Lawrence Pressman News

Actors' Equity Releases Statement Re: Equity Waiver Lawsuit, Asner vs. Actors' Equity

As BroadwayWorld reported this weekend, members of the Los Angeles theatrical community have filed a lawsuit today against Actors' Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers, challenging the Union's decision to eliminate its 25-year-old waiver of jurisdiction over small 99-seat theaters, a program popularly known as Equity Waiver.

The West Coast premiere of Annie Baker's translation of Anton Chekhov's classic UNCLE VANYA receives a brilliant mounting from the Antaeus Theatre Company.  Robin Larsen directs her talented cast in a steady, flowing pace with just enough quiet moments to contrast the volatile, high emotional ones.

This just in from actors and other members of the Los Angeles theatrical community who filed a lawsuit today against Actors' Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers. The lawsuit challenges the Union's decision to eliminate its 25-year-old waiver of jurisdiction over small 99-seat theaters, a program popularly known as Equity Waiver. Plaintiffs claim that the Union's decision to end Equity Waiver will unfairly destroy small theater in Los Angeles and deprive thousands of actors of opportunities to collaborate on creative theatrical projects.

Anton Chekhov's UNCLE VANYA bursts with passion and fierce humor in Pulitzer Prize and three-time Obie Award-winning playwright Annie Baker's colloquial translation, adapted from a literal translation by Margarita Shalina and the original Russian text. The Antaeus Theatre Company presents the West Coast premiere of Baker's fresh new version in a fully partner-cast production. Robin Larsen directs the show, which opens tonight, October 15, at the Antaeus Theater in NoHo. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the casts in action below!

Anton Chekhov's Uncle Vanya bursts with passion and fierce humor in Pulitzer Prize and three-time Obie Award-winning playwright Annie Baker's colloquial translation, adapted from a literal translation by Margarita Shalina and the original Russian text. The Antaeus Theatre Company presents the West Coast premiere of Baker's fresh new version, hailed as one of the top 10 shows of 2012 by both The New York Times and New York magazine, in a fully partner-cast production. Robin Larsen directs for tonight's October 15 opening at the Antaeus Theater in NoHo.

Anton Chekhov's Uncle Vanya bursts with passion and fierce humor in Pulitzer Prize and three-time Obie Award-winning playwright Annie Baker's colloquial translation, adapted from a literal translation by Margarita Shalina and the original Russian text. The Antaeus Theatre Company presents the West Coast premiere of Baker's fresh new version, hailed as one of the top 10 shows of 2012 by both The New York Times and New York magazine, in a fully partner-cast production. Robin Larsen directs for an October 15 opening at the Antaeus Theater in NoHo, with low-priced previews beginning October 8.

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.

Arizona Theatre Company presents the Arizona premiere of the 2012 Pulitzer Prize in Drama finalist and Broadway hit Other Desert Cities, a story of family relationships and deep, dark secrets meant to stay buried, at the Herberger Theater Center, 222 E. Monroe, from tonight, Feb. 13 through March 2.

Arizona Theatre Company presents the Arizona premiere of the 2012 Pulitzer Prize in Drama finalist and Broadway hit Other Desert Cities, a story of family relationships and deep, dark secrets meant to stay buried, at the Herberger Theater Center, 222 E. Monroe, from Feb. 13 through March 2.

Playwright, and Emmy Award winner, Elliot Shoenman will return to the Odyssey Theatre with his newest play A Heap Of Livin', which includes original music by David Shire (Oscar/Grammy Award, multiple Tony/Emmy noms). Elliot's work, the Ovation Award nominated AfterMath, starring Annie Potts, played to sold-out houses at the Odyssey last season, launched by the Inkwell Theater.

Playwright, and Emmy Award winner, Elliot Shoenman will return to the Odyssey Theatre with his newest play A Heap Of Livin', which includes original music by David Shire (Oscar/Grammy Award, multiple Tony/Emmy noms). Elliot's work, the Ovation Award nominated AfterMath, starring Annie Potts, played to sold-out houses at the Odyssey last season, launched by the Inkwell Theater.

The choices I have made are based solely on the plays and performances that I actually saw. I cannot see all the great talent that is out there in LA; it is physically impossible, as there exist far too many theatre/cabaret performances for one person to cover. So if a choice of yours is not on my list, chances are, I did not see that play or performance...or, it just did not make the final cut. I also do not separate Equity from Equity waiver; I consider all the productions/performances I select to be of top-of-the-line quality/professionalism.

Playwrights Kaufman and Hart saw the vitality and urgency of comedy within drama when they penned You Can't Take It With You in 1936. It won a Pulitzer for Drama in 1937 and then a Best Picture Oscar for the film version in 1938. Their other big hit The Man Who Came to Dinner in 1939 has a similar theme and tone. In both plays it's wild, zany over-the-top characters and off-kilter incidents that blow the lid off the humdrum existence of the well to do middle class, and to meaningful avail. In Y.C.T.I.W.Y., the wealthy Kirbys are about as unlike the crazy free-living Sycamores as black is to white. Yet, when meshed together, merriment and unexpected happiness abound. With a spectacular cast (double) and brightly paced direction from Gigi Birmingham, Antaeus' Y.C.T.I.W.Y. is a splendid tonic for our depressing economic times and simply a whole lot of fun.

Find out who's really crazy when a couple of lovebirds bring their mismatched families together. The Antaeus Company, L.A.'s multiple award-winning classical theater company, presents You Can't Take It With You, the timeless comedy about love, life and living by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. Gigi Bermingham directs the fully double cast production Oct. 18 through Dec. 9, with low-priced previews beginning Oct. 11.

Farm Boy/by Michael Morpurgo/adapted by Daniel Buckroyd/directed by David Fofi/Matrix Theatre/closed August 26

The Group Rep at the Lonny Chapman Theatre is proud to present Jon Robin Baitz' THE PARIS LETTER, directed by the award-winning, Jules Aaron produced by Patrick Burke for the Group Rep at the Lonny Chapman Theatre in the NoHo Arts District of North Hollywood, California. The play runs July 20 through September 2, 2012.

Casting is complete for L.A. Theatre Works' upcoming recording of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Eric Simonson. Stacy Keach heads the cast as Willy Loman, with Jane Kaczmarek as Linda Loman; Steven Culp as Biff Loman; and John Sloan as Happy Loman.

Meet hard-working salesman Willy Loman as he chases the American Dream in Arthur Miller's Pulitzer Prize winning tragedy, Death of a Salesman. Stacy Keach and Jane Kaczmarek head the cast when Academy Award-winning filmmaker Eric Simonson directs one of the most important dramas of all time for L.A. Theatre Works. Five performances will be recorded March 16-20 at the Skirball Cultural Center for future radio broadcast; L.A. Theatre Works' nationally syndicated radio theater series airs locally in Southern California on KPCC 89.3 every Saturday from 10 pm -midnight and can be streamed on demand at www.latw.org. Employing stark realism, expressionism and archetypal characters with compassionate simplicity, Death of a Salesman remains one of American drama's most riveting and timeless works. Miller's devastating social commentary explores the pursuit of success and failure in the ever-shifting ideals of the American landscape. Willy Loman loses his tenuous grasp on reality as he struggles to achieve the noble dream of owning his home, suffering the terrible consequences of chasing after an illusion at the expense of his family and ultimately, himself.

Casting is complete for L.A. Theatre Works' upcoming recording of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Eric Simonson. Stacy Keach heads the cast as Willy Loman, with Jane Kaczmarek as Linda Loman; Steven Culp as Biff Loman; and John Sloan as Happy Loman.