Brigantine
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confused with all the different 'levels' of theaters....So, excluding the obvious, like Broadway and Off-Broadway, what makes these levels of theater what they are?
Community theater
Semi-professional
Professional
Regional
Are any of these essentially the same? all I've ever done is community theater but will be auditioning for a 'professional' theater sometime in the next few months. If a theater calls itself "the only professional theater in (insert city)_____", then what can I expect? This is in a new city and state I will be moving to in a few weeks. I should have the chance to see a production there before I audition, but...
Their pictures online don't show anything extraordinary to me; many community theaters have bigger stages and better looking productions. So why do these people get to call themselves professional? because they hire a few Equity people?
Can someone explain all this to me please? 
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what_the_heck013
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I always thought that there were three:
Community Theatre-actors are not paid/amateur.
Regional Theatre-major theatres within a city or state with paid/professional actors
Broadway/Off-Broadway
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Francois
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| Quote: | I always thought that there were three:
Community Theatre-actors are not paid/amateur.
Regional Theatre-major theatres within a city or state with paid/professional actors
Broadway/Off-Broadway |
No, you can also have a small local theatre that pays its actors and is thus "professional", though these are typically not full-time actors and might be what some mean by "semi-professional" (basically, they're like community theatre, and many of the same, bascially "amateur" actors are in the pool, but they do pay).
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Chevstriss
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Professional means all the actors are paid. There are many non-eq professional theatres. Most tours are now non-eq, but everyone is being paid.
oftentimes community theatres can have huge sets and costume budgets becuz THAT is where the money is spent, unlike small pro theatres that are spending the budget on actor's salaries and have nothing left over for spectacular sets.
There are currently 39 different types of equity theatres, not counting workshop and showcase shows.
FYI while looking up the different contracts, the Bwy contracts were seperated into Disney and League. News to me that a Disney Bwy show would have different regulations than a "regular" Bwy show. Be afraid. They are taking over everything.
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wicked_diva
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To my knowledge there is:
Broadway
Off-Broadway (and off-off Broadway, I suppose)
Regional/Professional Eq (all actors are paid and are either Eq actors or are earning Eq points)
Professional non-Eq (all actors are paid, but are not-Eq. Can include theatres with a full time company)
Semi-professional (some actors are paid, or are paid a stipend. May hire Eq actors for leads)
Community (no paid actors, no Eq actors)
Is this right?
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Holly
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| wicked_diva wrote: | To my knowledge there is:
Broadway
Off-Broadway (and off-off Broadway, I suppose)
Regional/Professional Eq (all actors are paid and are either Eq actors or are earning Eq points)
Professional non-Eq (all actors are paid, but are not-Eq. Can include theatres with a full time company)
Semi-professional (some actors are paid, or are paid a stipend. May hire Eq actors for leads)
Community (no paid actors, no Eq actors)
Is this right? |
That sounds pretty right to me...
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Chevstriss
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| wicked_diva wrote: | To my knowledge there is:
Broadway
Off-Broadway (and off-off Broadway, I suppose)
Regional/Professional Eq (all actors are paid and are either Eq actors or are earning Eq points)
Professional non-Eq (all actors are paid, but are not-Eq. Can include theatres with a full time company)
Semi-professional (some actors are paid, or are paid a stipend. May hire Eq actors for leads)
Community (no paid actors, no Eq actors)
Is this right? |
It's much more complicated than that. and there is no such thing as off-off Broadway. Its really slang for community theatre done in the city, hoping that someone important will see you.
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The Drama Queen
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So I have a question- when I was in Beauty and the Beast they hired 3 proffesionals for Belle, Beast, and Lumiere. They also paid the other speaking parts a small amount I believe. I wasn't paid myself, nor were any of the other chorus members. Would this count as semi-proffesional or regional? Or just community theatre?
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Chevstriss
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| The Drama Queen wrote: | | So I have a question- when I was in Beauty and the Beast they hired 3 proffesionals for Belle, Beast, and Lumiere. They also paid the other speaking parts a small amount I believe. I wasn't paid myself, nor were any of the other chorus members. Would this count as semi-proffesional or regional? Or just community theatre? |
Were your principals Equity Guest Artist? were they transported in and housed?
I'm thinking this theatre probably calls itself semi-professional. But really, unless you are working w/ a union, you can call yourself whatever you want. As long as you have a working relationship w/ the IRS, who really don't care what you title your company as long as you keep the financial records straight.
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MaryMag
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does regional equal professional? and what qualifies as semi-professional?
