IT'S FESTIVAL TIME IN NYC!
by KRISTY CUMMINGS, Hauptman Fellow To those in the theatre industry, summer in New York City means that the festival season is upon us! We at the SDC would like to take this opportunity to remind you about the new contracts that will be used for some of the theatre festivals that are soon approaching. The Midtown International Theatre Festival: July 12th-August 1st, 2010 and the New York International Fringe Festival: August 13th-29th, 2010, will be utilizing the TIER Contract for all Directors and Choreographers hired. The Tier Contract should be used for productions at Theatres that are not covered by or referenced to a collectively bargained agreement, subject to the Regional Commercial Contract, or the new NYMF Contract (see below). The Tier Contract sets compensation minimums based on seating capacity, number of performances and ticket price. Your Employer will be responsible for a pension contribution of 8% of all compensation, plus a fixed health contribution. Property rights and rights of first refusal are protected under the Tier Contract as well. The electronic Tier Contract form has been designed to calculate the appropriate tier automatically. Employers should complete the form electronically and allow the form to calculate the Tier category. The contract form will provide the proper Tier classification as well as the appropriate health contribution. To view the Tier Contract Form, click here . SDC has created a new contract specifically for the New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF): September 27th-October 17th, 2010.The NYMF Contract should be used only for productions that are part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF). The NYMF Contract sets minimum compensation and the Employer is responsible for a pension contribution of 8% of all compensation plus a fixed health contribution of $500. Property rights and rights of first refusal are protected under the NYMF Contract as well. The NYMF Contract is NOT for use on any other productions including another New York City festival. To get a copy or to learn more about the NYMF contract please contact Evan Shoemake at
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or Randy Anderson at
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Some helpful reminders about Festival Contracts: -If you are a Member, your Employer is required to file one of the contracts above in order to hire you for one of these festivals. We know that as Directors and Choreographers you are preparing and developing your Festival projects for months prior to the first rehearsal, and we believe that you should be justly compensated for the work you are doing. If your Playwright is the Producer of your Festival project and therefore the person with whom you have filed an agreement, your right of first refusal is with that Producer/Playwright. If that Producer/Playwright produces or co-produces the project again, you must be given the option to direct or choreograph the subsequent production. If another Producer picks up the project, the right of first refusal cannot be enforced. This new Producer cannot use or recreate your work without compensating you, but it is within their right to hire a new Director and/or Choreographer for the project. Remember, all shows have to start somewhere and you want to be involved if the project does in fact have a longer life. You should treat every show that you work on as if it could be the next [title of show] or Next to Normal. Put something down on paper to keep your best interests at hand and address your future with the show. A note to our Associate Members- Even though you are not filing an SDC contract when you work on a Festival show, you can still consult the Contract Desk with questions or concerns about language or specific clauses in the agreement that you are signing- and you should sign an agreement to protect your rights as a Director and/or Choreographer. If you have any questions regarding either of the contracts above or any of the reminders given, please contact Contract Representative Evan Shoemake at 212-391-1070 ext. 231 or
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Best of luck to everyone working on a Festival show this season! | 
