Bravo! AEA-NEAT Reach Tentative 3-Year Agreement

Negotiations for a three-year agreement were recently concluded in Boston between Actors’ Equity and NEAT, the New England Area Theatres. The NEAT organization encompasses eleven small-to-medium sized theatres within a 100 mile radius of Boston; these theatres account for over 2500 work-weeks per season for our members.

AEA's Chief Negotiator was Senior Business Representative Russell Lehrer assistd by Business Representative Melissa Colgan. The Negotiating Team was chaired by Councillor Julia Breanetta Simpson. Boston Liaison Committee members on the team included Michael Dell’Orto (Area Liaison), Jim Bodge, Victoria Coady, Kippy Goldfarb, Peter Haydu, John Kooi, Maureen Lane, Celeste McClain, Emily McMullen and Bob Saoud (not pictured).

The agreement was ratified by the Eastern Regional Board on May 10th.

Back row: Kippy Goldfarb (Liaison Committee), Kate Warner (New Rep), Harriet Sheets (New Rep), Sara Glidden (Lyric Stage), Peter Haydu (Liaison Committee), Jim Bodge (Liaison Committee), MJ Munafo (Vineyard Playhouse), John Kooi (Liaison Committee)

Middle row: Melissa Ann Colgan (Staff), Michael Dell'Orto (Liaison Committee), Mimi Huntingdon (Nora Theatre Company), Maureen Lane (Liaison Committee), Matt Chaprun (Stoneham Theatre)

Sitting front row: Paul Melone (Speakeasy Stage), Russell Lehrer (Staff), Spiro Veloudos (Lyric Stage), Julia Breanetta Simpson (Councillor), Celeste McClain (Liaison Committee)

The 2011 NEAT Negotiating Team