MARCH “Remember, no journey 2012 is made without many Volume 97 stops along the way. Number 2 Relish the stops.” EQUITYNEWS —-TwylaTharp 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 Annual Membership Meeting The Struggle forVisibility is a is Friday,April 13, 2012 Fight for Equal Opportunity The Eastern, Central and Western Regions will be connected by telephonic hook-up so that members in all By Pun Bandhu City Stages 2006/07-2010/11, 2%. The numbers for Native which tallies the racial make-up American, Middle Eastern/Arab Regions may be able to hear statements of candidates running n February 13, 2012, of cast members from every Americans, and disabled actors for election to Office and Council. more than 400 theatre production at the 16 largest not- were so small that combined, The statements will begin at 2:30 PM (Eastern Time), Oprofessionals piled into for-profit theatre companies in they made up 1% of the whole. 1:30 PM (Central Time) and 11:30 AM (Western Time). the Pope Auditorium at Fordham New York as well as every Caucasian actors, who secured The meeting in the EASTERN REGION will convene at 2 University in New York City for a Broadway show that opened in 80% of the roles, were the only PM in the Council Room on the 14th Floor of the Equity Build- roundtable discussion with the last five years. This is ethnicity to over-represent ing, 165 West 46th Street, New York, NY. industry leaders entitled information that has never compared to their relative RepresentAsian: The Changing before been publicly available. population size. Only 9% of all The agenda will also include the following: Face of New York Theatre. The According to the report, available roles were non- • Presentation of the Rosetta LeNoire Award. roundtable, organized by the African American performers traditionally cast. Asian • Membership Discussion Period in accordance with the Asian American Performers filled 13% of all available roles in Americans were the only By-Laws. Action Coalition (AAPAC), the last five years, Latinos/ minority group to see their (A Sign Interpreter will be present on request.) coincided with the release of the Hispanic American actors were numbers decline over this five- group’s report, Ethnic represented at 4% and Asian year period and they were also The Meeting in the CENTRAL REGION will convene at 1 Representation on New York American actors were PM in the Member Center on the 1st Floor of the Equity (continued on page 7) Building, 557 West Randolph, Chicago, IL. The agenda will also include the following: • Report of the Central Regional Vice President. • Report of the Central Regional Director. • Membership Discussion Period in accordance with the By-Laws. The meeting in the WESTERN REGION will convene at 11 AM in the Bellamy Board Room on the 5th Floor of the Equity Office, 6755 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA. The agenda will also include the following: • Report of the Western Regional Vice President. • Report of the Western Regional Director. • Membership Discussion Period in accordance with the (From l): Don Birge, Oskar Eustis, Stephen C. Byrd, Douglas Carter Beane, David Henry Hwang, By-Laws. Angel Desai, Nancy Piccione, Bartlett Sher. (Photo: Bruce Alan Johnson) Your IncomeTax Q: Which ones will be tion while you’re on the road – deductible? Equity whether it’s by car, train, plane Travel and Meal Expenses A: The deductible expenses or bus. will be the ones for which you do Supports Q: When we’re out-of-town, Self-Employment, Etc., Etc. not receive a reimbursement that they take taxes out from all of Q: I heard that, if we get per someone gives you money to covers your costs. If you spend SAG/AFTRA the states and cities we play. diem on the road, we don’t get spend on your lodging and more than you receive in per Do we really have to file tax any deduction for travel meals, you can’t turn around diem, you may deduct the Merger returns for all of these expenses. Is this right? and claim that you were out-of- amount above the places? And how do we pay reimbursement. If you spend At its meeting of our own state’s taxes? A: Yes! It makes sense that, if pocket on those same February 21, 2012, Council expenses. But this isn’t nearly less, you might have additional A: VITA has prepared as unanimously passed the as simple as it sounds because taxable income to report. If you’re many as 30 different tax returns following resolution: “AEA performers who go out-of-town on a gig out-of-town and you get for one performer in one year. strongly supports SAG and to work may be on one of a a very small reimbursement, Every taxing jurisdiction has the AFTRA in their proposal to number of contracts – some keep track of the expenses and right to assess a tax on your merge their unions.” paying a generous per diem, deduct the amounts you spent income if you perform the some paying a modest per diem above the per diem you received. services there. Aside from and some paying no per diem at If you didn’t get any per diem, states that have no income tax, government provides a standard all. the expenditures will be 100% you will find you have allowance for meals when you’re Q: How do I know if I have deductible. withholding in virtually all of away overnight. Just keep your to keep track of my Q: If I go out-of-town to them. When you return home contract, the itinerary, the expenses? audition, do I still keep that and do your tax returns, you inclusive dates and the number A: First of all, you should be with the out-of-town should probably file with every of days overnight in each place. in the habit of tracking expenses? state that has withheld tax or Your tax preparer will have a everything you spend – whether A: Yes. All business trips you won’t be able to get refunds listing of the government meal it’s a personal or a business away from home that require or credits on that withholding – rates. expense. Once you get in that you to stay overnight qualify, Q: I heard that I can deduct (continued on page 3) habit, keep track of your even if you don’t get the gig. Be my car mileage even though expenses in two main sure you get business cards, the producer provides Index categories: local and out-of- brochures, on line information, transportation throughout the town costs. The reason for this etc. of where you went and the tour. Right? RepresentAsian: discussion of is the required reporting when business purpose to support the A: Wrong. If the producer pro- ethnic representation on you file your tax returns. The expenses you incurred in Broadway .............................1 NEWS vides the conveyance, you are IRS (and your home state, if you looking for the job. certainly free to reject it, but you Your income tax .....................1 have a state income tax) want Q: How do I keep track of can’t then deduct the cost of Things to know about your expenses separated this my food costs? your preferred mode of travel. Unemployment Insurance..........2 UITY way and it’s easier if you A: That’s the one area where What you can deduct, however, National News .......................5 Q segregate them as you go than you don’t have to keep track of is the cost of getting to an audi- 165 West 46th Street New York, NY 10036 Address Service Requested Second Class Postage Paid in New York, NY E trying to do it later. what you spend. The Letters.................................8 2 / EQUITY news MARCH 2012 Area Liaison What They Don’t Teach Hotline system HEALTH Post - Show At Conservatory Call 877-AEA-1913 WELL Lesson 116: Unemployment Insurance Equity has a National toll-free NESS Crash hotline system for members who & By Buzz Roddy to remember: live in Area Liaison and office day). Maybe I’ll start such a Eastern Principal • Keep good records. Keep By Melissa Robinette cities. The number is 877-AEA- group in my living room. But then Councillor every pay stub and W-2. If your records are complete and con- 1913 (honoring the year of Eq- he Actor’s circle of life: again, would anyone be willing to “I don’t collect unemployment cise, you can always know what uity’s founding). Each Area Audition. Call back. Book leave their PJs, couch and com- insurance,” said the Actor, “I work you are due and when. Liaison city has its own exten- Tthe job. Work. Opening. fort items for a support group? for a living!” • You can work with an sion, where members can ac- More work. Closing. Crash. A friend of mine, who prefers I talk to many Actors who open UI claim. Working during cess news and information in The Stage Manager’s circle of to remain anonymous, stays in think that unemployment insur- your claim only interrupts it tem- their region. life: Submit. Interview. Book the bed for a week. “I allow myself to ance is charity. One of the basic porarily. You can re-activate your (1) Dial 877-AEA-1913 job. Work. Opening. More work. mourn the loss. It is a death after rights that the labor movement claim when your job ends.