Theatre Breaking Through Barriers
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EQUITYACTORS’ EQUITY: STANDING UP FOR OURNEWS MEMBERS JUNE 2015 / Volume 100 / Number 5 www.actorsequity.org 2015 Equity Theater BreakingThrough Barriers Election Results Continues to Provide Work for Kate Shindle elected President of the union; all other officers reelected and 16 elected to Council Performers With Disabilities Kate Shindle led 1st Vice President Not elected: Dan NicholasViselli is the new Artistic Director the slate of officers Paige Price Zittel, Eric H. Mayer Photo by Carol Rosegg elected to three-year 2nd Vice President By Helaine Feldman terms in Equity’s 2015 The following candi- Rebecca Kim Jordan he stage is the way national election. In date was nominated 3rd Vice President to change the addition, 16 members with no opposition “ Ira Mont world,” said Ike — 11 from the East- and, pursuant to Rule T Schambelan, founder and ern Region, 2 from the Secretary/Treasurer VI(E)6 of the Nomina- artistic director of Theater Central Region and 3 Sandra Karas tions and Election Breaking Through Barriers from the Western Re- Eastern Regional Policy, has been (formerly Theater By the gion — have been Vice President deemed elected. Blind) until his death on elected to Council. Melissa Robinette Chorus February 3, 2015. Nicholas Ballots were tabu- Central Regional Bill Bateman Viselli, who joined the lated on May 21, Vice President company in 1997 and has 2015. There were Dev Kennedy CENTRAL been named to continue 6,182 total valid bal- REGION Schambelan’s work, agrees The cast of Agatha Christie’s The Unexpected Guest, including lots cast, of which EASTERN The following candi- with the late artistic director’s (L to R) Pamela Sabaugh, Scott Barton, Melanie Boland, Ann 3,397 were cast elec- REGION Marie Morelli, Lawrence Merritt and David Rosar Stearns. dates were nomina- sentiment. “Ike Schambelan’s tronically. Principal ted with no opposition contributions to our Dana Ivey associates disability with pity, disabled, nor is Viselli, Following are the and, pursuant to Rule profession, the disabled Tonya Pinkins fear, helplessness and although his wife, Ann Marie results: VI(E)6 of the Nomina- community and the world-at- Maureen Moore dependence. This perception Morelli, also a company tions and Election large have been profound,” he OFFICERS Kate O’Phalen is incorrect because in the member, is a wheelchair-user. Policy, they have been says. President Judy Rice same breath we admire and The company is not only a deemed elected. Viselli began his tenure as Kristine Nevins idolize those in society who showcase for Performers with Kate Shindle artistic director with the Joanne Borts Chorus are strong, resilient and Disabilities, it is a professional Not elected: Nick company’s production of The Sid Solomon Ariane Dolan adaptable, which pretty much theater company that includes Wyman, Larry Cahn Unexpected Guest, an Agatha Not elected: Jeff describes every disabled able-bodied actors as well. Stage Manager Christie mystery, with a cast of Western Regional Blumenkrantz, Scott person I know. As artists, we “Our performers are Malcolm D. Ewen nine, including two actors who Vice President Evans, Christopher are in the best possible professional actors,” stressed are legally blind, two actors Doug Carfrae Gurr, Scott McGowan, position to prove this point Viselli. TBTB’s mission WESTERN who are amputees, one actor Not elected: Donal Buzz Roddy, because art is all about statement says it is “dedicated REGION who uses a wheelchair Thoms-Cappello Karen D. Howell, adapting, bending perceptions to advancing actors and because of multiple sclerosis, Todd Buonopane, Mary-Pat Green and effecting intellectual and, writers with disabilities and The following one who has a spine injury Matt DeAngelis, Jeff Marlow more significantly, emotional changing the image of people candidates were that has affected his gait and Joe Zaloom, Craig A. change. Art comes from a with disabilities from nominated with no Barbara N. Roberts one performer who has Meyer, Wally Dunn, different place. It transcends dependence to opposition and, Not elected: cerebral palsy. Tom Helmer, John physical limitations. In our independence.” pursuant to Rule Cynthia Marty, Jeffrey “It is our ultimate goal to Christopher Jones, profession, disability is a It accomplishes this goal by VI(E)6 of the Christopher Todd, alter the perceptions of Stas' Kmiec' characteristic which only hiring and including writers Nominations and John Herzog, Mary disability, which have been matters as much as we want it and Equity actors with Election Policy, they Stage Manager Gutzi, Edgar Landa, hard-wired into us for to matter.” disabilities to work in Off- have been deemed Ruth E. Kramer Jeffrey B. Landman, centuries,” said Viselli. “In our Schambelan was not elected. Amber White Kyle Nudo world, one immediately (continued on page 2) Production Contract Negotiations Begin In July he Production Contract will take place throughout June. 64,708 workweeks and is the