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EQUITYACTORS’ EQUITY: STANDING UP FOR OURNEWS MEMBERS JULY/AUGUST 2014 / Volume 99 / Number 6 www.actorsequity.org Membership Meetings set Theatres in Central Region for the 2014-2015 Season Strive for Equity Excellence The following dates have been set for Equity Membership Meetings in 2014-2015: umerous theatres in the Central Region Eastern Region have made utilizing Friday, October 10, 2014 at 2 p.m. EST N and hiring Equity members a Friday, January 9, 2015 at 2 p.m. EST goal. With the help of AEA staff Central Region members in the Chicago office, Monday, October 6, 2014 at 6 p.m. CST three theatres now proudly state Monday, January 12, 2015 at 12 p.m. CST that they are Equity. Western Region The Insight Theatre in Monday, October 6, 2014 at 11 a.m. PST Webster Groves, Missouri Monday, January 12, 2015 at 11 a.m. PST proudly displays the Actors’ Equity Association logo at the All Regions bottom of its website. The The National Membership Meeting is Friday, April 10, 2015 theatre, along with the Yellow at 2 p.m. EST, 1 p.m. CST and 11 a.m. PST.The regions will Tree Theater in Osseo, be connected by telephonic hook-up in order that members in Minnesota, recently transitioned all regions may hear the statements of candidates running for from using a Special election. Appearance Agreement to Insight Theatre Company’s Artistic Director, Maggie Ryan, having a collective bargaining receiving an Actors’ Equity Plaque from Senior Business agreement and using the Small Representative Christian Hainds at the company’s annual gala. AEA Re-ups CAT, Professional Theatre Contract. “Insight Theatre Company is couple is also excited to further will operate on an LOA to LORT Drury LaneTheatre & in its 7th season and in May, at their mission by introducing contract. For CEO and Producer our annual gala, we officially more professional theatre into Jan Albus, knowing what Equity BAT Contracts for 4Years became an Equity Theatre,” said the Northwest suburbs of the means to performers was Insight’s Artistic Director, Twin Cities. something she learned at a quity negotiated several Captain increments (up to 15 Maggie Ryan. “We are very “After only six years, we are young age. Joining AEA at 15, contracts for new percent or non-profits) and proud to be an AEA Small closer than ever to our goal of the actor said that she learned four-year terms. Actors’ Dramatic Dance Captain E Professional Theatre and have providing actual living wages to from the best and adhered to a Equity Association negotiated a increments (up to 9 percent) as enjoyed announcing that we our artists,” said Jason specific level of excellence new four-year Chicago Area well as an increase for the tour now have our official plaque as Peterson, artistic director. demanded from an Equity Theatre Agreement (CAT) per diem. an Equity theatre.” “Becoming an Equity theatre company — she wants to offer effective through June 24, 2018. A new rule has been For Yellow Tree Theater’s further reiterates our her company the same Approved by the Central achieved that provides access founders, Jason and Jessica commitment to strive for high experience. Regional Board at its July for Chorus Actors to auditions if Peterson, transitioning to an artistic standards, but it also “I am aware of what meeting, the agreement boasts chorus is used in a dramatic SPT means that the company serves as a commitment to the professionalism is associated improvements in a number of production. Language was also will be able to draw more artists we serve to continue to with an Equity company and areas including an average achieved that provides written talented and experienced actors provide them with professional chose it because I wanted our yearly salary increase of 2.67 distinction between Brush- to the community — a goal they opportunities.” productions to be of the highest percent. Retroactivity for up/Understudy rehearsals and have had since opening the The Variety Children’s quality utilizing the talents of the salaries takes effect as of June Put-in rehearsals and theatre’s doors in 2008. The Theatre in St. Louis, Missouri, best St. Louis has to offer.” 