Theatre Authority FAQ

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An administrative fee is charged with few exceptions for every Theatre Authority (TA) approved benefit. This fee helps to defray the costs of a special insurance policy maintained by The Actors Fund for the union performers and stage managers who donate their services. All checks should be made payable to The Actors Fund. The “producer” and “beneficiary” should be noted on the check as well. This fee is based on a sliding scale.

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The administrative fee is not to be confused with an honorarium – the amount paid to an actor in lieu of salary. The honorarium may be used to cover expenses for food, transportation, housing and other costs related to a union member's participation in the benefit. A benefit producer may not pay health and/or pension to the Equity-League Benefit Funds on behalf of an actor. (The Funds are prohibited from accepting pension and health payments for an individual actor or stage manager who is not signed to a formal union employment contract.)

Producers who fail to forward the administrative fee and contribution will be placed on TA's "Negligent Producer List" and will be denied future Theatre Authority Agreements.

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TA can clear benefits with one or two performances. Should a producer wish to request clearance for more than two performances, the producer should contact union representatives at Actors’ Equity to negotiate an appropriate employment contract.

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The rehearsal time must meet union-established requirements regarding standard breaks and span of day. Rehearsals are limited to 25 hours (not including the presentations). Should a producer require more than 25 hours of rehearsal, the producer should contact union representatives at Actors’ Equity to negotiate an appropriate employment contract.

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A benefit may not be used to extend an already existing Equity Employment Contract or Showcase, nor may a benefit be offered as part of a subscription package. Generally, a benefit may not be used to supplant any appropriate contract or code, or for backers' auditions. Benefits may not be produced with multiple locations or in a traveling tour.

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The IRS code does not permit a charitable deduction for actors' time or donated services as participants in a benefit. Actors' questions concerning taxes should be directed to the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) office at (212) 921-2548. VITA is only open on Thursdays except during tax season.

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Union performers or stage managers may terminate at will their services with a benefit at any time and for any reason without any penalty whatsoever.

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Neither the Theatre Authority nor the unions are involved in actor placement for benefit work. At the time of application, it is not necessary to list individual actors committed for the benefit.

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Neither the Theatre Authority nor the unions are able to assist in securing rights for intellectual property.