Actors' Equity Association Leafletting to Warn of Possible Strike on the Development Agreement

The National Council of Actors’ Equity Association voted unanimously to authorize a strike against The Broadway League for work on the Development Agreement. On Thursday and Friday this week, Equity members are handing out leaflets outside of the workshop of Smash, warning of the possibility of the strike.

The Development Agreement is used for the development of new works by Broadway League producers, usually prior to an intended Broadway run. Equity and the Broadway League have been in negotiations since January 22, 2024, and the current agreement expired on February 11. Equity members went on strike in 2019 over this contract, then called the Lab Agreement. It was the union’s first strike in 50 years, lasting a total of 33 days.

“We know that show development is work,” said Equity Executive Director and Lead Negotiator Al Vincent, Jr. “This development work hopefully leads to successful shows, some of which have long lives with many iterations that can make a lot of money for producers. We know there is no revenue from the development sessions themselves, but it’s still work, and that doesn’t change whether there’s revenue today or whether it’s an investment producers are making against future profits. And that work must be appropriately compensated.” Equity members will leaflet at Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College, 68th Street between Park and Lexington Avenues prior to the developmental workshop of Smash, Friday, February 16 from 1:15 to 2:15 p.m. Read more here.