Which Way, L.A.?
Will Minimum Wage Kill LA's Small Theater Scene?
The National Council of Actors' Equity has overruled a two-to one vote by its own union members here in Los Angeles. Most theaters with less than 100 seats will have to pay $9 an hour—even if the actors themselves want to volunteer. Will ending a long-standing local tradition mean fewer productions?
By Warren Olney • • 24m ListenThe National Council of Actors' Equity has overruled a two-to one vote by its own union members here in Los Angeles. Most theaters with less than 100 seats will have to pay $9 an hour—even if the actors themselves want to volunteer. Will ending a long-standing local tradition mean fewer productions?
Also, the Ottoman Empire's systematic elimination of Armenians happened 100 years ago. But the genocide is a present reality for hundreds of thousands in Southern California.
Photo: Allan Harris
In this episode
2 storiesDo Small Theaters in LA Have a Future?
Small theaters in Los Angeles don't make money. Since the 1980's, the Actors' Equity union has allowed local members to work for free in theaters that don't seat more than 100 people. A recent vote of union members favored that system by two to one. But the National Board of Actors' Equity had other ideas.
Read the story17 minFor LA’s Armenians, Genocide Recognition as Pressing as Ever
Presidential candidate Barack Obama promised to recognize the Armenian genocide, but this week the White House said he won't use that term after all because it's offensive to Turkey, an important US ally.
Read the story7 min
