OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER “Amateurs hope, 2011 professionals work.” Volume 96 Number 8 EQUITYNEWS — Garson Kanin 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 New York Audition Center Equity-League Reach to be Relocated, Renovated Tentative Agreement lans are underway to current location. give the Audition Center, The announcement comes Increments Raised for FirstTime in 28Years; Plocated in Equity’s New as a new agreement is inked York home in the heart of Times between Equity and Newmark & Compensation Up; Extraordinary Risk Addressed Square, a new look and more Company, the property landlord n early October, Equity and a strong contract that gained im - salary increase over the life of the modern space. The Audition of the 165 West 46th Street the Broadway League provements in areas that hadn’t contract. Center will be moved to another building (known universally as Ireached a tentative agree - been changed in decades,” said In addition, Per Diem will in - floor in 165 West 46th Street, the “Equity Building”), for ment for a new, four-year Produc - Mary McColl, Equity’s Executive crease on full production and the current home of the Audition renovations and relocation of tion Contract running through Director and the Chief Negotiator Tiered tours. Based on member Center and the National and the Audition Center and some of September, 2015. Achieved in for the contract. “We also input and careful consideration, Eastern Region Equity offices. Equity’s National and Eastern just 20 sessions, the new agree - achieved a very good compensa - the Team determined the money The relocation will provide Region offices. ment includes improvements in tion package for our members should go toward Per Diem for much-needed upgrades and im - Primary to the agreement is compensation for the greatest and addressed extraordinary risk Tiered tours, and so negotiated a provements to the Audition Cen - the relocation of the Audition number of Equity members, language – two areas of signifi - wage freeze in the first year with ter and is sure to receive rave Center to another floor. The changes to Stage Manager work cant importance. Overall, the an increase of $42 per week for reviews when it’s completed in overall design aesthetics for rules and important changes to contract is a win for our mem - Per Diem. For Tiered tours, Per 2013. Until then, the Audition the new Audition Center will be safety and extraordinary risk. bers, for the League and for the Diems will continue to increase Center will remain open in its (continued on page 3) Council, at its October meet - theatregoing public.” by $7 per week the second year, ing, reviewed the agreement and For the Negotiating Team, $14 per week the third year and unanimously voted Yes to recom - compensation was one of the top $7 per week the fourth year. For Dues May Be Paid Online mend ratification. At press time, priorities. In a climate of econom - full Production Contract tours, the agreement has been sent to ic uncertainty, this new agree - Per Diems will increase by $14 Reminder: Equity on the Pay Dues icon. If you those Equity members who have ment provides a 3% salary in - per week in each year of the continues to offer an option are not already registered worked on the contract during the crease in each year of the con - contract. for online payment of basic with Members Only, you must last eight (8) years for ratification. tract. In addition, the Team Another economic achieve - dues and initiation fees. do so first by following the Results are expected in early De - achieved increases to the six ment is the Principal term incre - To make payments online, instructions on the screen. cember. If ratified, the contract month Chorus rider, which hadn’t ment will be raised for the first visit the Equity website, Once the electronic will be retroactive to September increased since 1983. For a Cho - time since 1989 and there will be www.actorsequity.org , then (1) transaction is processed and 25, 2011. rus Actor working a typical sce - an increase in the cap for sick log on to Members Only, (2) credited to your account, a “Our Negotiating Team fol - nario (six month rider, one Princi - leave. Stage Managers who are go to the “My Profile” link in new Equity card will be lowed the ‘focused and disci - pal understudy increment, a Cho - required to rehearse more than the left menu, and (3) go to promptly mailed to you by the plined’ strategy we had devel - rus part, extraordinary risk and a 12 hours a week will receive “Financials.” You can also click Membership Department. oped in preparation for the bar - media payment), these improve - overtime payment, and the 2nd gaining sessions and the result is ments translate into a 13.69% (continued on page 2) New Hampshire + Iowa =The 2012 Urban Broadway Series Nominating Committee Goes Legit By Brian Myers Cooper dates for the highest office in the JONC comprises Nom Com Chair, Election Procedures the land, and I don’t mean the members from all three Equity Inks DealWith David E.Talbert White House! In 2012 all the Regions. These members-at- Committee quity and David E. Talbert business model and is an AEA National and Regional Offi - large are selected at the e’re already knee- Presents (David E. Tal - important first step in bringing cers plus 17 Council seats will January 2012 Membership deep in the process bert, producer) have suc - shows that play the circuit under be up for grabs, and the Nomi - Meetings: Eastern –January 6; E of picking candi - cessfully negotiated the the imprimatur of the Union. The W nating Committee has the first Central and Western –January 9. groundbreaking Urban Broadway first Talbert production to utilize say in who runs. It’s sort of like To serve, you need to be paid Series Contract. This contract will the Urban Broadway Contract is the New Hampshire caucus in up and eligible under one of the be used for Talbert-produced What My Husband Doesn’t that they help shape the slate of three employment categories: tours on what is considered the Know , and it will tour to more candidates. The best news is Principal, Chorus or Stage urban circuit and is the first con - than 20 cities through that you can serve on the Nom Manager. You don’t have to be tract of its kind to embrace this November. Com (as it’s affectionately at the Membership Meeting if important, influential and growing In signing the agreement, Mr. known) in your region, and you send a letter or email of theatre market. Talbert said, “ I’ve always wanted maybe the National Joint Offi - acceptance to the Committee/ Based on Equity’s Short to create an opportunity in which cers Nominating Committee (or Board Secretary in your Engagement Touring Agreement, I could work with so many JONC, for short), too. Region’s office city before the the Urban Broadway Contract wonderful Equity performers and The Nom Com and the JONC meeting and have someone acknowledges the unique still recognize the importance of act as filters to help inform the nominate you from the floor. You aspects of the urban circuit, the circuit and the audiences election process. The don’t even have to live in an which includes one night and who see my shows. By Committees interview office city because you can split week performance acknowledging the varied prospective candidates and serve via teleconference! schedules, substantially lower aspects of our touring business select a slate of nominees for the The time commitment is ticket prices and a different (continued on page 2) various Council and Officer seats short—just a few weeks of guarantee package than other available in this year’s election. interviews and deliberations tours. The contract offers Index S Serving on the Nom Com is a from late January through late competitive salaries, health and great way to delve into the inner February, so Nom Com is great Equity-League reach tentative W pension benefits and work rules d workings of Equity’s leadership for smart, politically inclined agreement ............................ 1 E e t for the actors and stage t s e e 6 and hear firsthand from the members who can’t commit long NY Audition Center to be N e u e 3 g r managers in these q 0 Y t a e t relocated, renovated ................ 1 0 N people who want to lead Equity term but who still want to get S Y s R 1 , productions. While Mr. Talbert, o k h e r P t Y T c for the next three or five years. involved and make their mark on i o From the President .................. 3 6 s v N Y who also writes and directs his I r s 4 , e a w t l The Nom Com consists of the future of Equity. Contact k e S r Theatre Spotlight .................... 4 s C productions, has always provided U N e s o d s Councillors in each Region, and your Regional Office if you have Y n n i W e r similar employment packages, o National News ....................... 7 w d Q 5 d c i e approximately two to three times any questions about the Nom d e 6 a 1 A S P N the signing of this agreement E as many members-at-large, and Com or JONC. Letters ............................... 12 with Equity formalizes the 2 / EQUITY news OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2011 Urban Broadway “We are excited to have these Black on TV One, providing a were barred from working at Area Liaison new opportunities available for behind-the-scenes look into the white theatres, staying at white Hotline system continued from page 1 our members, and hope that world of touring theatre as hotels and eating at white and the caliber of our other producers will follow contestants sang, danced and restaurants.