Latest in Actors Equity

Disney’s Frozen has become Broadway’s first long-running casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic and industrywide shutdown. The production, which opened March 22, 2018, at the St. James Theatre, announced today that it will not return when Broadway reopens — whenever that might be. In the closure announcement, producers…

The full reopening of the film and TV industry probably won’t be possible until a vaccine is developed to combat the coronavirus and testing and tracing of the virus’ spread are in place, according to David White, national executive director of SAG-AFTRA. White shared that view during a media conference call today…

EXCLUSIVE: Actors’ Equity Association has hired the high-profile safety consultant David Michaels, former administrator of OSHA under President Barack Obama, to advise and help the union develop the steps necessary for reopening Broadway and theaters across the country after the COVID-19 shutdown. In an exclusive and…

Actors’ Equity says it's heard "troubling reports" that some live theaters are looking to begin production as soon as May 6. Legit theaters across the country shut down last month to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and Equity is skeptical that they can reopen anytime soon. Broadway productions are closed until June 7…

Actors’ Equity, whose membership has been jobless since the COVID-19 shutdown of live theaters across the country, is offering dues relief to those members who need it. The union's $87 spring basic dues payment, customarily billed in May, has been extended to July 31, and late fees for basic dues and initiation fees…

Actors’ Equity, the union representing actors and stage managers in live theater, is praising the $2 trillion Senate bill for the expansion of access to unemployment benefits that the bill will afford to arts and entertainment workers. The bill, which gives unemployed workers an extra $600 a week on top of their…

Actors' Equity Association has launched an emergency "Curtain Up Fund" and issued a grant to the Actors Fund to help get members who lost work because of the COVID-19 shutdown of legit theaters across the country to get back on their feet financially. The union is contributing $500,000 to start the fund and will match…

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and three dozen members of Congress are trying to build momentum to offer relief to entertainment industry workers sidelined by the coronavirus or impacted by the wave of cancellations and shutdowns across showbiz. They sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Leader Kevin…

Hundreds if not thousands of mid-level actors saw an increase in their taxes this year because of President Donald Trump's massive tax cut, which took away their ability to write off miscellaneous itemized deductions for expenses they incur to stay in the business and to find jobs. SAG-AFTRA and Actors’ Equity…

Members of Actors’ Equity, which represents more than 51,000 stage actors and managers, have approved a series of changes to Equity’s constitution designed “to build a modern national union,” including the creation of a national convention. The union said the referendum was approved by 79% of the 11,479 members who…

Update, with Broadway League response Broadway League president Charlotte St. Martin tells Deadline that producers will submit new proposals to Actors’ Equity for another round of talks next week as the two sides resume negotiations over the sticky topic of profit sharing for cast members who contribute to show…

A dozen entertainment industry unions – most of which are affiliated with the AFL-CIO's Department for Professional Employees – have committed to taking joint action to combat sexual harassment in the workplace by sharing training resources, codes of conduct and best practices in order to strengthen their individual…