The last issue dealt with sleazy practices in the film and television casting world. Yes, that is this column's patch, but the reports of reptilian behavior prompted calls from actors reporting similar bottom-feeding practices in theatre. I address these matters here because Chicago actors work (with luck) in both fields and (alas) have to on occasion do some serious whistle blowing and cat belling when theatres blot their escutcheons. [Ed. Translation: Actors occasionally have to be brave and protect their reputations.]

One case concerns a local theatre turned training center that "forgets" to pay royalties. But the amnesia doesn't stop there. Seems the artistic director has forgotten a very basic rule: If a script is under copyright, you don't go messing with cutting lines, not to mention entire characters, without first clearing it with the publisher. Before someone points out that, "They do that all the time with Shakespeare!" I would remind you I said "under copyright." The Bard is dead some almost 400 years now. Hemmings and Condell too. And if WS weren't dead, another post-apocalyptic gender-macramé  Two Gents would finish him off.

But your playwright being dead doesn't mean you are free to play fast and loose with the text. If you are cast in a play in which a director conducts a scorched earth policy through the script, or at a theatre whose artistic staff ride roughshod over the director demanding he/she make unauthorized cuts, you are completely within your rights to put in a call to the play's licensing agent. Ask the play's agent if those alterations were asked for and approved.

Why? Because the publisher can SUE. This is NOT GOOD. They can pull the rights and then all those weeks of rehearsal are down the drain. Agents and playwrights have a curious way of finding out about this all by themselves. An audience member familiar with what used to be the script can drop a dime and the you-know-what hits the cooling device.

Scared to make a stink? Scared this theatre which clog dances all over a writer's work or a director's integrity won't hire you again? If they do that to the writers, in how many ways are they simultaneously screwing the rest of the team? What else isn't on the up and up? What other codes aren't being met?

And if you have friends on the boards of these theatres they would really like to know, since they are legally and financially responsible even when the artistic heads are forgetting their ethics. The League of Chicago Theatres and Equity (whether the company is union yet or not) would no doubt also like to be put wise. We've all worked way too hard for way too long for Chicago to get a bad reputation with playwrights and French's and Dramatists.

On the subject of protecting yourself from predators, a reminder that Babes With Blades is offering a self-defense workshop led by 4th degree black belt Patricia Charatin, with additional support provided by the Women's Theatre Alliance. The workshop will be held Aug. 29 from 12:30-3:30 at Sheil Park (3505 North Southport). There is a suggested donation of $5 and capacity is limited. For more information and reservations call 773/392-8414.

Tenner Paskal Rudnicke reports the bookings for Ammityville Horror, which is currently shooting. Booked were Annabel Armour, David Darlow, Jenny Strubin, Danny McCarthy, Nancy Lollar, Rich Komenich, David Geeb, Brendan Donaldson and Jessi Campbell. Booked on a Family Dollar spot were Ana Sferruza, Emily Churchill, Lili-Anne Brown and David de Leon. They are currently casting spots for St. Joseph's Hospital, Bounty, and McCain Roasters.

And we catch up with Claire Simon and crew. They booked Monica Zaffarano, Beth Lacke, Joan Shellergren, Mary Kay Cook, Lindley Traynor, Darryl Satcher, Rebecca Spence, Tom Lind, Victoria laMar, Tim Manning, Jeanette Greer, Aretha Rowell, Giovanna Zito, Jessy Schram, Nicola dePinto, Betsy Kunz and Monica Pederson for Carsons. Marje Rynnerson and Sam Derrence were booked for a Liberty Medical spot.  Booked for a commercial for Student Loan Xpress were Deborah Leydig, Ralph Prindle, Trevor Oliff, Keye Han, Brian Smith, Bryan Lukasik and Steve Haggard.  Nathan Craig and Josh Green were booked for the videogame "Area 51." Rolando Boyce and Ronnel Taylor will be heading to Madison Rep to do Top Dog/Under Dog and Roderick Peeples was cast in a Moon For the Misbegotten also at Madison Rep. Joining then will be Rebecca Spence in Cyrano and Lisa Joyce in The Crucible.  Patrick New will be going to Indiana Rep for their production of Pride and Prejudice.  Claire's next theatre project will be the Missouri Rep generals. They are conducting searches for a Miramax feature called Shark Boy and Lava Girl, a Universal feature called Prime, an HBO film called My Life in Idllywild, and an A&E reality show called "Going Hollywood."  In the meantime, they are casting an independent film called Duplicity and booking more Carson's spots.

And pressures from the community led the Illinois General Assembly to approve an extension of the visual media wage-based incentive through 2005. Thanks to you and the hard working people of the Illinois Production Alliance Board, we can keep people working here. Even though this legislation passed, there can't be any let-up in our efforts to keep and bring work to Illinois and stem the flood of runaway production. Get involved! Go the the website at www.illinoisproduction.org or call 312/867-5504 for membership information.

Chicago actor and all-around great guy Dave Kappas will be Walking for PKD. If anyone would care to sponsor him or participate in the walk itself, visit www.pkdcure.org and follow the links.

Peace.

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