Birth Place: Toledo, Ohio, USA
AEA featured prominently in industry news last week - voicing support for a casino project in Times Square, as the subject of a defamation suit from producer Garth Drabinsky, and their efforts to organize the dancers at Star Garden. All as the industry continues to work towards a new normal, while facing tremendous challenges on all fronts.
In August, when Actors’ Equity first announced it was seeking to represent adult dancers (aka strippers) at a California night club, many members expressed displeasure on social media.
Last week Actors’ Equity announced that it was one step closer to unionizing the dancers at Star Garden Topless Dive Bar—the National Labor Relations Board approved a petition for a union recognition election. In other words, if the dancers (and DJs) want a union, they can join one by voting.
Questions of access continue to be discussed after an incident at Hadestown last week, ultimately highlighting that there is a deep need for more education around the topic for everyone involved. In the UK, educational access for school children is becoming more challenging than ever before with cuts to funding for those trips.
ACTORS' EQUITY ASSOCIATION, founded in 1913, is the U.S. labor union that represents more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers. Equity endeavors to advance the careers of its members by negotiating wages, improving working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits (health and pension included). Member: AFL-CIO, FIA. www.actorsequity.org #EquityWorks
Senate Bill 1116, a measure introduced by Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – Burbank) which seeks to create a payroll fund to support small nonprofit performing arts venues (SNPAOs), was signed into law September 29, 2022 by Governor Newsom.
Actors’ Equity Association, the national labor union representing more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers in live entertainment, has filed with the Los Angeles City Employee Relations Board on behalf of the planetarium lecturers at Griffith Observatory.
BIRDLAND JAZZ CLUB will present vocalist and pianist Steve Ross in a special new show “Autumn Serenades” on Monday, October 24 at 7:00 PM. Ross will sing a few mellow seasonal ballads, including “September in the Rain,” “Autumn Leaves,” “September Song,” and “When October Goes.”
BIRDLAND JAZZ CLUB will present a special musical evening with three great musical talents Victoria Shaw, Jim Brickman, and Peter Cincotti, in “Three Friends, One Piano” on Monday, October 10 at 7:00 PM.
BIRDLAND JAZZ CLUB will present Julie Halston – the brilliant Tony Award-winning comedic actress – on Monday, October 17 at 7:00 PM. Ms. Halston returns to the Birdland stage – live and in person – after two-and-a-half years of global pandemic Zoom meetings and green screens.
BIRDLAND THEATER will present the return of Mairi Dorman-Phaneuf – the acclaimed cellist celebrating her recent album Music of Broadway for Cello and Piano – on Monday, September 19 at 8:30 PM.
A majority of the dancers employed at the Star Garden Topless Dive Bar in North Hollywood have filed a petition for a union recognition election with the National Labor Relations Board.
Black Theatre United has engaged Christina Alexander of Alexander Consulting Group to create a digital Unconscious Bias and Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility & Belonging (EDIAB) training program for use by the entire theatrical industry.
On June 21st, The Lineup moved up.... upstairs, that is. Matt Baker shows all the Birdland action on this special night with Susie & co. Check out the photos here.
Bob Gunton, a two-time Tony nominee, Drama Desk and Obie winner (Sweeney Todd, Evita, How I Got That Story) will return to the New York area stage after a thirty-year hiatus to star in the acclaimed drama The Soap Myth by Drama Desk winner Jeff Cohen Aug 10-28 at Southampton Cultural Center.
Today's top stories include all of the reviews for the Broadway-bound production of 1776, now playing at A.R.T.! Casting has been announced for the off-Broadway production of Kinky Boots, which will star Callum Francis, Christian Douglas, and Danielle Hope. Plus, student tickets are available today for the Tony Awards, and more!
Amid Twitter buzz that the Tony Awards, airing this Sunday, June 12, will not be highlighting the swings and understudies of Broadway, Tony Awards host Ariana DeBose and Actors' Equity Association president Kate Shindle have taken to Twitter to address and dispel the rumors.
Next week, FEINSTEIN’S/54 BELOW, Broadway’s Supper Club & Private Event Destination, will present some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond.
It has been reported that the Hayes Theater, where Take Me Out is currently running, has installed a new infrared camera to more closely monitor audience members after video of a nude scene featuring Jesse Williams was shared online.
Second Stage and Actors' Equity are speaking out after photos were illegally taken of Jesse Williams' nude scene in the Broadway play Take Me Out.
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