23, 2014. compensation for use of Highlights of the new personal musical instrument agreement include increases to where applicable. For stage Professional Theatre Contracts, the On-Call Understudy managers, ASMs in Tier 5 and Equity MournsTwo the two Developing Theatre salaries, Musical Dance Tier 6 shall be engaged on agreements, accounted for 16.5 contract no later than one week Emeritus Councillors percent of overall Equity prior to first rehearsal. employment. Additionally, all proposals put member of the original Housing Richard Lederer Lederer was also an early forth by the Equal Employment Committee that led to the Richard Lederer, who joined proponent of the national liaison Opportunities, Media and Safe creation of New York’s Equity in 1949, was first elected system, of which he often said and Sanitary committees were Manhattan Plaza. He remained to Council in 1974 and named he was “most proud.” Today, achieved. on the Housing Committee and Councillor Emeritus in 1994, Equity has 28 liaison cities. Also in the Central Region, as a member of the Manhattan died at his home in New York on In a letter from Equity, an agreement has been Plaza Management Policy June 8, 2014. He was 96. informing him that he was being reached with Drury Lane Advisory Committee. Today’s Equity members named Councillor Emeritus, it Theatre with salary increases He continued his committee throughout the country benefit was noted that over the years up an average of 2.5 percent for activities, often serving as chair from many of Lederer’s “you have seen many changes the four-year term through June or vice chair of the Stock, initiatives: support for affordable and the beginning of new 2018. Dinner Theatre, Production, housing, national representation policies, some of which you Equity members will see Alien, Equal Employment and the liaison system. initiated and nurtured to fruition. salary increases of 2 percent in Opportunity and Senior Before running for his first You have not only been a each of the first two years, and Performer committees. He was term on Council, Lederer conscientious, plain-speaking 3 percent in years three and the first chair of the Developing already had served on several four. The members will now Theatre Committee. At the (continued on page 2) Periodicals Postage Paid at New York, NY and Additional Mailing Offices committees, on a dozen receive contracts seven days outset, he cautioned that it was separate negotiating teams in prior to rehearsal (up from three not Equity’s role to “underwrite Index four stock categories and had days), while Dance Captain dreams,” but instead to create a been an Equity Deputy on Council Resolutions .............2 increments have increased to contract so that members could NEWS almost every stock and dinner 16 percent. be employed and theatres could From the President ..............3 theatre contract on which he For stage managers, a grow toward achieving a worked. As Councillor, he was a Being a Deputy ...................5 contract was added for a non- standard contract. By the 2012- UITY vocal advocate of affordable acting assistant stage manager. 2013 season, the latest for National News ....................6 165 West 46th Street New York, NY 10036 Address Service Requested Second Class Postage housing for Equity members and Q Additionally, SMs will see one which Equity has figures, Letters Final Curtain ......................8 Paid in New York, NY E worked toward that goal as a of Agreement and Small (continued on page 3) 2 / EQUITY news JULY/AUGUST 2014 Equity Mourns Two respond.” Touring, Stock, Developing serve on Council. Area Liaison “I promise my full attention Theatre, National Organizing, “There have been married Hotline system continued from page 1 to any member with any 99-Seat Theatre, and many couples, but we’re the only problem. If the problem can be negotiating and nominating parent-child pair of nudniks member of [Council], but have solved, I will try; if it cannot, it committees. He was also on that have ever served together,” been an industrious and Call 877-AEA-1913 will be explained; and if the both the Western and National he said, referring to his productive worker on the trying, rules are unfair, they must and House Affairs Committee. In daughter Rebecca Kim Jordan, Equity has a National toll-free painstaking and often unsung will be changed,” he said. addition, for many years, he who has been a member of hotline system for members who chores.” He kept this promise for 30 served as chair of HEP, Inc., a Council representing Chorus live in Area Liaison and office Lederer continued attending years as a member of the nonprofit organization since 1992 and Second Vice cities. The number is 877-AEA- Council meetings until his death. Council and/or the Western dedicated to finding affordable President since 2009. 1913 (honoring the year of His legacy will long endure. Equity’s founding). Each Area Regional Board. He was housing for theatrical Before his passing, Jordan Liaison city has its own S. Marc Jordan named Councillor Emeritus in professionals in the Los wanted his daughter to deliver extension, where members can S. Marc Jordan, who died in 2008. Angeles area. the following message: “Thank access news and information California on July 11, 2014 at A self-proclaimed “loud Jordan worked under most the Council for choosing the mouth,” he served on more Equity contracts in both Chorus union as a way to fight for the in their region.

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