JUNE “We must walk consciously 2011 only part way toward our Volume 96 goal and then leap in the Number 5 dark to our success.” EQUITYNEWS — Henry DavidThoreau A Publication of Actors’ Equity Association • NEWS FOR THE THEATRE PROFESSIONAL • www.actorsequity.org • Periodicals Postage Paid at New York, NY and Additional Mailing Offices MoreTheatregoers Fourteen Elected to Council Will Enjoy Broadway ourteen members—nine Julia Breanetta Simpson CENTRAL REGION from the Eastern Region, (incumbent) Principal Five-Year Term Through Unprecedented Fone from the Central James Ludwig (incumbent) Mark David Kaplan Region and four from the Bob Knapp ((incumbent) Not elected: Daniel Mooney Western Region—have been Gil Rogers (incumbent) Accessibility Initiative WESTERN REGION elected to serve five-year terms Brian Myers Cooper (incumbent hanks to a unique PASS worked closely with the Principal Five-Year Term on the Council. Ballots were Chorus Councillor) partnership between entire Catch Me If You Can Larry Cahn (incumbent) tabulated on May 21, 2011 by Not elected: Daniel Robert Alliance for Inclusion in team—producers, marketing, Not elected: Stephen Pawley T Election Services Corp. Sullivan, Douglas Leland the Arts and G-PASS, 1.1 media, web designers—as well Chorus Five-Year Term There were 5,861 valid ballots Chorus Five-Year Term million New Yorkers and 56 as the Nederlander Jennie Ford (incumbent Principal cast, of which 2,414 were cast Francis Jue (incumbent Principal million Americans with Organization and Neil Simon Councillor) electronically. Following are the Councillor) disabilities can now enjoy more Theatre staff to create Not elected: Scott Watanabe results: Ronald L. Brown Broadway shows than ever accessible and comprehensive Stage Manager Five-Year Term Not elected: Al Bundonis before. The Broadway services.” EASTERN REGION Pat Loeb Stage Manager Five-Year Term Accessibility/Audience In addition to Catch Me If You Principal Five-Year Term D. Christian Bolender Jason A. Quinn Expansion Initiative sets a new Can, the Initiative—supported Nancy Slusser (incumbent) Not elected: Vernon Willet Not elected: Tom Helmer standard for collaboration by funds from The City of New between producers and York Theater Subdistrict accessibility specialists at all Council, LDC and the City of stages of production. The New York—will provide these program kicked off in May with services to an additional three Broadway’s new musical, Catch new commercial productions at Me If You Can. no cost to the producer or “The Initiative enables more audiences, strengthening theatregoers with disabilities to Broadway’s position as the gold enjoy as complete and standard for theatre access and captivating an experience as doubling its current offerings. their non-disabled peers,” says With groundbreaking Sharon Jensen, Executive computerized systems by Director, Alliance for Inclusion in Sound Associates, Inc., creators the Arts. “The Alliance and G- (continued on page 2) Chicago’s Lookingglass Gets RegionalTheatreTony ookingglass Theatre, the contributions to theatre’s growth Chicago-based troupe nationally. Lookingglass is the Canadian Equity LeadersVisit founded in 1988 by a fifth Chicago theatre to receive L quity met with Canadian McColl, AEA Executive Director; President; Kerry Davidson, group of young graduates of this prestigious award. Others Actors’ Equity Kerry Ann Doherty, CAEA 1st CAEA 1st Vice President; Karen Northwestern University are the Goodman, Steppenwolf, Association (CAEA) Vice-President; Nick Wyman, Master, AEA Organizing and (including David Schwimmer of Victory Gardens and Chicago E leaders in New York on May 4, AEA President; (middle row) Immigration Assistant; (seated) TV’s Friends) has received the Shakespeare Theater. 2011 to review the reciprocal Douglas Irons, CAEA Controller; Rick Berg, AEA Eastern 2011 Tony Award ® for Regional Lookingglass creates new agreement and other issues of Arden R. Ryshpan, CAEA Regional Director; Dana Ivey, Theatre given to a professional works through its gglassworks mutual concern. Attending the Executive Director; Flora AEA Principal Councillor and regional theatre company for program, stages world meeting were: (back row, l to r) Stamatiades, AEA National Keith Davidson, CAEA Director artistic achievement and premieres on the Lookingglass Russell Lehrer, AEA Senior Director – Organizing & Special of Business Representative Mainstage, and reaches out to a Business Representative; Mary Projects; Ira Mont, AEA 3rd Vice Services. diverse and underserved community through its education and community programs department. To date, Lookingglass has Public Policy Committee Continues produced 53 world premieres and has received more than 40 Monitoring National Issues; Jefferson awards and