SEPTEMBER “The greater the artist, 2012 the greater the doubt. Perfect confidence is granted Volume 97 to the less talented as a Number 7 consolation prize.” EQUITYNEWS —Robert Hughes 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 First Membership Meeting of the Tom Carpenter is New 2012-2013 Season will be held on Eastern Regional Director/ Monday, October 8, 2012 – Central Region (6 pm) Monday, October 8, 2012 – Western Region (6:30 pm) Assistant Executive Director Friday, October 12, 2012 – Eastern Region (2 pm) homas Carpenter has Tom also has a strong The Central Regional Meeting will convene on been hired as Eastern background in copyright law, Monday, October 8, 2012 at 6 pm in the Regional and as live performance Member Center at the Equity Building, T Director/Assistant Executive increasingly intersects with 557 West Randolph, Chicago, IL Director and General Counsel. recorded media, his expertise The agenda will include: Tom joined the Equity staff in will be instrumental as Equity ● Report of the Central Regional Director. late August, quickly immersing develops new strategies to ● Report of the Central Regional Vice President. himself in the day-to-day protect the intellectual property ● Membership Discussion Period in accordance with the By-Laws. operations of the Eastern rights of its members. His years The Western Regional Meeting will convene on Region. of experience in the government Monday, October 8, 2012 at 6:30 pm at “I have tremendous respect affairs arena will be valuable as Theatre West, 3333 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Hollywood, CA for Equity’s proud history and Equity develops a solid and The agenda will include: traditions,” said Tom. “Growing achievable public policy agenda. ● Tom Carpenter. Report of the Western Regional Director. up, my parents took my sister “We are so pleased to have ● Report of the Western Regional Vice President. and me to the theatre and I Tom join our staff,” said Mary ● Membership Discussion Period in accordance with the By-Laws. remember to this day the bargaining and contracts and McColl, Executive Director. “His The Eastern Regional Membership Meeting will convene on excitement I felt when the house will lead the New York and breadth of experience and his Friday, October 12, 2012 at 2 pm in the lights dimmed and the show Orlando staffs. He will also leadership skills complement Council Room on the 14th Floor of the Equity Building, was about to start. Now I have serve as lead staff for the our existing staff and support 165 West 46th Street, New York, NY the opportunity to work on Union’s Public Policy efforts. He our mission. Tom is quickly The agenda will include: behalf of this talented is a member of Equity’s becoming the ‘go-to’ guy for our ● Presentation of the Paul Robeson Citation. membership and I’m very executive team and, as General Eastern Region.” ● Membership Discussion Period in accordance with the By-Laws. excited to be part of the Equity Counsel for Equity, Tom will Mr. Carpenter most recently (A sign interpreter will be present on request.) family.” oversee arbitrations and worked as the Assistant manage the Union’s Future Membership Meetings will be held on Friday, As the Eastern Regional National Executive Director and relationships with external legal January 11, 2013 in the Eastern Region and Monday, January Director, Tom will oversee the Chief Labor Counsel for SAG- counsel for labor relations. 14, 2013 in the Central and Western Regions. The Annual region’s operations, collective (continued on page 2) Meeting will be held on Friday, April 12, 2013 in all Regions. Organizing Department Restructured Developing a Area Liaison Affairs, Outreach Now Included Communications Strategy quity’s Organizing and The reassignment of CALA members. We will see an Results in Day-Long Special Projects and Outreach and Career increased growth in member EDepartment, under the Development offers outreach and advocacy at a Seminar:“The Business direction of National Director opportunities for greater national level.” Flora Stamatiades, now inclusion and participation In addition to working closely Behind the Show” includes the Committee on Area among the membership. with Ms. Stamatiades on a Liaison Affairs (CALA) and Organizing has been identified variety of initiatives, the Liaison ctors’ Equity us to broaden our Outreach and Career as an important piece in Equity’s chairs will continue to work with Association hosted a communications with them. We Development. long-range strategy plan their respective Regional Afree, day-long seminar decided to provide a service process. The expansion of this Directors. Tom Miller, Director of entitled “The Business Behind that would be of benefit to the department will help bolster that Outreach and Career the Show” for casts of Broadway membership, and in return ask goal. Development, will report to Ms. and commercial Off-Broadway for participation in a survey that “This is an exciting first step Stamatiades and continue his shows, and members of the would give us a better in our