99-Seat Theaters Pressed to Pay Minimum Wage

Actor’s Equity, the union that represents stage actors and managers, wants to crack down on Los Angeles’ 99-seat theaters. The union wants these smaller venues to start paying a minimum wage. Since the 1970s, these 99-seat theaters have been operating with a waiver from the union to not pay. This has enabled them to proliferate across the city. Members of the union began voting today on the new agreement, and it’s divided the theater community. We learn about the dispute and what’s likely to happen next.