JANUARY/ “Sometimes, I feel discriminated FEBRUARY against, but it does not make me angry. It merely astonishes 2013 me. How can any deny themselves the pleasure of my Volume 98 company? It’s beyond me.” Number 1 --Author/Playwright EQUITYNEWS Zora Neale Hurston 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 Equity’s NewYork Building Undergoing Major Renovation Creative Real Estate Deal to Bring Increased Revenues By Michael Sommers present owners of the building. “Our he ongoing Equity’s new home in North Hollywood. (Photo: CoStar) people had the transformation of Times foresight back then Square into a glittering T to recognize that retail mecca reaps a major Times Square was Equity Buys Building windfall for Equity members as going to improve its national headquarters is being some day and the transformed through a creative in North Hollywood real estate values real estate deal. alongwithitsothey NewWestern Region Headquarters An entirely new Audition held on to the land,” Center, renovated office space, a said Steven DiPaola, Will Provide More Office Space, On-Site dramatic entrance and lobby, Equity’s Assistant upgraded elevators and other Parking, Room for an Audition Center Executive Director amenities are now in various for Finance and quity has purchased a “Ultimately, if Equity had decided stages of completion at the Administration. “It is building at 5636 Tujunga to continue its lease at 6755 Actors’ Equity Building. These one of the best EAvenue in North Hollywood Boulevard, the cost multimillion dollar improvements decisions we ever Hollywood that will be the new over 20 years would have been are being made without cost to made.” Western Region headquarters. $300,000 more than it’s actually the union. As the once- “The building allows Equity costing to own our own building.” In the process, AEA even blighted area opportunity for growth and He continued: “As our expects to garner additional Artist’s rendering of the new entrance to eventually was income. It also provides long- experience has proven, revenue in the years ahead, the Equity Building in New York. renewed as a term cost savings for the purchasing the real estate that thanks in part to decisions and (Photo: Courtesy of Newmark) worldwide tourist Association,” said Steven Equity acquired in New York in agreements that its Councillors story structure located at 165 W. destination, major DiPaola, Assistant Executive 1978 and in Chicago in 2009 and staff made more than 30 46thStreet,Equitysolditin1981 retailers began to open large Director for Finance and were prudent, forward-thinking years ago. but retained the land, which stores there. During 2011, Administration, who represented strategies that have given Equity After briefly owning the 17- Equity in the negotiations. (continued on page 5) yields rental income from the (continued on page 4) over the life of the agreement, diem (20% in the first year, with Council Ratifies New SET retroactive terms for shows subsequent increases each running at the time of additional year) for rehearsals (Short EngagementTouring)Agreement ratification (January 15). Terms Increases to Overage and conditions for salary, per Participation (both pre- and Equity Achieves Significant Salary, Per Diem Increases, Other diem, etc. go into effect post-recoupment) starting in Improvements in Four-Year Pact withThe Broadway League January 21, 2013, unless June 2013 otherwise specified New raked stage provisions t its meeting on Agreement. This agreement, workweeks during the most Initial increases to the single allowing for Extraordinary Risk Tuesday, January 15, which governs qualifying serious economic down-turn occupancy per diem rate (12%) designation and payment A2013, the Council productions on the road, since the Great Depression, in and double occupancy per Establishment of a Labor- overwhelmingly ratified a new achieves significant salary and a toxic, anti-labor atmosphere diem rate (25%) with additional Management Committee to four-year SET (Short per diem increases and other that has seen the gutting of increases annually address contractual concerns Engagement Touring) improvements. collective bargaining rights Increases in the following during the term of the “I am pleased to report that across the country. Because of increments: Chorus Agreement the Negotiating Team and the SET Agreement, audiences Understudying Principal; Language clearly defining Equity staff negotiated a strong nationwide benefit by seeing Principal Understudy; Six- Stage Manager overtime and financial package and Equity productions that employ Month Chorus Rider; Principal accelerated health payments improvements in quality of life our members.” Term; Second ASM Additional for short-term Stage Managers issues,” said AEA Executive Highlights of the Duty AEA Executive Director Director Mary McColl, who Agreement Out-of-town Actors will now Mary McColl served as Chief served as Chief Negotiator. Annual increases to the