Tony Award Nominations

On May 16, 2006 the Tony Award nominations were announced. Academy Award Winner Julia Roberts made her stage debut in the play "Three Days of Rain". Did she receive a nomination for best leading actress? What musical received 13 nominations? Who received the award for best Regional Theatre? Find out...

Theatreport Houston's premiere online web zine for the performing arts is looking for columnists!

In existence for three years now Theatreport is putting out its own open call for volunteer columnists! That's right get your own column published on Theatreport! You don't have to be from Houston, you just have to be passionate about your topic.

Our site often discusses theatre, film and the arts on a broader scale than just our city. Read more for details on this unique opp. and how you can benefit from participating in this volunteer project..

Seattle Theater Faces Challenges
Could other cities, including Houston, face similiar?
Are you an 'artist' or 'employee'?

With the large number of theaters in Houston, only a handful have the means within their budget to hire actors as “employees”. Most mid-size/Indie companies run on a shoestring budget, but feel their artists should at least be compensated with a small stipend. Mid-size theater companies in Seattle operated much the same until just recently. The state of Washington declared it illegal for theaters to not pay actors and stage technicians as regular employees.
This controversy surfaced after the state Employment Security Department issued audits and fines to some theaters for classifying their artists as independent contractors rather than employees. The mid-size theater companies are fearful that they could be faced with similar audits and some have even cancelled productions requiring a cast of 15 and limiting it to a cast of 2. Could this potentially wipe out the mid-size Seattle theater scene? Does the enforcement of the law actually protect the artists? Could Houston ever face a similar problem?

Actors' Equity and The League of American Theatres and Producers have released further details of their tentative four year Production Contract. The Equity Council will be in charge of reviewing the agreement and making a recommendation. The contract will then be sent to the Equity ratification group for vote. The tentative agreement covers the major issues discussed at the bargaining table over the course of the negotiations including wages and benefits, touring, actor safety and actor participation in show marketing and promotion. The highlights of the agreement are as follows...

Early yesterday, due to the fact that Actors Equity Association and the League of American Theatres and Producers could not reach an agreement, Equity held an emergency meeting discussing whether or not to strike. If they decided to strike, it would effect most Broadway and even touring shows from continuing to run. In the late afternoon, the parties involved issued a joint statement…

Actors Equity Association and the League of American Theatres and Producers reconvened Tuesday, July 6th to continue discussion and potential negotiation regarding non-Equity touring shows, salaries, and benefits for AEA members. As Theatreport reported, this meeting occurred after the League walked out on AEA before negotiations could take place. Meanwhile, Equity members, particularly those working on shows at the present time, have been apprehensive about going on strike if the two parties do not come to an agreement.

Equity presented its final offer to the League and it's Coordinated Bargaining partners at approximately 12:45 a.m. this morning. The League did not accept the offer…