Logistic to International tours?

Please let me know if these are dumb questions; I'm sure the answers are, more or less, a case by case scenario. I was wondering how do they normally work, in regards to the performers and their contracts. Currently, the Hamilton international tour has performers from all over the world. The Hamilton int'l tour rehearsed in New York, so I presume its cast are employed with AEA contracts. I'm sure its a different scenario for shows that don't employ American actors, like the international tours of Wicked, Mamma Mia, and etc. which hire UK based performers.

International Tours are not covered by Equity, a union that represents performers working within the United States. There can often be a mix of Equity and non-Equity talent in international tours. Money, working conditions, and length of engagement may be reason enough for certain Equity actors to say "no thanks" to international tours, but it's all a personal preference.

Weirdly, there were many years when AEA represented Canadian actors as their union. They eventually split off to form Canadian Equity in the 70s, but the unions are still very close and, as blaxx said, have reciprocal agreements that allow work across the border as well as some membership allowances.

Interesting stuff! When an equity tour leaves the US to play mexico or when the pippin tour (I think it was the pippin tour) went to Japan the performers just didn’t have their union protection? Or would those be exceptions?

Call_me_jorge said: "Interesting stuff! When an equity tour leaves the US to play mexico or when the pippin tour (I think it was the pippin tour) went to Japan the performers just didn’t have their union protection? Or would those be exceptions?"

They definitely have protection. The Beetlejuice and Mean Girls US tours are playing in Mexico City this summer.