Actors' Equity Association has tentatively agreed to a new five-year pact with the Council of Resident Stock Theatres (CORST). In 2000-01, the pact generated 2,500 workweeks and $1.6 million in earnings for Equity members.
The new pact includes a 36% increase in health rates, requires freestanding assistant stage managers in many situations for the first time under the contract, and increases the required pre-production days. The agreement also provides increases in salaries; performance overtime rate; and dance-captain, fight-captain and chorus increments.
CORST also agreed to follow the "smoke and haze" guidelines as stipulated in the Environ study. In 1998, Equity co-commissioned a study on the effects of smoke and fog on performers' health, led by Dr. Jacqueline Moline of Mt. Sinai Hospital in tandem with Environ, a California-based consulting firm. In May 2001, Equity and the League of American Theatres and Producers used the study to agree on acceptable measured limits of smoke and fog in Broadway productions and Broadway tours. CORST now will also implement those limits.
The new pact also includes a reduction in the maximum permitted rake of a stage to —" per foot (from 1" per foot).
The CORST contract governs employment for actors and stage managers at 11 stock theatres. They are Barn Theatre, Augusta, Mich.; The Barnstormers, Tamworth, N.H.; Flat Rock Playhouse, Flat Rock, N.C.; Maine State Music Theatre, Brunswick, Me.; Mountain Playhouse, Jennerstown, Pa.; Old Log Theater, Excelsior, Minn.; Peninsula Players, Fish Creek, Wisc.; Peterborough Players, Peterborough, N.H.; St. Michael's Playhouse, Colchester, Vt.; Totem Pole Playhouse, Fayetteville, Pa., and the Williamstown Theatre Festival, Willamstown, Mass.
Rick Berg, Equity's senior business representative, was chief negotiator for Equity, with support from Equity staff members Cathy Bruce and Marty McDonough. The negotiating team consisted of 15 councilors, board members and members-at-large, representing principal, chorus and stage managers. Equity councilor Lynn Archer was negotiating-team chair.
AFTRA-Equity
On another matter, AFTRA has agreed to ease the initial payment burden by $200 on Equity members' "must join" fees. The agreement immediately impacts cast members on Broadway who perform work from their shows in AFTRA's jurisdiction, such as recording cast albums, or TV appearances on the Tony Awards or in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, or other paid promotional appearances.
Traditionally following a taping or TV appearance, Equity members would receive AFTRA "must-join" membership applications. The performer would file the application and, at that time, be required to pay $600 toward the $1,200 initiation fee, with the balance due at the next AFTRA engagement.
"The problem arose because in many cases, AFTRA's initiation fees exceeded the actors' net salaries, causing financial strain," said Equity Executive Director Alan Eisenberg. "After hearing from cast members in 'Oklahoma!' and other Broadway shows, we immediately contacted AFTRA to try to find a solution."
AFTRA has lowered the initial payment from $600 to $400. When playing in subsequent engagements done in conjunction with an Equity show, performers may pay AFTRA installments of $400 or 50% of net salary, whichever is less.
Eisenberg and Ken Greenwood, Equity's senior business rep, worked with Greg Hessinger, AFTRA's national executive director, and Stephen Burrow, AFTRA/New York's executive director, in reaching the agreement.