Actors' Equity Association

I’ve been working in theatre in New York for about 7 years and am very lucky to have found such a wonderful community here, but it often has felt like a struggle. I have been, and still am, racked by self-doubt, especially when it comes to achieving certain markers of “success.” So often I’m left thinking, what have I done wrong? One of those markers has been gaining membership to Actors' Equity Association, the theatre union. I have found it incredibly hard to find the opportunities in New York that would put me on the path to membership, as so many qualifying theaters are out of the city, or programs that give you qualifying weeks are often unpaid or in a lot of cases require you to pay in order to be a part of them. 
After working on so many wonderful projects, my journey towards union membership really only started last year when I worked at TheatreSquared in Fayetteville, Arkansas and was able to start accumulating EMC points. In the fall of 2019 I began working with Target Margin Theater and after a number of workshops was able to join them on a union contract and fast track my way into the union. 
Anyway, all of this is to say that it’s hard, but I’m grateful for all of the work I’ve done thus far, non-union and union, that has gotten me to this point. Although this card doesn’t actually change a whole lot, and I probably joined at the worst time since there is no work, I’m excited to take this next step in my career. 

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