Edgar Mastin

Members of the 'Pro99' movement of Actors' Equity Association have issued an open letter to AEA's newly elected president, Kate Shindle, in response to her victory and to her inaugural address as president of the national union for actors and stage managers. The open letter is signed by over 400 Equity members (listed below), including such notable names as Ed Asner, Francis Fisher, Sally Kirkland and Alfred Molina. The 'Pro99' movement formed in late 2014 in opposition to AEA's rollout of a new plan that will effectively force 'intimate theaters' in Los Angeles to pay Equity actors minimum wage, go 'non-union' or even close - despite an overwhelming vote against the plan by 66% of the Los Angeles membership on an advisory referendum. 'Pro99' members around the nation, who take their name from the current AEA '99 Seat Plan' that allows members to volunteer in smaller venues, oppose AEA's new promulgated plan. They are requesting that Equity leadership put a moratorium on the plan until local members' voices can be heard, and that the union work with its members to develop an alternative plan that will more realistically address the needs of the Los Angeles theater community.

Tennessee Williams' classic A Streetcar Named Desire is revered as one of the greatest plays of the 20th century with Blanche DuBois and Stanley Kowalski, two of the most fascinating characters in theatrical history. Written in the 40s, the play does have many dated elements, but given a taut, well-honed production, its beautifully poetic passages still inspire...and its raw passions can ignite fireworks. Now onstage at the group rep in NoHo, Streetcar may be a daring choice for this company, but under L. Flint Esquerra's caring and detailed direction and with four actors perfectly cast in the lead roles, it is something to sing about.

The Group Rep presents as their first production of their 41st Season Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire directed by L. Flint Esquerra, produced by Kellie Brook Malone for the Group Rep. This Pulitzer Prize and Drama Critics Circle Award-winning play famously recounts how the faded and promiscuous Blanche DuBois is pushed over the edge by her sexy and brutal brother-in-law, Stanley Kowalski. Considered to be one of the most remarkable plays of our time, the play solidified Tennessee Williams' position as one of the most important young playwrights of his generation.

Awake and Sing!/by Clifford Odets/directed by Larry Eisenberg/Group rep/through November 3

The Group Rep presents the Agatha Christie mystery AND THEN THERE WERE NONE, directed by Shira Dubrovner, produced by Linda Alznauer, opening tonight at 8pm, runs Friday and Saturday at 8pm, Sunday as 2pm, October 7 through November 13, 2011 at the Lonny Chapman Theatre in the NoHo Arts District, North Hollywood, CA 91601.

The Group Rep presents the Agatha Christie mystery AND THEN THERE WERE NONE, directed by Shira Dubrovner, produced by Linda Alznauer, opening Friday, October 7 at 8pm, runs Friday and Saturday at 8pm, Sunday as 2pm, October 7 through November 13, 2011 at the Lonny Chapman Theatre in the NoHo Arts District, North Hollywood, CA 91601.