Equity in the News

Malcolm Ewen’s first foray into a life in the theater was in his hometown of Winnetka, in a middle school production of The Hither and Thither of Danny Dither. He played the role of God. Ewen died on Monday at the JourneyCare hospice in Glenview at the age of 64, three years after receiving a diagnosis of bile duct cancer.

Malcolm Ewen, who grew up on the North Shore, died Monday in Chicago, according to the theater company, which said he was 64 and had cancer. His hard work, organizational skill, cool head and sense of humor were recognized when he was tapped in February as the first stage manager to become a member of the famed Chicago ensemble.

Miners Alley Playhouse is the latest Front Range theater company to join the actors' labor union

The new Regional Theatre Report says $124 million were earned in wages by Equity members around the country. Work weeks per member increased 8 percent over last season, and 18 of the 28 regions saw gains in work weeks per member.

Actors’ Equity has named Lynn Rhinehart as special counsel, effective immediately. Rhinehart comes to Actors’ Equity from the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), where she served as general counsel from 2009 until her retirement from the organization in 2018.

“The Heart of Rock and Roll,” a musical featuring the songs of Huey Lewis and the News, begins developmental work Monday as one of the first shows to do so under the new contract with Actors’ Equity. 

After a strike lasting 33 days, Actors’ Equity has made a deal with the producers trade association the Broadway League to give a fraction of successful Broadway shows’ profits to its performers and stage managers.

The replacement for the Lab Agreement will include five-year terms for salaries with three wage increases, profit sharing following a show's recouping of its initial investment, stipulations for additional assistant stage manager contracts, a minimum of five weeks of rehearsal time for Broadway musicals (four for plays), and additional health and pension benefits.

Performers who help develop successful Broadway shows will share in the profits under a landmark agreement between theater producers and the union representing actors.

Actors’ Equity Association and Broadway producers have reached what Equity is calling a "historic" agreement on a profit-sharing contract model for union members participating in early stage production development.