Question about Canadian productions

Posted: 7/12/07 at 4:37pm

What rules* does Canada have regarding allowing non-Canadians in their productions? Kerry Butler, Rex Smith, Diahann Carroll, Vanessa Olivarez, Colm Wilkinson, Rebecca Caine are just a few of many non-Canadians who originated roles in Canadian productions. Judging by this, Canada seems less stringent about hiring their own performers to open in shows. Is this still the case?

*not sure what to call it

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 4:39pm

Rebecca Caine IS Canadian.

Posted: 7/12/07 at 4:46pm

Fair enough. The others, however, ARE NOT. So my question remains.

Do any knowledgeable posters have an answer? I can't seem to find any answers using Google.

Updated On: 7/12/07 at 04:46 PM

[outdamnwench]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 6:54pm

I assume there are a quite a few equity rules, and a green-card would probably be needed.

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 7:42pm

Colm Wilkinson has lived in Toronto for a long time. Many productions over the years have utilized U.S. actors, in addition to the ones you've listed - Audra McDonald, Stokes Mitchell et al in Ragtime, Elaine Stritch and many of her castmates in Showboat. There have been Americans in CanStage productions, and also at Stratford.

I think if you investigate Canadian Equity rules, you'll find the answers you want.

p.s. To outdamnwench, Canada doesn't have green cards, and, in any case, even Canadians going to work in U.S. productions don't require a green card.

Posted: 7/12/07 at 9:16pm

I think if you investigate Canadian Equity rules, you'll find the answers you want.

Duh on my part. Good idea. Thanks. :)

[outdamnwench]

Posted: 8/13/07 at 11:41pm

"p.s. To outdamnwench, Canada doesn't have green cards, and, in any case, even Canadians going to work in U.S. productions don't require a green card."

Cool, I didn't know that. All of the actors that I know stay up here and mostly do productions in Toronto because it's apparently a pain in the ass to get permission and all that crap.