Equity in the News Deadline

Entertainment industry union leaders are applauding Congress for today’s passage of the $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill, part of which expands key benefits for hundreds of thousands of industry workers who have lost jobs because of the coronavirus shutdown of film, TV and theater productions across the country.

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 regular state benefits for four months — and $1,200 to most tax-payers — is expected to be approved by the House shortly.

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 another $250,000 in contributions from other donors.

As the coronavirus knocks out regional theaters all across the country, Actors’ Equity is making new streaming media agreements available to select regional producers to capture and make performances available online for one-time viewing to ticket-buyers in areas where there are limits on public gatherings.

Actors’ Equity Association president Kate Shindle is calling on Congress and local governments to step up with economic relief for live-theater workers in the wake of a growing number localities placing limits on public gatherings because of the coronavirus.

Actors’ Equity Association has reached a tentative agreement with the Broadway League for a new contract, both sides say.

SAG-AFTRA and Actors’ Equity are hoping that a bill introduced in Congress will fix that by updating the Qualified Performing Artist deduction that was signed into law by President Reagan. The bipartisan bill, known as the Performing Artist Tax Parity Act, was introduced by House members Judy Chu (D-CA) and Vern Buchanan (R-FL).

Actors’ Equity Association and Broadway producers have reached what Equity is calling a "historic" agreement on a profit-sharing contract model for union members participating in early stage production development.

Actors’ Equity has declared a strike on all new Broadway show development with members of the Broadway League, a potentially costly move after two years of what the union is calling unsuccessful attempts to negotiate a Lab Agreement.

An old Broadway tradition has a brand new name: The “Gypsy Robe,” part of an opening night ceremony dating back to 1950, will now be called the “Legacy Robe.”