BY CHRISTINA BIGGS
Members
of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA)
and Screen Actors Guild (SAG) ratified the one-year extension of
their current Television/Motion Picture and AFTRA Exhibit A agreements
by an overwhelming 88 percent majority on March 18. The positive nod helped
to secure a 2.5 percent minimum salary increase; a 0.5 percent bump to
both unions’ health plans; and the same upfront minimum wages for
freelance actors and stunt coordinators on primetime WB and UPN dramas
and sitcoms as their counterparts on ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX. The extension
also grants AFTRA/SAG the right to negotiate future contracts side-by-side.
“I am gratified by the overwhelming vote in favor of this extension,”
says AFTRA president John Connolly. “By thinking creatively and
strategically, our negotiating committee and staff delivered a solid set
of gains for working actors and positioned the unions to effectively build
upon those gains in the next round of talks.” By opting for an extension
over a new three-year contract, the unions now wield increased power when
entering into the fall negotiations. Look for continued pay and benefit
gains, as well as progress on DVD revenue and other residual structures
to be top priorities in the next round.
Actors’
Equity Foundation has awarded 2003 grants to four Chicago-area not-for-profits.
Apple Tree, Chicago Shakespeare, Theatre at the Center and Writers’
Theatre all took home a piece of the $60,000 shared among 30 theatres
nationwide. Kudos to all.
Equity
has also stepped up its campaign against non-union stage tours by filing
an unfair labor practices charge with the NLRB. The charges against Clear
Channel Entertainment, Nederlander Producing Co. and Dodger Stage Holding
Theatricals include failing to provide requested information about their
ties to non-Equity producers. The failure by the companies to provide
the information Equity requested “begs the question, what are they
hiding?” says Equity executive director Alan Eisenberg.
Artists
looking for living or work space may want to attend the City’s first-ever
Chicago Artists Space and Housing Expo on April 10 from 9 to 3
p.m. at the Chicago Cultural Center. Sponsored by the Chicago Department
of Cultural Affairs and Department of Housing, the expo will feature over
50 exhibits as well as provide free workshops and seminars on topics such
as developing working relationships with tradespeople and architects;
living, working and presenting in storefronts; opening new spaces; home
ownership; getting a mortgage; renter’s rights; artists communities
and mutual housing; insurance for health, work and home, and much more.
A special feature to the expo will be a section on “10 Neighborhoods
Seeking Artists,” as well as a message board to post your own space-related
opportunities. A shortlist of participants and exhibitors includes the
Lawyers for the Creative Arts, ACME Artists Community, UIC Health in the
Arts, Chicago Artists Coalition, the League of Chicago Theatres and the
Music and Dance Alliance. For more information, visit www.chicagoculturalcenter.org.
Actress
and accident victim Irma P. Hall continued to mend the week of
March 26 as her new movie Ladykillers opened in L.A. While she’s
gaining strength everyday, and has thankfully had one of her casts removed,
it will be a very long recovery says manager Harrise Davidson. Unable
to attend the movie premiere, Davidson went in her place. “Tom (Hanks)
and Irma are magic together,” she says. “They are both excellent
in their parts and everyone at the party following talked about how Irma
was the center of the film.” Hanks, Marlon Wayans, Ethan Coen and
Joel Coen stopped in to boost Irma’s spirits while in Chicago to
promote the film.
Hot
on the heels of Steppenwolf, the Goodman has also announced initial
plans for their 2004-05 season. The highlight so far is the world premiere
Arthur Miller play Finishing the Picture, directed by artistic
director Robert Falls. “I am extremely honored to be working again
with Arthur Miller after our wonderful collaboration on his classic play,
Death of a Salesman. It was one of the most rewarding theatrical
experiences of my life, and I very much look forward to this exciting
new play,” says Falls. Also on tap are the world premiere of Rebecca
Gilman’s new adaptation of Ibsen’s A Doll’s House
(also to be directed by Falls), the Chuck Smith helmed Chicago premiere
of Tracey Scott Wilson’s The Story and Mary Zimmerman’s
adaptation of Alessandro Baricco novel Silk.
About
Face Youth Theatre is currently looking for young people who identify
as gay, lesbian, transgendered, bisexual, queer, questioning or their
allies to participate in the creation of the sixth installment of the
internationally recognized Our Cities, Our Stories. This year’s
story gathering efforts are being conducted by participants ages 14-20
trained to find out how LGBTQQA youth relate and contribute to the ever-changing
urban landscape. “It’s a pilot year for this. The story gatherers
are all youth leadership council members who’ve undergone training
around interviewing,” says AFYT artistic director Megan Carney.
“We want stories across generation—any age, any experience,
any sexuality.” Interested participants can contact Carney directly
at 773/784-8565. Our Cities, Our Stories will premiere late this summer
in downtown Chicago.
A
couple of hip, groovy shows recently announced extensions. The
Griffin Theatre production of Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging
will now run through April 11. It’s currently playing to packed
houses and, if ticket sales remain strong, it will be the most financially
successful play in Griffin history. You also have a couple more days to
catch About Face’s wildly popular Pulp, which now closes April 4.
Watch
out for the carnage—a city-wide assassins game is underway.
Puppetmaster Ryan Bollettino of The Hypocrites engineered the fundraising
event after a smaller version last year. The cat and mouse game includes
10-member teams from The Hypocrites, Defiant, Strawdog, Barrel of Monkeys,
Open Eye, Babes with Blades, Blind Faith and House. The premise is that
every person at all times is both the hunter and the hunted—all
players begin with a target to assassinate. If you hit someone (by way
of a water gun or other inventive device) you take their target and they’re
out. The last two standing are after each other. All teams throw in $50,
with half of the $400 going to charity of the winning team’s choice
and the other half going to the winners’ company. Don’t want
to find yourself drenched by default? Not to worry. Theatres are safe
zones, as are Simon’s, Konak, Hungry Brain, T’s and Carol’s.
And finally, the fertility goddess is shining on Writers Theatre.’ Or maybe there’s something in the water at the Women’s Library Club of Glencoe. Actress Kymberly Mellen, currently co-starring in My Own Stranger there, is due the first week in August, as is her understudy, Michelle Hensley. And the understudy for the two other actresses in this play, Karen Woditch, gave birth three months ago! Congratulations to the new mommy and mommies-to-be!