Press Releases

Actors’ Equity Association announced today that it reached an agreement with Norwegian Cruise Line to cover members on the cruise line's new ship, the Norwegian Bliss. From May 3 – May 5 while in New York, the Norwegian Bliss was under Equity Agreement, marking the first time that a full Equity cast has been used on a cruise ship. 

Actors’ Equity Association has named Lin-Manuel Miranda the recipient of the 2018 Rosetta LeNoire Award. The award, established in 1988, is given for outstanding artistic contributions to the universality of human experience in American theatre. It goes to an individual, theatre or producing organization with an exemplary record in the hiring or promotion of people of color, women and actors with disabilities through diverse and inclusive casting.

Actors’ Equity Association has announced that Equity's National Council has voted to retire the name "Gypsy Robe" -- the name for the ritual that occurs on the stage of every Broadway musical with a chorus on opening night before the audience is admitted. While the name will change, the tradition will continue next season unchanged.

Actors' Equity Association announced today the launch of a new national campaign to create two new Tony Award categories, Best Chorus in a Musical or Play and Best Ensemble in a Musical or Play. The inclusion of these categories would recognize all Equity performers who appear on a Broadway stage.

Actors’ Equity Association, the national labor union representing more than 51,000 actors and stage managers, is pleased to announce that Equity's National Council has approved the formation of a new committee, chaired by Equity President Kate Shindle and dedicated to preventing sexual harassment and workplace hostility in the theatre. 

Actors' Equity announced that it has reached a tentative agreement with the Producers of the Broadway production Rocktopia to ensure the production will use wall-to-wall Equity contracts.

Representatives from Actors’ Equity Association are currently attending the 31st annual Arts Advocacy Day meeting in Washington, DC, a national arts action summit meeting. During this time, they will learn new skills needed to protect and defend funding for the National Endowment for the Arts.

Actors' Equity Association has announced that Christian Hainds will be the union’s new Central Regional Director/Assistant Executive Director effective immediately. Formerly Equity's Senior Business Representative in Chicago, Hainds has been with Actors' Equity since 2012.

Broadway and off-Broadway theaters in New York City, along with theatres in Los Angeles and Chicago, employ thousands of actors on many stages, but what comes next? Where are the best places to see live theatre in the United States? Actors’ Equity Association, the union representing 51,000 live theatre actors and stage managers across the country, today released its first annual list, the 2018 Regional Theatre Report that provides some answers.

Actors' Equity Association will mark its third annual "National Swing Day" with a social media celebration on Wednesday, January 17, 2018.