Equity in the News Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Shakes’ high-profile production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at Lake Eola Park is more than the theater’s first in-person show in more than a year: It’s the first Orlando-area play to be approved by Actors’ Equity Association, or AEA, the New York-based union for professional performers and stage managers.

“Festival of the Lion King” is returning to Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park, Walt Disney World announced Thursday.

On-site public COVID-19 testing will be available on Disney-owned property this week, possibly clearing the way for many actors, dancers and stunt people to return to work — and thereby restoring some of Disney’s most popular shows to its theme parks.

Walt Disney World on Sunday repurposed another stage to present a show that does not feature performers represented by the Actors’ Equity Association. The theme-park company and the performers union are locked in a battle over how to safely return actors to work.

As Walt Disney World and Actors’ Equity Association members prepare to discuss a grievance filed by the union, Disney is finding ways to work around the absent performers.

Disney Equity performers who star in the theme parks shows remain furloughed indefinitely while Walt Disney World reopens and the rest of its unionized workforce returns to their jobs.

About 800 Disney World equity actors will also be furloughed without pay starting April 19, its union announced Tuesday as they will join thousands of others at the theme parks losing their paychecks indefinitely during the coronavirus pandemic.