New York -- Actors' Equity Association, the national labor union representing more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers in live theatre, is establishing an in-house legal department.
The department will be led by Andrea F. Hoeschen, who has served as assistant executive director for Equity's Central Region as well as general counsel since 2020. She is departing her role in the Central Region to provide legal services for the union full time. Serving under her is Afifa Samad as associate general counsel and director of human resources, as well as two full-time paralegals.
"Equity is prioritizing augmenting our legal resources, and we are incredibly fortunate to have Andrea Hoeschen to lead the way," said Al Vincent, Jr., executive director of Actors' Equity Association. "Andrea started at Equity just a couple months before the COVID shutdown began, and she has seen the union through incredibly difficult, but also transformative times.
"From enforcing protections for our members in the workplace to fighting threats on free expression nationwide, Andrea has taken on every challenge with incredible energy and a sharp legal mind. She is going to head an unstoppable team."
"The legal department is ready to charge full steam ahead," said Andrea Hoeschen, general counsel for Actors' Equity Association. "This is a dedicated, talented group and together we are going to be able to offer sound support to the union at a very quick speed. I'm excited to be leading this initiative and protecting performing artists at a time when we don't take any legal rights for granted."
With Hoeschen moving to a full-time legal position, Equity will announce a new assistant executive director for the Central Region shortly.
ACTORS' EQUITY ASSOCIATION, founded in 1913, is the U.S. labor union that represents more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers. Equity endeavors to advance the careers of its members by negotiating wages, improving working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits (health and pension included). Member: AFL-CIO, FIA. www.actorsequity.org #EquityWorks
August 12, 2026
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