DC one of nation’s “Best cities for live theatre” says actors’ union

The nation’s capital certainly has more than its share of drama, so it makes sense that DC ranked high on Actors' Equity just-released list of “Best cities for live theatre.” In fact, the metro Washington/Baltimore area was the only region to report more than 20,000 work weeks for Equity members. ”We have an amazing core of talent,” said local AE Chair Roy Gross. Nearly 1,200 local actors perform and work at 70 theater companies under Equity contracts, from the Arena Stage, Ford’s Theatre, Imagination Stage and Shakespeare Theatre Company to the Kennedy Center Theatre for Young Audiences and Studio Theatre, among others. “There are organizations dedicated to Shakespeare and the classics, contemporary American playwrights, devised work, new play development, theatre for young audiences, musicals, Irish works, works from a Jewish perspective, a company dedicated to providing opportunities for professional theatre artists with and without disabilities and many more,” said Gross. “If you want to do a particular type of work, chances are there’s somewhere to do it.” Belonging to the union, says AE, “provides members with fair compensation and workplace protections that permit performers to give their all, at every performance.” To view the full report, click here.
Note: Roy Gross will be a guest today on “Your Rights at Work” on WPFW 89.3 FM (or online); the show is from 1-2pm.
photos: top right (l-r) Tim Rogan and Britney Coleman in The Pajama Game last year at Arena Stage; photo by Margot Schulman; below: (l-r) Toni L. Martin, Harriett D. Foy, Felicia Curry and Theresa Cunningham in Nina Simone: Four Women at Arena Stage last year; photo by C. Stanley Photography

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