JUNE 2013 Actors’ Equity: 100Years of Playing “We don’t stop playing Volume 98 because we grow old. Number 5 We grow old because we stop playing.” EQUITYNEWS — George Bernard Shaw 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 Members Overwhelmingly McColl’s Contract Renewed Ratify New Four-Year for Three-YearTerm LORT Contract quity has extended the contracts, supervises Equity’s Salary Increases,Technology contract of Executive professional staff in four regional EDirector Mary McColl for offices (New York, Los Angeles, another three-year term, Chicago and Orlando) and Improvements Highlight effective January 2014. The works closely with the Council to Agreement decision was a unanimous vote establish goals, develop and at a special meeting of the implement national policy and y a margin of 97.2% meaningful salary increase, Council on May 1, 2013. execute Equity’s long-term members have 12.55% over a four-year period, “Mary has brought a focused, strategic plans. In addition, she Boverwhelmingly ratified a coming out of a three-year disciplined and highly effective serves as Equity’s new four-year LORT contract period in which salaries were leadership to AEA,” said representative and lead governing employment in 55 frozen,” said Executive Director President Nick Wyman. “She spokesperson with the media, theatres represented by the Mary McColl, who served as has been a champion not only labor, bargaining partners and League of Resident Theatres Equity’s Chief Negotiator. for Equity actors and stage Mary McColl. government officials. and 16 independent not-for-profit “Since 2008, LORT theatres managers, but for the entire “I’m pleased to continue the theatres. have continued to suffer entertainment industry.” (SETA). Ms. McColl has also work we’ve started on behalf of Of the 2,150 valid ballots that economic challenges as a result Describing her stewardship overseen the renovation of the this extraordinary membership,” were received, 2,090 members of decreased income from and advocacy on behalf of the New York offices (including she said. “This is an exciting approved the contract and 45 government funding sources as members, President Wyman construction of a new Audition time in Equity’s 100-year history. voted no. The term of the new well as corporate and individual pointed to the accomplishments Center), as well as the purchase I look forward to working with agreement is from February 18, donations,” Ms. McColl added. in her first term, including the of a new office building in Los the elected leadership to 2013 to February 12, 2017. “The decline in their subscription successful negotiation of three Angeles. address the challenges that our “In only six negotiating bases has required a greater of AEA’s biggest contracts— As Executive Director, Ms. industry faces.” sessions, our negotiating team reliance on unpredictable single Production, League of Resident McColl oversees the collective Ms. McColl joined Equity’s was able to fulfill its strategy and ticket sales. It was in this Theatres (LORT) and Short bargaining process for more staff as Executive Director in focus on increasing environment that Equity entered Engagement Touring Agreement than 30 national and regional January 2011. compensation in all categories in into the negotiations, so I am the contract and making very pleased with the results.” significant improvements in work Recognizing the continued and audition rules. As a result, growth in digital marketing and Mary Lou Westerfield Steps Down we were able to achieve a (continued on page 2) as Western Regional Director Sixteen Elected to Council Career at Equity Spans 40Years ixteen members—ten Following are the results: fter a long career on professionally and personally,” from the Eastern Region, EASTERN REGION the Equity staff, Mary said Mary Lou. “I’ve been one from the Central S Principal Five-Year Term Lou Westerfield will extremely lucky in my career Region and five from the A Jeanne Lehman (incumbent) step down as Western Regional and I’m very proud to have Western Region—have been Director/Assistant Executive played a role in the many elected to the Council. Ballots Linda Cameron (incumbent) Director at the end of 2013. achievements Equity has made were tabulated on May 23, 2013 Kristen Beth Williams She will continue with Equity, on behalf of the membership. by Election Services Solutions. (incumbent) working on several key projects But as I reflected over these There were 5,347 total valid Diane Nicole through the end of May, 2014, last few months, I knew I would ballots cast, of which 2,295 Richard Topol at which time she will retire. not ask for another contract were cast electronically. Jeff Williams (incumbent Chorus) The announcement, which term. When presented with the Not elected: Mark Zimmerman, Mary Lou explained was based opportunity to work on Jonathan Brody, Buzz Roddy, on what is best for her and her important projects for Equity, I Scott McGowan, Tom Helmer husband Ernie, was made at quickly accepted. It’s the best of Mary Lou Westerfield. the May National Council both worlds and