Actors’ Equity And The Broadway League Reach Agreement On Thorny Issues Around New Work Development

Actors’ Equity Association has reached a deal with the Broadway League on a new five-year Development Agreement, resolving an eight-month strike prohibiting Equity members’ participation in early stages of development work.

The National Council of Actors’ Equity Association, the labor union representing more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers in live theatre, announced today that it had voted to ratify a new five-year Development Agreement, concluding an eight-month strike against The Broadway League, the trade organization representing theater producers and owners.

The new agreement is effective immediately and extends to February 11, 2029.

The Development Agreement is used for the development of new works by Broadway League producers, usually prior to an intended Production Contract engagement. The new agreement guarantees a cumulative pay increase of over 8% for Equity members, achieving the union’s top goal for this collective bargaining agreement. Gains also include increased pre-production time for stage managers and the establishment of a joint working group between the union and employers to create a new audition access program.

“Today is a day to celebrate the hard work of Equity’s team in getting us back into the rehearsal halls and making some magic,” said Equity Negotiating Team Chair Stephen Bogardus, adding, “This was a long strike, but it was worth it.”

Many Broadway shows rely on the Development Agreement early on, including this season’s Boop, Death Becomes Her, The Last Five Years, Left On Tenth, Maybe Happy Ending, Real Women Have Curves, Smash and A Wonderful World.

The previous agreement expired last February, and Equity ceased issuing new Development contracts in June. At the time, the League’s Jason Laks noted that the contract under negotiation covers only short-term employment in the early stages of development work on projects that may or may not ever become fully-realized productions. The negotiations did not involve any current Broadway or touring productions.

This summer, Equity and the Broadway League will bargain for a new Production Contract, the collective bargaining agreement governing Broadway shows.