Actors’ Equity Association (AEA) has made changes to its Showcase Code for the first time since 2009. Representatives from the League of Independent Theater (LIT) and attorney Eric Goldman were involved in ongoing conversations about these changes over the last several years with AEA, and can shed light on the Equity perspective and the evolution of Equity's position about this and other agreements, as well as offer insights into best practices and productive ways for both indie and commercial theater to work within Equity guidelines. Equity member Marlene Thorn Taber will join us to explain the New Media agreements, and if time permits, answer questions about changes to other Equity agreements, including the Stage Reading Guidelines. Chris Aniello will discuss the role of general manager in interfacing with Equity and other unions.

• CHRIS ANIELLO

  along with business partner Robert Ahrens, began their partnership as general managers on the critically-acclaimed musical comedy DISASTER! at the Nederlander Theatre on Broadway (New York Times Critic’s Pick).  The production starred the Tony Award winning and nominated cast of Roger Bart, Kerry Butler, Kevin Chamberlin, Adam Pascal, Faith Prince, Rachel York, Seth Rudetsky and Jennifer Simard, for which Ms. Simard received a Tony Award nomination. Most recently, Live Wire Theatrical general managed James L. Nederlander's presentation of Kristin Chenoweth: My Love Letter To Broadway at the Lunt Fontanne Theatre in November 2016, along with several other projects in development both in New York and around the country. Chris is a proud graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.  He began his career as the General Management Assistant at Roundabout Theatre Company and subsequently as the Office Manager for Roy Gabay Theatrical Production and Management.  His first company management position was on the Off-Broadway play Beebo Brinker Chronicles at 37 Arts, though he managed several readings, festival shows and workshops of various productions throughout his early career.  Among these was the first workshop, Off-Broadway production and Broadway production of the Tony-nominated Musical FELA!, with Producer Steve Hendel and Director/Choreographer Bill T. Jones.  This groundbreaking production, starring Tony Award nominee Sahr Ngaujah and Tony Award winner Lillias White, would go on to earn eleven Tony Award nominations and win three Tony Awards in the 2010 season.  Chris's Broadway management credits include the Tony-nominated production Rock of Ages at the Helen Hayes Theatre, Honeymoon in Vegas at the Nederlander Theatre and Amazing Grace at the Nederlander Theatre.
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  ERIC GOLDMAN

  For over 25 years, Eric has provided legal services to Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award winning talent, and to technology and internet entrepreneurs. Recent projects include representing the writers of the Broadway smash hit Come from Away and the producers of the highly successful Off-Broadway musical parody of the television show Friends. Before launching his own firm in 2011, Eric worked for 15 years as a Senior Associate for entertainment attorney Mark Sendroff of Sendroff & Baruch LLP. Eric also served as in-house counsel for St. Martin’s Press and Hertz Computer. His first job out of law school was working as an associate for copyright guru Stanley Rothenberg.  Eric is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and New York University School of Law.
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  CHRIS HARCUM

  is an award-winning actor, playwright, and producer. He is the Producing Director of Elephant Run District, Director of a Bright Future of the League of Independent Theater and a recipient of the Leading Lights of Independent Theater Award for his ongoing advocacy and support. He is currently training with the Second City Conservatory and creating comedy with international collaborators.  www.chrisharcum.com
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  GUY YEDWAB

  Community organizer and artist. “I am committed to equal access to culture, information, and democratic empowerment. I pursue this through community organizing, and through the power of technology, writing, and live performance to empower and transform communities.” Since 2009, Guy Yedwab has been an active member of the League of Independent Theater, a 501(c)6 advocacy organization tasked with providing collective voice for the Independent Theater community. Since 2014, Guy has been the Managing Director of Operations, and an active member of the Politics, Research and Outreach working group focused on Brooklyn. From 2008 to 2014, Guy ran a blog on the topic of how cultural conversation advances society. From 2009 to 2010, he contributed research articles to Createquity's Arts Policy Library. He ran a theater company named Organs of State from 2008-2013. The company's mission was to take the grand ideas that weave through our culture and make them tangible and human through interactive and immersive performance experiences.
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  MARLENE THORN TABER

  Marlene is currently editing her first book, and has recently published articles with AEA’s Equity News and the Journal of the SDC Foundation. She is active on AEA’s Education, off-off Broadway, and Media Committees. During the 2017-18 Season, Columbia University recommended her for a grant involving the Roma Peoples Project. From Sept. 2016 until Aug. 2017, Taber worked under contract with Dhurakij Pundit University in Bangkok, Thailand, where she taught classes in acting and film history. In 2015, she was a guest judge for an international dance competition in Bangkok and introduced students to classes in Hamlet, and the History of Popular Western Music. During the 2015 NYC Season, Marlene also produced 3 staged readings of Nick Raio’s comedy, Sheila & Angelo, at The Dramatists’ Guild. In 2014, she choreographed Renewal, her first show with Write Act Repertory. For the three previous NYC seasons, (2011,’12,’13), she directed and choreographed: Madame Bovary; A for Adultery; and an Exodus adaptation, Moses, My Love, for Passajj Productions. She was then chosen for the SDC Foundation 2013-2014 Observership Program. Contact Info: creativeequilibriumnyc@gmail.com