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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Greater Cleveland Theatre Community (particularly area Actors and Stage Managers),<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We at Dobama Theatre have received some questions regarding our status as an Equity Theatre beginning the upcoming 2014-15 Season. In the interest of transparency, to try and answer some of the questions you may have, and to help to clear up any confusion around what this announcement means for area artists, we’ve included some frequently asked questions below. Dobama remains committed to producing first-rate professional theatre using the gifted theatre artists who live in this region. Dobama will continue to cast from the considerable pool of local acting talent, both Equity and non-Equity while providing ALL actors and stage managers with a professional working environment as laid out in the AEA- SPT rulebook. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Everyone at Dobama has a great amount of admiration and respect for the entire theatre community, including all theaters and actors (regardless of union affiliation) and we appreciate everyone’s support as we take this important step for our theatre and for the community at large. We believe strongly that “a rising tide lifts all ships” and we look forward to continuing to expand our collaboration with and support of all of the area’s amazing theatre artists and organizations. Please do not hesitate to email us with any questions or concerns. We will be announcing the dates for our general auditions soon and we look forward to seeing you there.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>With Love and Respect, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Staff of Dobama Theatre<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>WHAT DOES BEING AN EQUITY THEATRE MEAN?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>An Equity theatre is considered in the theatre industry to be a fully professional theatre. They pay union actors and stage managers a base rate as well as other benefits (health, pension, etc). An Equity theatre can also offer union membership, through an AEA contract, to non-union actors. Equity houses can also offer non-union actors Equity Membership Candidate “points”. After a certain number of weeks working at an Equity theatre, a non-union actor can then enter the AEA union. It also means that the theatre operates according to the AEA rulebook (which regulates everything from rehearsal lengths and breaks to the washing of costumes). There are various types of Equity Theatres, based primarily on size, from Small Professional Theatres - SPT (which Dobama will be) to LORT houses (large regional theatres). These different types of Equity Theatres have different rules and regulations.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>WHY BECOME AN EQUITY THEATRE?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dobama Theatre has a long history of producing high-quality productions of important new plays for the Greater Cleveland community. We’ve been a professional theatre in some regard for well over two decades paying all directors, designers, actors, and staff. While Dobama has been generally operating as an Equity theatre for many years, (using 1-5 Equity actors per show and adhering to Equity SPT rules for breaks, work weeks, costumes, etc), the formal process of becoming an Equity Theatre is an important step. It signals a commitment to paying all theatre professionals a more livable wage, allows all actors and stage managers the opportunity to work in an acceptable standard of professional working conditions, and is a visible and outward sign of the level of theatre that Dobama produces. We also hope this will allow actors who are starting their career to stay in this area by having more opportunities to attain union membership and/ or accrue EMC points.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>WILL DOBAMA STILL HIRE NON-AEA ACTORS?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Absolutely. In fact, the ratio for union and non-union actors will stay about the same as in past seasons (using 1-5 AEA actors depending on cast size). There will be no change in the number of opportunities for non-AEA actors to work at Dobama Theatre. We will also be able to offer non-union actors EMC points, in some cases offer an Equity card outright, and give a guarantee to all employed at Dobama that we operate according to AEA rules for working conditions. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>*It’s important to state that we believe an actor’s union affiliation is no reflection on the quality of their work. Dobama Theatre will still cast the actor that is best for the role regardless of their Equity status. However, taking this step should help many of the talented non-union actors gain acceptance in AEA through both contracts offered and the EMC points system.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>WHAT DOES THIS MEANS FOR AEA ACTORS AND STAGE MANAGERS?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>By taking this step, Dobama has made a commitment to pay Health Insurance weeks for AEA Actors and Stage Managers. However, while Dobama will be a full-fledged Equity Theatre beginning the 2014-15 season, there are steps in place to make the financial transition easier for Small Professional Theatres. As part of this transition, Dobama will not be paying health insurance weeks for AEA actors for the 2014-15 season. However, Dobama will begin paying health insurance for AEA actors as soon as the 2015-16 season, and not later than the 2016-17 season. Another part of this transition is the assurance that beginning in 2-3 years, we will exclusively use Equity Stage Managers. Finally, the Equity designation means that we will not be limited in any way as to how many AEA actors we can cast in a production. For financial reasons however, we will likely be a similar ratio of AEA to non AEA actors per production as we have in the past (1-5 AEA actors) Per Equity- SPT rules, we are only required to use one AEA actor per production.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>WHEN WILL DOBAMA BE USING AEA STAGE MANAGERS?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Again, Dobama will be a full-fledged Equity Theatre beginning the 2014-15 season, but will be following the steps in place to make the financial transition easier for our organization. While there is a possibility of an AEA contract for a stage manager being available in the near future, Dobama’s plan is to slowly increase Stage Manager stipends each season leading up to the 2016-17 season when Dobama would begin offering Equity Stage Manager contracts. Dobama would have the ability to offer an AEA card non-union stage managers.<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>