Vice President Ira Mont and in- negotiations will begin in Covering Broadway, national highest earnings generator for cludes members who have TJuly. The current and tiered tours, the Production Equity members. worked under the Production contract is set to expire Contract is the union’s premier Equity’s Negotiating team Contract. Executive Director September 27, 2015. Final contract. In the 2013-2014 will be co-chaired by First Vice Mary McColl will be the chief preparations for the negotiations season, the contract generated President Paige Price and Third negotiator. #EquityWorks: Theater News & Notes Anaheim, CA - Equity has another two years, increasing TigerLion Arts, a transitional Company marks its 30th renewed its Letter of its Equity member contracts SPT producer, has worked anniversary season Off- Agreement with 3D and workweeks by 24, over with Equity to mount a small Broadway this year. Theatricals with salary the next two seasons. regional tour to local New York, NY - Signature Periodicals Postage Paid at New York, NY and Additional Mailing Offices increases. Fremont, CA - Made Up arboretums and outdoor (continued on page 3) Boulder, CO - Equity has Theatre, specializing in venues with its original play, renewed its Letter of sketch and improvisational Nature. The production will Agreement with Colorado comedy in the Bay Area, is employ five Equity members Index NEWS Shakespeare Festival with producing its first resulting in nearly 100 Theater Spotlight ...............3 salary increases. professional, scripted workweeks for members. Awards ...........................4 Carmel, IN - Actors production on an MBAT New York, NY – Founded Gypsy Robe Recipients ........5 UITY Theatre of Indiana has Agreement. by David Mamet and William National News...................6 165 West 46th Street New York, NY 10036 Address Service Requested Paid in New York, NY Q renewed its SPT Rider for Minneapolis, MN - H. Macy, Atlantic Theater Easter Bonnet Competition....8 E 2 / EQUITY news JUNE 2015 Barriers known that we served Area Liaison performers of all disabilities. We (continued from page 1) Congratulations to Hotline system are still an integrated company Broadway productions, of performers with and without Equity’s 2015 Tony Award- Call 877-AEA-1913 presenting plays dealing with disabilities, and I believe that Nominated Members disability issues, and producing this is the only way to bring Equity has a national toll-free a Ten-Minute Play Festival performers with disabilities to Best Book of a Musical & Best Original Score hotline system for members who while inviting well-known the mainstream. We show that Lisa Kron, Fun Home live in area liaison and office playwrights to participate. Or, in our artists are able to work Best Choreography cities. The number is 877-AEA- short, by presenting and alongside each other and even Joshua Bergasse, On the Town 1913 (honoring the year of creating diverse stories and make the audience forget that Best Original Score Equity’s founding). Each Area telling them with an authentic there is any ‘disability’ being Sting, The Last Ship represented because we have Liaison city has its own voice. Characters who are blind Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play a great respect and comfort extension, where members can are played by actors who are Steven D. Boyer, Hand to God with each other as performers, access news and information blind; characters who use Bradley Cooper, The Elephant Man not as ‘disabled’ performers. We in their region. wheelchairs are played by Ben Miles, Wolf Hall: Parts One & Two are children, brothers, sisters, Bill Nighy, Skylight (1) Dial 877-AEA-1913 performers who use wheelchairs. In 2011, several of husbands, wives, aunts, uncles, Alex Sharp, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time parents, and as a disabled (2) Dial your city extension: the festival’s plays traveled to Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a performer, I believe that I can 811 Atlanta Croatia, thus bringing TBTB’s Play bring a different perspective to 812 Austin/San Antonio work to an international Geneva Carr, Hand to God theater because of my daily audience. In 2012, to mark the Helen Mirren, The Audience 813 Boston challenges in life. Art does not 22nd Anniversary of the Elisabeth Moss, The Heidi Chronicles 814 Buffalo/Rochester come from my legs; it doesn’t Americans with Disabilities Act, Carey Mulligan, Skylight 815 Chicago come from someone’s eyes or TBTB was invited to perform at Ruth Wilson, Constellations 816 Cincinnati/Louisville ears or any tangible physical the Kennedy Center in Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a 817 Cleveland attribute that we consider Washington, D.C. Musical normal. It is much deeper. It is 818 Dallas/Fort Worth “I’ve been with TBTB since Michael Cerveris, Fun Home 819 Denver 1997, back when it was Theater Robert Fairchild, An American in Paris 820 Detroit By the Blind,” says Equity Brian D’Arcy James, Something Rotten! 821 Florida – Central member Pamela Sabaugh.