Press Releases March 2020

Bill Boosts Weekly Unemployment Benefit by $600 and Includes New Triggers to File for Unemployment for Those Who Accepted Offers for Productions Postponed by COVID-19 Before Work Started

Senate Bill Boosts Weekly Unemployment Benefit by $600 and Includes New Triggers to File for Unemployment for Those Who Accepted Offers But Productions Were Postponed by COVID-19 Before They Started Work

Equity will contribute $500,000 and match another $250,000 in contributions; Funds raised will support members at risk due to work cancellations in the effort to contain COVID-19.

From Brandon Lorenz, National Director of Communications and Public Policy: “Countless actors, stage managers and everyone who work in arts and entertainment are out of work and wondering how they will make their next rent payment. We are grateful for the leadership of Rep. Schiff and all the members of Congress who have made it clear they understand arts workers need to be protected during this unprecedented health emergency. We will continue to work in partnership with other entertainment unions to make the case that Congress must act.”

In response to the public health crisis brought on by COVID-19 (coronavirus), members of the Coalition of Broadway Unions and Guilds (COBUG) issued the following statement.

With a number of states and cities under a ban on public gatherings, Actors’ Equity Association, the national labor union representing professional actors and stage managers in live theatre, has made new remote work agreements available for select producers to capture and make a performance available online for one-time viewing to ticket buyers.

Actors’ Equity Association, the national labor union representing professional actors and stage managers in live theatre, is asking all Equity producers temporarily postpone all of their required Equity Principal Auditions (EPAs) and Equity Chorus Calls (ECCs). 

Gov. Cuomo has taken an important step; now New York and Congress must focus on protecting thousands of arts workers who will be displaced.

Kate Shindle, President of Actors' Equity Association, the national labor union representing professional actors and stage managers in live theatre, released the following statement in reaction to the District of Columbia, the Bay Area and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee limiting public gatherings:

Actors’ Equity Association released the following statement in regards to concerns about coronavirus and safety and health in the workplace.