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☆ Kate Shindle on Why She’s Stepping Down as Actors’ Equity President
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Michael Paulson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Kate Shindle, who has served as president of Actors’ Equity Association for nine years, is stepping down after a tenure dominated by the coronavirus pandemic that for a time idled all of the labor union’s members. Shindle, 47, said she expected to remain active in the labor movement, but that she was eager to resume working as an actor. The Equity presidency, leading a union that represents more than 51,000 theater actors and stage managers nationwide, is an unpaid, volunteer position. Because of the time required to manage the crises facing the union’s members, Shindle has worked so little as an actor that she hasn’t even qualified for her own union’s health insurance coverage. I’ve never been one who wanted to stay until the members threw me out.”

Persons: Kate Shindle, Shindle, hasn’t, Charlotte St, Martin, ” Shindle, “ We’ve, I’ve, ” Organizations: ’ Equity Association, Equity, Broadway League Locations: Charlotte

Workers who bring Disneyland’s beloved characters to life — including Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Cinderella — are looking to unionize. Labor organizers announced the campaign Tuesday, saying performers want better safety conditions and scheduling policies to help keep the magic alive for visitors. While most of the more than 35,000 workers at the Disneyland Resort already have labor unions, about 1,700 performers and character actors do not. “This isn't one of those situations where we're out making the employer the bad guy,” said Kate Shindle, president of Actors' Equity Association, which would represent the performers. Disneyland officials said in a statement that they believe cast members deserve the right to a confidential vote.

Persons: Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, ”, Kate Shindle, Disney, — Taxin, Mike Schneider Organizations: Workers, Labor, Disneyland, Actors ' Equity Association, Disney, Disney California, Downtown Disney, Themed Entertainment, ’ Equity Association, Walt Disney Co, Associated Press, Actors, Equity, National Labor Relations Board Locations: Anaheim, Florida, Santa Ana , California, Orlando , Florida

NEW YORK (AP) — President Joe Biden's reelection campaign is getting some big-name fundraising help Monday from Broadway’s top stars. Both Biden and first lady Jill Biden will attend the event, with tickets ranging from $250 to $7,500. Since at least Bill Clinton, Democratic presidents have cultivated intimate ties with powerful figures in the Hollywood entertainment industry. Biden himself raised roughly $1 million during an early 2020 campaign fundraiser at the home of Michael Smith and James Costos, a former HBO executive. That event was attended by former DreamWorks co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg, now a Biden campaign co-chair.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Biden, Sara Bareilles, Lin, Manuel Miranda, Ben Platt, Jill Biden, Bill Clinton, Michael Smith, James Costos, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Katzenberg, “ Joe Biden, ”, Chris Korge, “, tycoons, Mickey Kantor, “ It’s, ” Biden, Donald Trump ’, Trump, Annaleigh Ashford, Alex Edelman, Josh Gad, Christopher Jackson, LaChanze, Ruthie Ann Miles, Leslie Odom Jr, Andrew Rannells, Aaron Tveit, Betsy Wolfe, Thomas Kail, Alex Lacamoire, Andy Blankenbuehler, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, Amanda Green, ___ Slodysko Organizations: Writers Guild of America, SAG, Hollywood, Actors ’ Equity Association, General, Democratic Party, Democratic, HBO, DreamWorks, Biden, Democratic National Committee, Fund, White, GOP Locations: U.S, Manhattan, New York, Southern California, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, LA, Washington

☆ First strippers’ union in a decade is expected to form this week
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Natasha Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

The negotiation is expected following a settlement hearing with union attorneys. When ballots are officially opened later this week, the strippers are expected to overwhelmingly win the union election, forming the first known union of strippers in the United States since the nation’s only unionized strip club, the Lusty Lady, closed in San Francisco in 2013. But with stipulation from the National Labor Relations Board and involved parties, the Star Garden owners will seek to dismiss its bankruptcy case, so that it can reopen in 30 to 60 days. Velveeta, a stripper, addresses the crowd attending a rally in support of strippers from the Star Garden Topless Dive Bar on August 19, 2022 in North Hollywood. “Every worker who wants a union deserves a union.

☆ How Broadway Theater Owners Are Trying to Block a Times Square Casino
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Dana Rubinstein | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Some New Yorkers may love Times Square; some definitely hate it. That also goes for a casino that may be headed there. Caesars Entertainment and SL Green Realty Corporation, New York City’s largest commercial landlord, say that Times Square — with its neon lights and jostling tourists — is tailor-made for their Jay-Z-backed bid for a parlor of one-armed bandits and roulette wheels. But Max Klimavicius, the owner of the century-old Sardi’s restaurant, would like a word. “A casino in Times Square has the potential to jeopardize the character of the theater district and ultimately the fate of its restaurants,” Mr. Klimavicius said.

This fall, Ross made history as the first trans woman to ever play a leading role on Broadway. He added that Ross’ debut in the long-running American musical “opens the door to full acceptance” for the transgender community. “Black theater artists are asking for white American theater to see us and consider us in producing work,” Jackson said. The Black Theatre Coalition said it aimed “to remove the ‘ILLUSION OF INCLUSION’ in the American Theatre,” by combating racism and providing more work opportunities for Black artists, according to the group’s mission statement. “I hope there’s an Angelica Ross backstage, whether that’s in stage management, whether that’s in front of the house,” he said.

☆ North Hollywood strippers set to vote on joining a union
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-09 | by ( Natasha Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Los Angeles CNN —Strippers at the Star Garden topless dive bar in North Hollywood will soon receive ballots to hold an election for collective bargaining, which may result in the first stripper union in the US in more than a decade. On Nov. 7, the NLRB will count the votes from Star Garden dancers, entertainers and DJs, determining if they will join the Actors Equity Association, a union of performers and other show business professionals. The facts are clear: The workers at Star Garden are entitled to a union election,” said Andrea Hoeschen, assistant executive director and general counsel for Actors’ Equity Association. “Most of the purportedly eligible voters have never been employees of Star Garden; they were in fact, and in law, merely lessees with no employment relationship,” Gaylord and Linker wrote. Since then, the dancers have been picketing most weekends outside the Star Garden, dressed in themed costumes, urging patrons to go to different clubs.

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