By Ellen Harvey

"I was a junior at Boston University (BFA-Acting) when I was one of 4 students picked by director Sharon Ott to appear in The Huntington Theater Company's production of "A Winter's Tale". (I played the memorable character of Dorcas!). I had known about Actors Equity for many years, and it was always my goal to become a member someday. I wanted to be a pro. So I signed up for my EMC candidacy through this Shakespeare play, and continued to work towards getting my 52 weeks after I graduated college. But I managed to procure my card before I ever even accrued my work-weeks. A year after graduation, I was cast in a regional theater production of "The Nerd". The Director called me and asked "Do you mind going Equity?" I said, "Mind, Schmind…bring it on!" (Okay, maybe I didn't really say THAT, but the spirit was certainly there!) And finally I was a member of the union. Being a member had been my goal because it meant you were a part of a collective that upheld working standards, and you could finally make a living doing what you loved. To this day, I am grateful and proud to be a member, and I thank all those performers who came before me that helped set the standards and have continued the fight for better wages and working conditions."