(New York, June 26, 2025) Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), the national union of stage directors and choreographers, and the Off-Broadway League (OBL) announce that they have reached agreement on a new four-year contract.
The Agreement covers all not-for-profit theatre and commercial productions produced by Off-Broadway League Members.
In addition to wage and benefit increases, the Agreement includes recognition for associate directors and choreographers who are working on commercial Off-Broadway productions. Additional provisions that reflect the changing industry include advances in the areas of non-discrimination and anti-harassment, expanded terms for the electronic capture and dissemination of productions, and new compensation structures for co-directors and co-choreographers.
Said SDC Negotiating Committee Co-Chairs Sam Pinkleton and Leigh Silverman, “We are pleased that the Off-Broadway League agreed to expand Union coverage for associate directors and choreographers on commercial productions, and equally proud that this new Agreement includes robust new provisions in the ever-important areas of non-discrimination and anti-harassment. We look forward to continuing our productive relationship with our producing partners at the Off-Broadway League.”
“This Agreement reflects our shared commitment to supporting the remarkable artists who bring Off-Broadway to life,” said OBL Negotiating Committee Co-Chairs Joey Monda, Kenneth Naanep, and Michael Sag. “We’re proud to have reached an equitable agreement that acknowledges the contributions of associate directors and choreographers, addresses the evolving needs of our industry, and strengthens protections for our creative collaborators. We’re grateful to SDC for their partnership throughout this process and look forward to continued collaboration.”
The terms of the new contract were ratified by SDC’s Executive Board on March 24, 2025 and by the Off-Broadway League on May 6, 2025 and go into effect on July 1, 2025.
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The Off-Broadway League – Founded in 1959, the Off-Broadway League was founded to foster theatrical productions produced in Off-Broadway theatres, to assist in the exchange of information among its members, and to serve as a collective voice of its membership in pursuit of these goals. Its members include both commercial Off-Broadway producers and general managers, as well as Off-Broadway’s many not-for-profit theatre companies. In addition to its collective bargaining efforts on behalf of Off-Broadway producers, the League established the Lucille Lortel Awards to recognize excellence in the Off-Broadway arena and to honor Lucille Lortel‘s enduring commitment and devotion to Off-Broadway. Presented annually since 1986, the Lortel Awards are produced by the League in association with the Lucille Lortel Foundation, with additional support provided by Theatre Development Fund. For more information about the Off-Broadway League, email admin@offbroadway.org or visit www.offbroadway.org.
SDC is the theatrical union that unites, empowers, and protects professional stage directors and choreographers throughout the United States. Our mission is to foster a national community of professional stage directors and choreographers by protecting the rights, health and livelihoods of all our Members; negotiating and enforcing employment agreements across a range of jurisdictions; facilitating the exchange of ideas, information, and opportunities; and educating current and future generations about the critical role of directors and choreographers in leading the field. SDCweb.org