< return to 2010 archives

LA New Members Enthusiastic About Joining AEA

Special Guest: Michele Lee

The Los Angeles New Member Orientation meeting of April 7 was enthusiastically attended by Members from the Western Region, Western Councilors and Staff. Also giving presentations were representatives from The Actors Fund and The Actors Federal Credit Union.

Special guest for the meeting, Michele Lee, shared her story of how she joined the union. Michele talked about her first audition in 1960 at the Ivar Theatre, located five blocks away from the current location of the Los Angeles Actors’ Equity office (four blocks away from her star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame). Michele told the new Members about how at age 17 she went to her first audition after being warned by her father that she needed to prepare herself for rejection if she intended to pursue an acting career. With nerves of steel Michele took to the Ivar Theatre stage, belted out the Frank Sinatra standard, “You Make Me Feel So Young.” Michele was hired under her first Equity contract on the spot. And what she learned from the experience is that she had a special gift. She told the New Members that they must have all learned that they too have a special gift, because for what ever reason and by what ever means, each and every one of them earned their Equity card and will forever be part of the theatre community.

Business Representative, Ivan Rivas, provided the new Members with important information about the privileges and responsibilities of Equity Membership. The new Members engendered many thoughtful and pertinent questions. And a great time was had by all!