I look forward Chorus Five-Year Term meeting. to staying involved.” Allyson Tucker (incumbent) been truly honored to be the “I’ve given a lot of thought to She expressed her gratitude Western Regional Director. I Mark Aldrich (incumbent) where my life should be - both to everyone, saying: “I have have enjoyed great Scott Watanabe relationships with the Western Not elected: Staés Kmieé,c Regional Board, our western Ben Liebert liaisons and our staff, both in Chorus One-Year Term Los Angeles and nationally. I Jeff Applegate am grateful for their support CENTRAL REGION and especially to Mary Principal Five-Year Term [McColl], for her support and Richard Shavzin understanding.” Not elected: Liz Pazik (continued on page 2) WESTERN REGION Principal Five-Year Term Index Robin Gammell (incumbent) Members ratify new Nancy Daly LORT contract........................1 DeBorah Sharpe-Taylor Election results ......................1 NEWS Not elected: Abner Genece, From the President..................3 Aaron Wilton, Joshua M. Bott The Gypsy Robe 2012-13 season ..7 Stage Manager Five-Year Term Centennial feature: Stage UITY Managers wear many hats.........8 James T. McDermott Q Liaisons from across the country gather with President Nick Wyman and National news ......................11 (incumbent) 165 West 46th Street New York, NY 10036 Address Service Requested Second Class Postage Paid in New York, NY E Executive Director Mary McColl and staff in New York for a day-long Letters ...............................16 Linda M. Tross (incumbent) meeting to discuss regional and national issues of importance. 2 / EQUITY news JUNE 2013 Westerfield Steps Down in 1990 as a Business Rep in Area Liaison the Los Angeles office. In 1991 Congratulations to continued from page 1 Hotline system she became the Associate Equity’s Tony Award ® Mary Lou was named to her Director of The Actors Work Call 877-AEA-1913 current post in 2008 after six Program, where she was Nominated Members months of juggling the responsible for outreach to the Equity has a National toll-free entertainment community for responsibilities on an interim BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN Who’s Afraid of Virginia hotline system for members who funding and program promotion basis while still working as the ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE Woolf? live in Area Liaison and office as well as acting as a peer National Director, Policy. Mary IN A PLAY Shalita Grant, Vanya and Sonia cities. The number is 877-AEA- adviser and intake officer. In Lou oversaw all operations, Tom Hanks, Lucky Guy and Masha and Spike 1913 (honoring the year of Eq- 1995, she returned to Equity as collective bargaining and Nathan Lane, The Nance Judith Ivey, The Heiress uity’s founding). Each Area the National Director, Policy. contracts in the Western Tracy Letts, Edward Albee’s Judith Light, The Assembled Liaison city has its own exten- She continued in that position Region and served as an Who’s Afraid of Virginia Parties sion, where members can ac- until her appointment as the integral part of Equity’s Woolf? Condola Rashad, The Trip to cess news and information in Western Regional leadership team. David Hyde Pierce, Vanya and Bountiful their region. “Mary Lou has been a Director/Assistant Executive Director. Sonia and Masha and Spike BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN (1) Dial 877-AEA-1913 dedicated member of the Tom Sturridge, Orphans ACTOR IN A FEATURED Equity family who has won the In addition to her (2) Dial your city extension: BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ROLE IN A MUSICAL admiration and respect of responsibilities, Mary Lou has ACTRESS IN A LEADING Charl Brown, Motown The 811 Atlanta members and staff alike,” said been an integral part of ROLE IN A PLAY Musical 812 Austin/San Antonio Executive Director Mary Manhattan Plaza where she Keith Carradine, Hands on a 813 Boston McColl. “As a member of staff, serves as Chair of the Policy Laurie Metcalf, The Other Hardbody 814 Buffalo/Rochester she called upon her first-hand Committee, which is Place responsible for advising Will Chase, The Mystery of 815 Chicago experience, both as a Amy Morton, Edward Albee’s management regarding the Who’s Afraid of Virginia Edwin Drood 816 Cincinnati/Louisville performer and a member of Gabriel Ebert, Matilda The Council, to address challenges, issues and needs of performing Woolf? 817 Cleveland Musical provide insightful advice and artists/support personnel and Kristine Nielsen, Vanya and 818 Dallas/Fort Worth Terrence Mann, Pippin help shape policies that benefit reviews applications of Sonia and Masha and Spike 819 Denver our members. Although I know prospective tenants. For several Holland Taylor, Ann BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN 820 Detroit she will retire next May, I am years, she and Conard Fowkes Cicely Tyson, The Trip to ACTRESS IN A FEATURED 821 Florida – Central happy to know that she will managed the 25-person VITA Bountiful ROLE IN A MUSICAL 822 Florida – South work on projects for us and office in New York.