This post is the first in a series to help the average theatre-goer develop a firm understanding of … What am I seeing anywho?

It is in a way of in answer to a post from earlier in the week by Whitney Smith on "Should Indy Theatres have unions?"

I think first the information should be What Theatres in Indy ARE union and WHY? And WHY should anyone even CARE???

So, what is a union? Does anyone know a member of the Teamsters or the Pipefitters or the UAW? What does their union do for them? Actor's Equity Association does the same thing for actors…sort of. It assures them (depending on the contract) a minimum base salary, safe and sanitary working conditions, regular breaks during rehearsals and protection from being stranded if a show were to fold suddenly. Based on the number of seats, region, type of performances and a few other variables Equity (AEA) determines what type of contract a theatre is given. Then. based on the type of contract there is a sliding scale for the minimum salary which varies from a Small Professional Theatre (SPT) $117.00 base pay per week to a Production contract (Broadway) $1500.00 per week base and everything in between. A non union situation could ask an actor to work where they are sharing wigs, costumes, make-up… not so in an AEA theatre. There is always access to running HOT water, bathrooms, showers backstage not always so in non-union theatres. All standard AEA contracts demand that the producers put up a bond, which is like a deposit in the amount of the salaries of the entire cast for the last 2 weeks of the show. Just in case something was to go wrong and show closed early, the actors and stage manager are protected.

So, what theatres are AEA in Indy… well not many unfortunately. Actors Theatre Of Indiana, Beef&Boards, Heartland Actor's Repertory Theatre, IRT,The Beckman, and The Phoenix Theatre. There are others in town the use AEA guest artist contracts, which means they sign an agreement with AEA to use and AEA artist for a particular show, American Cabaret Theatre, and Theatre On The Square I know of for sure. As I was one last year at ACT and it was a wonderful experience.

Now, some say that AEA denotes a certain level of quality or talent. I have never been one to subscribe to that belief. What you do get with an AEA theatre is USUALLY a higher level of experience on professional stages and training. This is not to say that just because someone holds an AEA membership card they are automatically infused with divinely bestowed performing prowess. Believe me, I have worked with some card holders that were not much better than a potted plant… in fact about a decade ago I did Music Man with a Harold Hill we affectionately refer to now as "the Ficus".

Keep your eyes peeled for my next posted in this series. Focuses will be Independent Professional Theatres, Community Theatres (Professionally Managed and Non), and Can Non-Profits Really make money?

Regardless of what you are seeing, live locally produced theatre is doing yourself a favor. Think of it like deciding not to eat at a chain. I don't want to knock the movies… but with those prices theatre tickets are not all that much more.