Regional theater Equity questions

CAT=Chicago Area Theatres
LORT=League of Resident Theatres

Each type of theatre is operated under a different contract. Usually the contract is based on the size of the house, but not necessarily.
Pay wages also differ depending on the contracts. The number of number of performances can also factor into what contract is required of each theatre as well as the number of Equity actors required to be contracted.
There are a lot of differences between the contracts and Equity will often allow a theatre to "bend" the rules a bit depending on the circumstances. But there is a rule book for each type of contract that covers everything you need to know before you sign.

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Well all regional theatres have a ratio that must be strictly followed. It's based on the size of the company and show. SO there is a certain percentage of cast members who MUST be equity. So they look to fill those contracts. Then they can look for non-eqs and if they have money more equity. So for that theatre you mentioned, they prob always higher 2 because they're required to. If the show is say a children's show at an equity theatre, a non-eq actor might get the oppertunity to join the union because this equity contract MUST be filled.

There is also LOA (Letter of Agreement) which allows a "Non" Equity theatre the permission to hire an Equity actor for a role. Equity rules usually apply only to the Equity actor, so YOU may have to stay until one or two in the morning rehearsing or painting the set and HE will be at the bar getting drunk or laid or both!

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