Equity in the News Coronavirus

Just over a year ago, Caitlin Kinnunen was sitting in Radio City Music Hall shoulder-to-shoulder with the biggest Broadway stars, listening to her name read as a Tony nominee for best leading actress in a musical.

Actors’ Equity Association, the national labor union representing professional actors and stage managers in live theatre, said 720 of its 780 members employed by Walt Disney World have been laid off, part of the sweeping 28,000 staff reduction underway across the company’s U.S. parks business.

'Our hearts go out to all the cast members at Walt Disney World,' said Kate Shindle, president of Actors’ Equity Association.

"Our hearts go out to the members of the cast and crew at Firehouse Theatre," said Mary McColl, executive director of Actors' Equity Association.

SAG-AFTRA’s “war” with Equity; deferred compensation agreements mean less health care for Equity members.

The two biggest unions that represent actors are currently fighting. The conflict concerns who should handle the contracts for theater productions that are recorded for streaming. Actors’ Equity Association has accused SAG-AFTRA of taking theater productions that it would normally cover with its contracts.

With a possible second wave of COVID-19 cases on the horizon as the result of new hotspots of the coronavirus emerging throughout New York City, The Broadway League has announced that theater performances are expected to remain postponed until June 1, 2021.

Broadway will remain closed through at least May 30, 2021, the Broadway League announced Friday. The four-month extension beyond the most recent January date will force producers hoping for a spring opening to come up with new plans.

Broadway theaters will remain closed through May 30, 2021 and possibly beyond, the Broadway League announced Oct. 9. The news, an inevitability that does not make it sting less, adds four months to the previously announced January reopening aim. All Broadway shows have been suspended since March of this year.

"This is a deeply painful time for everyone who depends on the arts for their livelihood."