I wade into the compensation debate with some reluctance. The discourse has become startlingly heated. People care about the issues, which is a good thing. But unfortunate, incendiary, even insulting things have been said on both sides to those who have expressed perspectives and opinions that not everyone agrees with. I think that’s really sad […]
I’m non-Equity and I already make a living wage, but thank you anyway.
I want to thank my friends and colleagues for their vigorous advocacy of non-Equity theatre makers – performers, producers, or both – during the discussion of theatreWashington’s new minimum pay requirements. I applaud the dialogue on all sides for remaining informed, erudite and civil.
Fresh new ideas from Pallas Theatre Collective: preparing for Helen Hayes wage requirements
Earlier this month, Pallas Theatre Collective issued a response to the new Helen Hayes Awards eligibility requirements. You can read it here. DC Theatre Scene reached out to us and asked us to expand on our response for their series.
Andrew Baughman becomes Independent Theatre Coalition spokesman
On Friday, December 26, a mystery donor presented Washington theatre with a gift. It wasn’t the usual holiday card or end-of-year donation. Instead, an anonymous theatre patron developed the idea – and corresponding web presence – to give our region’s smaller theatre companies their own space, voice, and conversation.
theatreWashington’s minimum wage a good start. We should go further
Currently in the United States there is a great debate over what constitutes minimum wage. Why should the Washington Theatre Community be any different? Many of us are working hard contacting our reps in Washington and at home to get the minimum wage to a point where people aren’t taken advantage of by their employers. […]
In support of theatreWashington. An actor defends push for living wage
I am a professional actor in favor of wage increases for artists, and I am at a crossroads. I believe many people in our theatre community are. It has been a tumultuous week that has brought many of our core values into question, and the debate is heated to say the least. I am, however, […]
Helen Hayes wage rules put small theatres at a crossroads
There’s a huge takeaway for small theatre companies in DC following the revised Helen Hayes eligibility requirements and the removal of Ari Roth from Theater J: In DC, at least, theatre is first and foremost a business. Each of us needs to decide what to do with that uncomfortable fact.
Helen Hayes Awards’ new compensation requirements – what they are and what companies fear they will lose
This summer, Washington, DC passed The Minimum Wage Amendment Act raising the minimum wage standard to $9.50 per hour. By 2017, that hourly wage will be $11.50, figures well below what some theatre professionals are paid. theatreWashington has just issued professional compensation guidelines which apply to the Helen Hayes Awards, effective as of 2016.