HEADS UP! FROM ACTORS EQUITY ASSOCIATION. PLEASE SPREAD FAR AND WIDE! __________________________________ From: Actors Equity Association Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2014 10:34 AM Subject: META Unified Auditions-Important message from AEA’s Central Regional Director Dear Equity Members: We understand there has been some concern about the upcoming Michigan Equity Theater Alliance (META) auditions. As you may know, we have discussed this with them, and have been unsuccessful in convincing them that Equity members should not be charged to participate. Some of you have asked why we cannot prohibit the use of “Equity” in META’s name, and why we cannot prohibit the paid auditions. To address the first question – the word “Equity” cannot be trademarked by Actors’ Equity Association. You have probably seen it in many other contexts (such as “home equity”), and META is within their legal rights to use the word in their name, even though the reference is clearly meant to include AEA. Regarding the paid auditions – we ensure that every Equity theater participating also complies with the rules in their agreement requiring open auditions for our members at no cost to the members. If they are in compliance, we cannot legally, or under our agreement with them, prohibit them from adding these additional auditions. It is solely your choice as a member as to whether you attend the META paid auditions. Certainly, we have heard both pro and con opinions from area members. However, we wanted to make sure that you are aware that under no circumstances do these auditions replace the auditions required by any theater’s agreement with Actors’ Equity Association, and you have no obligation to attend the paid auditions. To be perfectly clear: if you do not wish to pay a fee to audition for these employers, you may audition free at the contractually required auditions. If you have additional questions, please contact Business Representative Cynthia Hanks at [email protected] or by phone at 312-641-0393 extension 239. Thank you. In solidarity, ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION Sean Taylor Central Regional
Posted on: Wed, 16 Apr 2014 17:30:43 +0000
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