Latest in Actors Equity

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…

Tyler Perry, who ran afoul of Actors’ Equity and SAG-AFTRA three years ago for casting non-union actors in his stage play Madea on the Run, now is casting non-union actors for Madea's Farewell Play Tour – the eleventh show in the franchise, in which Perry once again will reprise his role as the title character. The…

Actors' Equity Association members have ratified a five-year contract with the League of Resident Theaters, which represents 72 non-profit theaters across the U.S., including major companies including New York’s Manhattan Theatre Club, Roundabout Theatre Company and Lincoln Center Theater, and California’s Center…

As new Actors’ Equity rules go into effect today that require small theaters in Los Angeles to begin paying their union actors at least minimum wage, some small non-union venues, it turns out, aren't paying their actors anything at all. Last week, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by for SAG president Ed Asner…

A federal judge in Los Angeles has dismissed a lawsuit that would have prevented Actors’ Equity from requiring small L.A.-based theater companies that sign its contract to pay their actors at least minimum wage.   The suit, whose lead plaintiff was former SAG President Ed Asner, argued that forcing small companies to…

Updated with game companies’ response Actors’ Equity Association has become the latest actors union to tighten the screws on video game companies being struck by SAG-AFTRA, reminding its members that they are not allowed to accept struck voice-over work. Actor unions in England, Australia and New Zealand also have…

The National Labor Relations Board has dismissed an unfair labor practices charge filed against Actors’ Equity by opponents of the union's plan to require small theatres in Los Angeles to pay their actors at least minimum wage. Some smaller playhouses here pay their actors as little as $7 a day, and opponents of the…

The war of words continues between Actors’ Equity and a group of Los Angeles-based actors and theater owners opposed to the union's plan to force small playhouses to pay their actors minimum wage. In a recent email to members, the union said the minimum wage opponents have "openly threatened Equity staff and…

Actors’ Equity today fired back at the notion that smaller legit theatres in Los Angeles can't afford to pay their actors minimum wage. "How is it that the rest of the nation can afford to pay its actors who perform in small theatres, yet Los Angeles cannot?" the union asked in a statement. The union is being sued by a…