organizational restructure work in the areas of outreach, Council in late July. More than understanding of what that and is important,” said Executive Eastern Member Education, 40 members attended, all of might look like,” explained Director Mary McColl, “because Equity Membership Candidates whom participated in a follow-up Executive Director Mary McColl. it speaks directly to Equity’s and career development. survey designed to gather “The responses to that survey core mission of service to our additional input about what will help us shape our overall members would like to see from communications strategy for the the Union as a way to make future. This was a ‘test run’ but Equity stronger. successful and we will be The idea of hosting a working on how to provide these Equity Continues seminar developed as an opportunities more broadly offshoot of Equity’s strategic across the country.” Organizing Efforts planning efforts and in response “The Business Behind The to members’ call for greater Show” is a seminar created and rganizing continues to first-time contract. The most communication about important be an important area recent achievement was the (continued on page 2) topics. The purpose of this of focus for Equity. The signing of the non-Equity tour of O seminar was to provide Organizing Department and the Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Index members a deeper Organizing Committee have Christmas! The Musical, understanding about the Tom Carpenter is new worked steadily to identify areas scheduled to play the Wang business side of theatrical Eastern Regional Director..........1 of the theatrical industry that Theatre in Boston and Madison NEWS productions and demystify the From the President..................3 can be brought into the Equity Square Garden in New York City. economic and artistic decisions Theatre Spotlight ....................4 family. Significant inroads have (It should be noted that this that producers, presenters and been made with producers, producer did not produce the Centennial feature: general managers face when The 1919 Strike......................6 UITY especially those who Broadway company.) A cohesive working on a production. Final curtain..........................9 Q traditionally have not used plan to address cruise ships is “We have heard from the 165 West 46th Street New York, NY 10036 Address Service Requested Second Class Postage Paid in New York, NY E Equity agreements, to attain the in development. National news ......................10 membership that they would like 2 / EQUITY news SEPTEMBER 2012 Tom Carpenter College of Law and his Behind the Show evaluates a production, whether Area Liaison undergraduate degree from it involves moving a production Hotline system continued from page 1 Northwestern University. continued from page 1 or developing an idea for a show AFTRA, where his portfolio of “There are tremendous new presented by the Commercial (your own or someone else’s). Call 877-AEA-1913 responsibilities included challenges on the horizon for Theatre Institute, an Several presenters talked about oversight of legal work the men and women who make organization formed in 1982 to the financial considerations of a Equity has a National toll-free supporting collective bargaining the theatre their life-long train future producers for production, from the hotline system for members who and organizing, as well as careers,” said Tom. “In my commercial Broadway, Off- capitalization aspect and live in Area Liaison and office oversight of the Government career, some of the most Broadway and touring strategies to entice potential cities. The number is 877-AEA- Affairs and Public Policy rewarding work I’ve done is to productions. CTI director, and investors, to the nuts and bolts 1913 (honoring the year of Eq- Department. Prior to the merger help organize new work and producer himself, Jed Bernstein, of a show budget, including how uity’s founding). Each Area of SAG and AFTRA, he served negotiate strong contracts for assembled movers and shakers it is developed, budget lines and Liaison city has its own exten- as AFTRA’s General Counsel performers and other media among Broadway’s producers, what each line represents sion, where members can ac- and Director of Legislative professionals. I’m especially general management and throughout the life of a show. cess news and information in Affairs. Early in his career Mr. excited to be able to continue touring presenters. Speakers Speakers also revealed little those efforts here at Equity.” discussed items that are taken their region. Carpenter was Legal Counsel included Tom Viertel, partner, Originally from Ohio, Tom Scorpio Entertainment; David for granted within the day-to-day (1) Dial 877-AEA-1913 for Teamsters Local 705 in Chicago. He received his Juris resides in Brooklyn, NY with his Richards, partner in Richards/ operations for a show, including (2) Dial your city extension: Doctor from Chicago-Kent husband David Slivken and four Climan Inc.; Rich Baker, the number of pages Playbill 811 Atlanta rescue dogs.