citations. “The Central Regional Board Urges Members toTake Action and the membership-at-large he AFL-CIO has include a 70% reduction to the activities (including lobbying, are proud to once again have extended its “We Are granting budget of the television advertisements and the Regional Tony Award ® TOne” campaign, which Pennsylvania Council on the petitions) in place. There will be presented to a Chicago-based was launched in support of the Arts (PCA). The PCA helps a rally but the date and the company,” said Central Regional public sector workers in stimulate the state’s creative specifics have yet to be Director Kathryn V. Lamkey. Wisconsin. The campaign will economy through several key determined. “Lookingglass has long been a have events throughout the funding programs, and (continued on page 2) prized jewel in the crown of the month of August, culminating in community based grants. Chicago theatre scene. Now Labor Day Parades and other Governor Corbett has asked for Index the rest of the nation and the activities around the country. level funding for the PCA. world have the opportunity to The events, rallies and parades Activity around Marriage 2011 Election results ...........1 recognize their compelling work. will be handled through the Equality is heating up in the From the President .............3 We are pleased to have worked NEWS State AFL-CIOs, individual State of New York, with a push Theatre Spotlight................4 with them since their early years unions and various City Labor to pass a law in favor of and it is gratifying to see them Councils. Marriage Equality as early as Gypsy Robe take their place as one of the The Pennsylvania House June. Governor Cuomo has 2010-2011 season ..............6 UITY cornerstone theatres utilizing Appropriations Committee has indicated he’d like this bill to be National News ...................8 Q the Chicago Area Theatre passed an amendment to the put forward. Spearheaded by 165 West 46th Street New York, NY 10036 Address Service Requested Second Class Postage Paid in New York, NY E Letters...........................12 Agreement.” budget that, if enacted, will Empire Pride, there are various 2 / EQUITY news JUNE 2011 Accessibility Initiative With D-Scriptive, blind or low- direct result of new technologies and consult at all levels to Area Liaison vision patrons hear a detailed such as D-Scriptive and I- enhance the theatregoing Hotline system continued from page 1 description of all the visual Caption, I have been able to experience. Along with my aspects of the production, enjoy live theatre again, since colleague Guthrie Nutter, I have of the original Infrared Listening including choreography, lighting, the complete loss of my sight. I worked with the Alliance on Call 877-AEA-1913 System, G-PASS develops and sets, and costumes. It is timed am thrilled that audiences with press, marketing and outreach Equity has a National toll-free implements D-Scriptive audio perfectly to the show’s cueing disabilities will now have the efforts, as well as assisted G- hotline system for members who description, I-Caption personal system, and adjusts itself opportunity to experience PASS with testing and refining I- live in Area Liaison and office captioning, and ShowTrans according to any fluctuations in humanity at its best and worst, Caption, their groundbreaking translation services. cities. The number is 877-AEA- the performance. Initiative live and onstage.” hand-held captioning system.” “As a result of the 1913 (honoring the year of Eq- consultant and Equity member I-Caption is an automated ShowTrans provides revolutionary technology by uity’s founding). Each Area Christopher Roberts has been system, which displays verbatim translations for foreign-language Sound Associates, we have Liaison city has its own exten- an integral part of the Initiative’s texts of the entire show, patrons, integrating the show’s been able to introduce special sion, where members can ac- success. “I am honored to have including lyrics, announcements light and sound cueing system accessibility services to every and show information on a to the action. cess news and information in been the accessibility consultant performance of selected for Finian’s Rainbow, The hand-held device and is To reserve I-Caption, D- their region. Broadway productions,” states Miracle Worker and now, Catch controlled by the same master Scriptive or ShowTrans services (1) Dial 877-AEA-1913 Anne Tramon, President of G- Me If You Can on Broadway,” he system used by D-Scriptive. “As following ticket purchase, go to (2) Dial your city extension: PASS. “In collaboration with the notes. “My work and contribution a consultant who is Deaf,” www.G-PASS.org, or call (888) Alliance, we can expand these 811 Atlanta will help