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Chevstriss
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| MaryMag wrote: | | does regional equal professional? and what qualifies as semi-professional? |
more ambiguous terms - regional just means not in NYC. People often use the term to make their resumes look better. I'm not really sure what semi-professional means either - probably that sometimes they pay actors, sometimes not. Or it can mean we are pro as far as the IRS is concerned, but not as far as the Union is concerned. Some semi-pros use union stage hands (another union entirely, a true labor union) and union musicians, but don't pay actors.
Every single theatre is set up differently. Even the equity theatres have become so few that each one can negotiate a different agreement w/ the union.
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LisaKitty
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| Chevstriss wrote: | | regional just means not in NYC. People often use the term to make their resumes look better. |
Guilty as charged.  I've been known to describe certain credits as "regional" when they would be better defined as "semi-professional".
| Chevstriss wrote: | | I'm not really sure what semi-professional means either - probably that sometimes they pay actors, sometimes not. |
I generally define "semi-professional theatre" as an organization that pays a small stipend to actors (which is generally not even enough to cover gas to rehearsals, let alone anything resembling a living wage), or that pays principal performers but not ensemble.
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DaddyDiesel
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MaryMag wrote:
does regional equal professional? and what qualifies as semi-professional?
It probably depends in the area your in. In our area:
~ Proffesional ~ Anything in this area that has to deal with equity we consider proffessional. If actors are paid and it is a profit theatre then we consider it to be Professional.
~Semi Proffessional~ If the actors are paid a small stipend. Or if actors are nto paid and work for a theatre that is not considered a nonprofit.
~Community~ If the theatre is non profit and the actors are not paid.
Of course this is what we actors around here classify everything as and why it depends on the area you live in.
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Brigantine
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MaryMag asked the exact question I was going to ask!
Ok... this is becoming clearer. I think.
so this theater i've been researching says "The only professional theater in ________(insert city)" but is listed as a non-profit. That is still just confusing to me.
I know you answered this already, chevstriss, on a different thread, but I just don't understand how somone can claim they are 501 C3 non-profit, but be a "professional" theater and, if prof. means everyone gets paid, even a little, why they need to claim non-profit?
I know, probably doesn't matter, but... I just... can't... wrap my mind around it ***ugh*** !!!! 
So I will be auditioning for a show there... I don't know when. They haven't posted the audition info online yet. But it will be for Cinderella.
I have NO idea what I should prepare, like: one song? two contrasting songs? monologue and two songs? Monologue and 16 bars X 2? Gah!!!
I *should* have the opportunity to see a show there before I go audition though, providing auditions don't spring up withing the week after we move! ( Do I just have to wait til they post it? Would it be bad form to call/ e-mail and ask?)
Wiat!!! Insight!! (for this theater anyway)
The ONE place on their website I hadn't looked yet, news and events: it has the pictures/headshots of the main characters in The Full Monty
(the first show in their season, going on now), I'm guessing the 6 guys and 4 wives. of these 10 people, six are Equity.
HMMmmm...
So if I get in Cinderella at all... I'm thinking chorus. 
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DaddyDiesel
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| Brigantine wrote: | MaryMag asked the exact question I was going to ask!
Ok... this is becoming clearer. I think.
so this theater i've been researching says "The only professional theater in ________(insert city)" but is listed as a non-profit. That is still just confusing to me.
I know you answered this already, chevstriss, on a different thread, but I just don't understand how somone can claim they are 501 C3 non-profit, but be a "professional" theater and, if prof. means everyone gets paid, even a little, why they need to claim non-profit?
I know, probably doesn't matter, but... I just... can't... wrap my mind around it ***ugh*** !!!!
So I will be auditioning for a show there... I don't know when. They haven't posted the audition info online yet. But it will be for Cinderella.
I have NO idea what I should prepare, like: one song? two contrasting songs? monologue and two songs? Monologue and 16 bars X 2? Gah!!!
I *should* have the opportunity to see a show there before I go audition though, providing auditions don't spring up withing the week after we move! ( Do I just have to wait til they post it? Would it be bad form to call/ e-mail and ask?)
Wiat!!! Insight!! (for this theater anyway)
The ONE place on their website I hadn't looked yet, news and events: it has the pictures/headshots of the main characters in The Full Monty
(the first show in their season, going on now), I'm guessing the 6 guys and 4 wives. of these 10 people, six are Equity.
HMMmmm...
So if I get in Cinderella at all... I'm thinking chorus. |
Now this is specualtion so don't quote me onthis. But I think a non profit basically needs to put all of its earnings into its theatre company. Which I think includes Paying actors, Directors, theatre staff, rehersal space, Etc... Or buying any equipment for the theatre like sound equipment, Lights, fog Machines, Makeup, Tools for scenary shops, Equipment for costume shops, Etc... I think the minute the Theatre company turns a profit. I.E The Minute there Ticket sales and donations exceed the Margin its paid towards its theatre in a year, they are no longer non-profit.
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