Equity in the News March 2020

As millions of people in New York City suffer from the coronavirus and its devastating economic effects, one of the hardest-hit places has been the legendary Great White Way.

The government’s $2 trillion stimulus package includes provisions that should help unemployed actors and other members of the theater community.

WASHINGTON —  The economic relief bill Congress is expected to approve this week would provide $1,200 direct payments to many American adults, expand eligibility for unemployment benefits to include actors and gig workers and provide funding for states.

The text of the massive, $2 trillion coronavirus relief package has just been released, in advance of expected Senate passage on Wednesday.

The union will contribute $500,000 and match another $250,000 in contributions, to support members at risk due to work cancellations in the effort to contain COVID-19.

Actors’ Equity Association has launched an emergency “Curtain Up Fund” and issued a grant to the Actors Fund to help get members who lost work because of the COVID-19 shutdown of legit theaters across the country to get back on their feet financially. The union is contributing $500,000 to start the fund and will match another $250,000 in contributions from other donors.

Broadway producers have agreed to pay hundreds of actors, musicians, stagehands and others for the first few weeks of the industry shutdown, and to cover their health insurance for at least a month.

Since it was announced that Broadway would suspend all performances to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading through New York City, the past few days have been uncertain for Broadway artists. However, Friday night, union leaders of the Coalition of Broadway Unions and Guilds (COBUG) negotiated a deal with the Broadway League—representing producers and theater owners—to offer emergency compensation to performers during the shutdown.

New Yorkers can’t go to the theater, but there’s a theater show that can come to them.

A day after reaching a payment deal for workers on Broadway, the theatrical unions and the Broadway League have reached an agreement for employees on tour.