Mike Hodge News

SAG-AFTRA today dedicated its signature conference room in its New York office to the late New York Local President and national Vice President Mike Hodge.

 SAG-AFTRA today dedicated its signature conference room in its New York office to the late New York Local President and national Vice President Mike Hodge.

SAG-AFTRA announced today that former Screen Actors Guild President Richard Masur is the 2018 recipient of the President's Award. The award will be presented Saturday during the SAG-AFTRA National Board plenary. Introduced at last year's SAG-AFTRA convention, the President's Award celebrates a member who has given meritorious service to the union and its membership.

SAG-AFTRA announced today that former Screen Actors Guild President Richard Masur is the 2018 recipient of the President's Award. The award will be presented Saturday during the SAG-AFTRA National Board plenary. Introduced at last year's SAG-AFTRA convention, the President's Award celebrates a member who has given meritorious service to the union and its membership.

During the final day of the SAG-AFTRA National Convention in Los Angeles, SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris unveiled the President's Award, an inaugural honor that celebrates someone who has given meritorious service to the union and its members.

Mike Hodge, an accomplished actor, stalwart unionist and New York president of SAG-AFTRA, passed away on September 9th. He was 70. Hodge had a long career as a Broadway, TV, film and commercial actor. His Broadway credits included SEARCH AND DESTROY, A FEW GOOD MEN and FENCES.

SAG-AFTRA members have elected two of the union's top ranking officers, choosing Gabrielle Carteris as president and Jane Austin as secretary-treasurer. Their two-year terms begin today.

Producers Nelle Nugent, Steve Traxler, Kenneth Teaton, Benjamin Feldman, Doug Morris and Spencer Ross today announce full casting for the first Broadway revival of David Henry Hwang's Tony Award®-winning play, M. BUTTERFLY, directed by Tony Award® winner Julie Taymor.

Stray Dog Theatre will present Ragtime: The Musical in August. Set in the volatile melting pot of New York at the turn of the century, three distinctly American tales are woven together.

The Public Theater announced the fourth season of PUBLIC STUDIO, which will present two new plays this spring.

Tino Gagliardi, President of Local 802 AFM, the Associated Musicians of Greater New York; James Claffey, President of Local 1 IATSE; Kate Shindle, President of Actors' Equity Association; Mike Hodge, President of SAG-AFTRA NY Local; and Thomas J. O'Donnell, President of Theatrical Teamsters Local 817 today applauded Governor Cuomo for vetoing S7709/A10283-A.

Sending a strong signal to ad industry leaders and the entire entertainment community, SAG-AFTRA members and supporters gathered today to call on Droga5, a leading digital ad producer with headquarters on Wall Street, to stand by its self-described “humanity-obsessed” values and stop undermining the industry standards that ensure commercial performers can earn a middle-class living. Despite repeated requests, Droga5 representatives refused to accept the petition or discuss the union's deep concerns.

SAG-AFTRA today announced the promotion of Jeffrey Bennett to the role of New York Local executive director effective Jan. 1, 2016.

Coventry's Belgrade Theatre has today announced full details of its Spring 2016 Season which will see EastEnders' original odd couple, Jessie Wallace and Shane Richie appear on stage together for the first time in Peter James' acclaimed comedy-thriller, The Perfect Murder.

'[Thank you] to an incredible cast of British and American actors who make the Atlantic look like a little creek you can just kind of pop across,' said Dame Helen Mirren upon receiving her 2015 Tony Award. The stage and screen star reprised her critically-acclaimed performance in THE AUDIENCE after a West End run in 2013, and she was just one of many to 'pop across' an ocean for a stab at Broadway.  An unprecedented amount of British talent took over Broadway last year, bringing us such productions as THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME, WOLF HALL: PARTS 1 & 2, and SKYLIGHT.   It doesn't seem like the trend is ending anytime soon. This fall, Broadway will welcome a slew of British actors- some of whom will be making their US stage debuts in incoming productions. And it's not just performers. We're getting some complete British imports in shows like A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE and KING CHARLES III. Below, we're taking a moment to shine a spotlight on this season's British imports.

I remember when the film version of DOGFIGHT was release, and how I was initially repelled by the very concept, but then I saw the film, and I understood. You'll understand even more when you take in Stray Dog Theatre's local premiere presentation of the musical version of DOGFIGHT, and it's and absolute must see! This is truly a revelatory experience, with a smart book by Peter Duchan, and wonderfully arranged music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. It's a cool score that lifts the action in an even more affecting manner than the movie does. It's the intimacy we experience when we see something live unfold before our eyes. This is a truly wondrous production that will move you, and that's what theatre is all about.

Mayor Bill de Blasio, Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen, and Media & Entertainment Commissioner Cynthia Lopez today announced that New York City's filmed entertainment industry now contributes $8.7 billion to the local economy, an increase of more than 1.5 billion, or 21 percent, since 2011. Full-time equivalent jobs in the city's industry have grown 10 percent, from 94,000 to 104,000 over the last four years, according to an independent study conducted by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) that details the growth and economic impact of New York City's media and entertainment industries. According to BCG's report, New York City is one of only three cities in the world with a filming community large enough to enable a production to be made without needing any roles to be brought in from other locations, including cast, crew members, and the creative team. Additionally, a rich real-life history, iconic locations, diverse storytellers and top talent are among the reasons productions choose to film in New York City.

Collider Theater presents the world premiere production of LOVE, SEX AND DEATH IN THE AMAZON opening tonight, October 10 at The Paradise Factory at 64E4 in the East Village.

Collider Theater announced today the complete cast of its world premiere production of LOVE, SEX AND DEATH IN THE AMAZON opening Saturday, October 10 at The Paradise Factory at 64E4 in the East Village.

Mike Hodge has been re-elected New York President of SAG-AFTRA.