Our Union is on a roll, deepening our work on vital matters of political engagement and workplace conduct and furthering communication with other unions, educators in the field, and government officials, all while building on and expanding our regional presence across the country. With each expansion of jurisdiction, more artists become professionals who can apply their craft and realize their dreams while earning a living. This is the cornerstone of Union work for building and bettering the field.
A great deal has been accomplished around the country since last fall. I was fortunate to spend time in Los Angeles in January with an exciting wing of our fantastic SDC staff: Laura Penn, Randy Anderson, Barbara Wolkoff, and Kristy Cummings. It was my second L.A. Membership meeting since becoming President of the Board. Thirty-five directors and choreographers came out, energized and excited to talk about their scene—the challenges, ambitions, and camaraderie—as well as broader Union business. The L.A. Membership breakfasts continue to be places of active discussion and agenda setting. I also attended the SDC Foundation Artistic Leadership Group, curated by SDCF’s David Roberts, on the heels of being announced as a new California artistic director myself. The room was engaged in lively discussions about theatremaking and paths to greater leadership. That evening, Sheldon Epps and I announced the new Gordon Davidson Award and gave out the directing and choreography awards at the L.A. Ovation Awards; every winner was an SDC Member, and 74 percent of those nominated were Members. This is quite a change from even five years ago. The L.A. Steering Committee, led by Casey Stangl and Art Manke, has become a template for similar efforts in Boston and around the country.
We have been laying the groundwork to further expand SDC’s presence in the Pacific Northwest. Last September, staff traveled to Seattle and Portland for Membership events. In Portland, Laura Penn moderated a conversation with Chris Coleman (then of Portland Center Stage) and Dámaso Rodríguez (Artists Repertory Theatre). An edited transcript of their inspiring discussion was in the Winter issue of SDC Journal. Kristy Cummings and Laura Penn, along with SDC Members, attended an event in support of the Dramatists Legal Defense Fund, a cabaret marking banned books directed by Allison Narver. Staff will be heading back to the Pacific Northwest later this year. Nothing beats actually showing up, gathering in literal rooms to listen and respond to what Members in specific communities are facing. This persistent and patient work is paying off. Membership numbers across the entire country are on the rise.
We also had a recent Membership meeting in Chicago with Laura Penn and Board Member Lonny Price, hosted by Henry Wishcamper, a member of the Regional Presence Committee. There, Members and Associate Members discussed the use of intimacy directors in the Off-Loop theatres, electronic capture issues, and broader organizing efforts. Additionally, Barbara Wolkoff and Casey Stangl, who was directing in town, hosted a Membership gathering in Minneapolis/St. Paul, where 13 local choreographers and directors gathered to connect and socialize. A small meeting in Philadelphia took place in late February, led by Adam Levi, Maegan Morris, and Melia Bensussen (our Northeast Regional Rep), to discuss the NEAT Agreement and how efforts to organize are coming along in Philadelphia.
Randy Anderson recently returned from a productive trip to London, where he educated representatives of our Members and others in the theatrical community about the changes in the Broadway Agreement and Other Companies. Laura and I plan to follow up in early 2019.
Again, these rooms are filled with Members and Associate Members to discuss, celebrate, and better the state of the field. These meetings unite, empower, and can ultimately help the SDC staff and Executive Board better protect the entire Membership. I encourage you to come out, speak up, listen, and organize.
In Solidarity,
Pam MacKinnon
Executive Board President