Equity News Spring 2018

SPRING 2018| VOLUME 103 | ISSUE 2 ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION Equity NEWS THIS TONY SEASON, EQUITY IS FIGHTING FOR #EVERYONEONSTAGE NOW OPEN! ACTORS' EQUITY SWAG STORE SHOP.ACTORSEQUITY.ORG EquityNEWS Actors' Equity Advisory Committee Director of Communications Christine Toy Johnson (Chair) Brandon Lorenz Al Bundonis Diane Dorsey Editor Nicole Flender Doug Strassler Bruce Alan Johnson Ruth E. Kramer Contributor Heather Lee Joyce Vinzani Kevin McMahon Liz Pazik Got a question or Barbara N. Roberts comment? Email us at Melissa Robinette [email protected] Buzz Roddy Kate Shindle Joann Yeoman EQUITY NEWS (ISSN: 00924520) is published quarterly by Actors’ Equity Association, 165 West 46th St., New York, NY 10036. Telephone: (212) 869-8530. Periodicals postage paid at New York, N.Y. and additional mailing offices. Copyright 2018, Actors’ Equity Association. Postmaster: Send address changes to Equity News, 165 West 46th St., New York, NY 10036. EquityNEWS CONTENTS SPRING 2018 | VOLUME 103 | ISSUE 2 8 9 HIGMEC ARTS ADVOCACY DAY Two members share the stories of Equity representatives headed how they got their Equity cards. to Washington, D.C., to lobby for increased arts funding. 11 15 COVER STORY: ACROSS THE NATION EVERYONE ON STAGE Seattle offers a diverse array Equity's new campaign aims of theatrical opportunities. to increase recognition at Tony Awards time. 16 17 THEATRE SPOTLIGHT CARBONELL AWARDS Learn more about Students from Marjory Equity Library Theatre's Stoneman Douglas High All Access Reading Series. School find inspiration in tragedy. 18 19 EQUITY AWARDS #EQUITYWORKS Lin-Manuel Miranda The Rocktopia campaign receives the 2018 turned into a win for cast Rosetta LeNoire Award. members and the union as a whole. FRONT of HOUSE FROM THE PRESIDENT TAKING PROACTIVE STEPS TO PREVENT HARASSMENT In late 2017, America we can do a lot more to help you, even if you want it to experienced a watershed remain confidential, if you call your business rep. And it moment regarding sexual raises a flag that allows us to protect others from serial harassment in the workplace. predators, as well.) We have explored different models The conversation spread and web platforms for reporting harassment. You can read and amplified as quickly as more about that in the member portal. We are having anything I’ve ever seen, and deservedly so. My Facebook conversations with high ranking officials at other unions feed – like, I imagine, yours – was filled with mostly female and guilds like IATSE, SSDC and the Dramatists Guild. friends posting #MeToo experiences, flabbergasted male And a few weeks ago, I asked Equity’s National colleagues who were truly seeing the depth and breadth Council to establish the President’s Committee to Prevent of this issue in a way they had never understood and, yes, Harassment, which they promptly did. We have dozens a few “not all men” responses illustrating why we still have upon dozens of committees, and we rarely create new a lot of progress to make. ones without a very good reason. But this is such a reason. Obviously, the reach of this issue goes far beyond This task force will study the best practices of other unions social media. Those of us here at Equity recognized that and workplaces and make recommendations on how we it was time to boost our focus on harassment prevention, can better protect our members and help establish clear which has been on the front burner since early 2016. policies in all of our theaters. It is also important to me We sent a letter to every single one of our hundreds of to remember that while much of #MeToo has rightfully employers across the country, requesting three things: focused on the harassment of women, our business in First, that the theatre or producer send us a copy of their particular creates a similar imbalance of power for men. sexual harassment policy. Second, that every member of The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission every cast be provided with that policy on the first day of recently reported that men file 20 percent of the harassment rehearsal. And third, that the policy remain easily available complaints they receive. There are plenty of chorus boys throughout the employment period. on those same buses to the big city with those same stars To their credit, many producers quickly forwarded in their eyes, and we have to keep them safe too. their policies to us. We also heard from a number of them I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be your – mostly smaller or younger companies – that they didn’t President for two more years. And I am equally thrilled realize they needed to have such a policy, but that they that the leadership at Equity, both on the elected side would address it quickly. Members began reporting to us and the staff side, shares a commitment to eradicating that they immediately saw a difference when they arrived harassment and hostile work environments. I once had to at a new gig. Harassment prevention was being prioritized file a complaint on behalf of a coworker who was being in a new and visible way. harassed, so I understand that it is a weird and scary On a personal note, I have to give a shout out process. Please remember that the more people who to Paper Mill Playhouse: on our first rehearsal day in speak up, the safer it is for each of us. And stay tuned for February, the theater scheduled a full hour on the subject, more information on what Equity is doing today to make with an HR rep and a video defining everything from quid tomorrow’s workplaces better. pro quo to hostile work environments. The best part was that preventing harassment became a total group effort throughout the run: if anyone strayed into questionable territory, it took about two seconds before someone would yell, “first day lady!” Yes, it was fun and goofy. But it also meant that the message had been heard loud and clear. And that we, as actors and stage managers, can be an active part of the effort to make our workplaces comfortable and safe. No, employers shouldn’t make sex jokes at work. But neither should we. And we can all help police things so that we’re safe, even if it becomes a game. Of course, one theater doing an effective training and a file full of sexual harassment policies doesn’t solve the problem. To that end, we have continued our collaboration with The Actors Fund, which offers a first stop for entertainment professionals who need to talk to Kate Shindle someone and maybe aren’t sure yet that they’re ready to report an experience to a union business rep. (Pro tip: 4 | Equity News @actorsequity FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ON THE FOREFRONT OF CHANGE As we look back over the past year and to the future, one other many unions that are part thing is clear: The world is changing with increasing speed. of our industry. Either way, it all Whether it’s the way we communicate, organize, advocate or trails back to the employer. create new opportunities – the one constant is change. In October of last year, At Actors’ Equity, we’ve been the vanguard for change Equity sent an email to every for 105 years. One hundred and five years of organizing, single employer of Equity actors fighting and expanding opportunity for our members. At and stage managers across the country. We reminded them our centennial in 2013, we were one of only 30 labor unions of their obligations under the law and told them that we that had reached that hallmark. I am so proud to say we thought they could only meet their obligations by having are among the first to fight for the rights of live performing an anti-harassment policy, by training their staff on how to artists. appropriately enforce the policy and by then giving a copy It’s easy to forget that Equity was born out of necessity. of the policy to our members, including the name of the Performers were being bullied and taken advantage of. All employee responsible for enforcing the policy, on or before those decades ago, we organized, fought for and won basic their first day of work. rights. Those victories have helped shape our industry and At the same time, we were communicating with you our nation. We should be proud of our place in history and about your rights under the law, informing you that your the rights we fought for in the past and continue to fight employer should be providing their policy to you and how for today. the union can protect you. It’s clear to me that in order to grow and thrive, we That’s not all we have done. More than a year ago, we must meet change with energy and resolve. Change can partnered with The Actors Fund to create a training module be unsettling, but we see it more as a clear opportunity to to further train our business reps on how to respond to strengthen our mission, break down barriers, protect our harassment complaints. This module was created as a members and expand opportunities. template for the rest of the industry to use as well. At Equity we’ve done our best to be out in front rather Here’s what you need to know as a member – we work than lagging behind. Contained in Equity’s DNA is the best when you tell us what is happening in the workplace. unwavering mission to protect the physical, mental and If you see something, say something.

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