Backstage: The urban circuit is getting organized. Actors' Equity Association announced today that it has inked a deal with producer David E. Talbert to represent actors and stage managers in his productions. His company, David E. Talbert Presents, is a fixture on the urban circuit—known also as the chitlin' circuit—the touring circuit, popular in African-American communities from the early 1900s through the 1960s, that helped launch the careers of several well-known black performers. The circuit has experienced a renaissance in recent decades, providing early and important exposure for artists such as Tyler Perry. The new agreement, dubbed the Urban Broadway Series Contract, is based on Equity's Short Engagement Touring Agreement and marks the union's first foray into the circuit.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Equity Signs First Urban-Circuit Producer
Backstage: The urban circuit is getting organized. Actors' Equity Association announced today that it has inked a deal with producer David E. Talbert to represent actors and stage managers in his productions. His company, David E. Talbert Presents, is a fixture on the urban circuit—known also as the chitlin' circuit—the touring circuit, popular in African-American communities from the early 1900s through the 1960s, that helped launch the careers of several well-known black performers. The circuit has experienced a renaissance in recent decades, providing early and important exposure for artists such as Tyler Perry. The new agreement, dubbed the Urban Broadway Series Contract, is based on Equity's Short Engagement Touring Agreement and marks the union's first foray into the circuit.
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3 comments:
I had no idea what the chitlin' circuit was; and I thought I new everything about the different theatre categories, classes, movements, and styles. Once someone explained to me what it was, I started seeing it everywhere. I was under the assumption that what little ole' middle-class white me knew what theater was. My categorization of what theater was was bias. Good to see that Equity is now starting to recognize and provide benefits to actors working on the chitlin' circuit. I don't want to say Equity had the same white bias as I did, but if it did, this inclusion shows that it doesn't.
Along with Matt, I had never heard of this circuit, but I'm not surprised that AEA has allowed this company to negotiate a contract. There really isn't any downside for either party, since AEA is now getting money that they wouldn't have previously, and the producers on the circuit can now hire actors that they previously couldn't. It's also notable that AEA is spending their energy on "small" companies like this one, showing that it isn't all about the Broadway dollar for them.
It's really heartening to see equity able to come to an agreement that enables these folks to maintain their process and work style without changing it too much, but while harmonizing their process with the protections and standards of equity contracts. Hopefully the strength of the union will help protect actors, but not change the nature of the actor-producer relationship which is clearly specific to this production group.
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