have the option of provided Negotiator; Equity’s Negotiating She stressed: “These are two minimum salary totaling 10.4% housing, or an increased per Team was chaired by areas that are very important to Councillor Jeff Williams, with our members. Extensive team members from all regions surveys and member outreach and work categories (Principal, in advance of the negotiations Go Green – Chorus, Stage Management). gave our Negotiating Team a Additional support was clear directive and focus that Register for Paperless provided by Equity staff. succeeded at the bargaining table.” Balloting In Equity’s Index Since its inception in 2008, 30 productions have toured 2013 Council Election NY building undergoing using the agreement, which renovation ............................1 quity’s 2013 Council Election cycle is about to begin. generated over 20,700 work AEA buys building in Hollywood ..1 From now until March 22, 2013, you can register for weeks for Equity Actors and New SET Agreement ................1 NEWS paperless balloting and vote online in our upcoming Stage Managers. “The SET E election. It’s safe, secure and saves you and your Union Your income tax .....................2 Agreement creates Equity jobs time and money. on the road, that otherwise From the President..................3 Log on to the Members’ Portal, click on the Preferences UITY would be non-union,” continued Centennial feature: Tab and select “yes” for online elections. Thanks for going Commitment to Social Change ....6 Q McColl. “This agreement green in AEA’s 2013 Election. 165 West 46th Street New York, NY 10036 Address Service Requested Second Class Postage Paid in New York, NY E allowed us to regain National News .......................8 2 / EQUITY news JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013 Area Liaison Your Income Tax Hotline system Once More, Over the Cliff… Call 877-AEA-1913 (Or was that Into The Breach?) And Other Recent Developments in Taxation Equity has a National toll-free By Sandra Karas vote on federal emergency aid for the constitutionality of the ban on hotline system for members who Director, VITA Program those areas that suffered the same-sex couples to wed when live in Area Liaison and office aftermath of Hurricane/ other couples are not subjected s they clawed their way cities. The number is 877-AEA- Superstorm Sandy. As of January to the same prohibition under the back up the craggy slope 1913 (honoring the year of Eq- 4th, they voted to provide a law. The Court will consider the to the edge of the uity’s founding). Each Area A portion of the aid after holding constitutional issues and precipice, the outgoing Congress Liaison city has its own exten- out for almost 70 days in an effort determine whether or not had let themselves fall, only to sion, where members can ac- to cut federal spending. Another California may impose different realize that raising taxes on cess news and information in vote was to be taken on January constitutional standards on everyone across the board, along their region. 15th for additional aid to the couples based solely on whether with myriad financial cuts would Superstorm victims. they are of the same or opposite (1) Dial 877-AEA-1913 not bode well for the coming Sandra Karas, Equity's Fasten your seatbelts, it’s sex. California already upholds (2) Dial your city extension: year, especially for those who Secretary-Treasurer and goingtobeabumpyride. those same-sex marriages that Director of the Volunteer worried more about getting re- 811 Atlanta were entered into during the brief Income Tax Assistance (VITA) elected than representing their Stop, In The Name of Love! 812 Austin/San Antonio period before the Prop 8 program. constituents. But I digress… (Not Defending the Defense 813 Boston of Marriage Act) referendum. As I write this a few days after 814 Buffalo/Rochester The gang of nine is expected $450,000 – Married Joint; Congress finally passed the tax It’s not the Motown Supremes to issue decisions on both of $425,000 – Head of Household. 815 Chicago portion of the proposals that had who are considering the vagaries these cases sometime in June, All rates will be adjusted for 816 Cincinnati/Louisville been submitted and debated for of a couple’s heartbreak, it’s the 2013. The cases could lead to a inflation going forward. 817 Cleveland weeks, the resulting tax situation DC Supreme Court, granting “split” decision, wherein the Court 4. The Alternative Minimum 818 Dallas/Fort Worth for most of our members is a certiorari – agreeing to review – grants rights to the surviving Tax (AMT) has a permanent 819 Denver mixed bag. I prefer to look at it as two cases dealing with same-sex spouse under the Code and patch with exemption amounts of a Win-Win, a Win-Lose and a married couples. 820 Detroit denies California couples the $50,600 for Single and $78,750 Lose-Lose. The Win-Win is One centers on the rights of a 821 Florida – Central right to marry, citing state’s rights.