its members Tuesday.

Actors aren’t “lab rats” to be used and disposed of, say theater union officials who have launched a strike against plays in development.

No show springs fully formed from first reading to opening night. Actors challenge the authors, the director, the designers. 

Actors’ Equity Association is pushing for a piece of the profits, saying its members are a critical part of the creative process. And in a rare move, the union has authorized a strike against the Broadway League, the trade group that represents producers.

Actors’ Equity, which represents more than 51,000 actors and stage managers nationwide, declared the strike Monday after two years of fruitless negotiations with the producer-led Broadway League to increase minimum salaries for developmental labs and eventually share any profits with lab participants.

The union that represents stage actors has issued a "do not work" order on any so-called lab productions.

A day after Actors’ Equity announced a strike against developmental work produced by the Broadway League, theatrical unions have voiced support for their efforts.

The theater actors’ union said on Monday that it was barring its members from taking part in developmental work on Broadway shows while it demands a new contract that includes some profit-sharing.

Actors' Equity declared a strike Monday against the lab process used to develop new Broadway shows, particularly musicals. The union, which represents performers on stage, said it had been trying for two years to negotiate a new contract with the Broadway League, which represents theater owners, producers and others.

Actors’ Equity Association has called for a strike against developmental presentations as part of its appeal for profit sharing–based compensation for their members. Projects from members of the Broadway League under Lab, Workshop, and Staged Reading contracts will be placed on Equity's “Do Not Work” list following Equity and the League’s failed ongoing negotiations.