Over the past three years, the union Actors’ Equity has strengthened its membership by organizing live performers outside the theater world, opening its ranks to escape room performers, strip club dancers, and Disneyland cast members. These organizing campaigns are beginning to have concrete effects, as the union recently secured the first two contracts of this wave of expansion – first for actors and front-of-house staff, then for planetarium lecturers in Los Angeles. With the likelihood of an anti-labor Trump administration looming, the union hopes an aggressive mobilization effort will be the counterweight it needs.

In October, Equity negotiated the first union contract for Drunk Shakespeare cast members in four cities across the United States. Performers and front-of-house staff at Drunk Shakespeare had unique safety concerns because some cast members have to drink on the job — around five drinks per show — and bartenders serve patrons throughout the show. Dealing with the alcohol mandate was a first for Equity, which has traditionally represented actors and stage managers on Broadway and in other large theaters across the country.

One traditional Equity member, Lawrence Karl, was at the forefront of the Drunk Shakespeare campaign. Karl earned his Equity card as an actor in Pittsburgh before moving to New York City. He has been a bartender with Drunk Shakespeare for almost two years, and his past experience with Equity made him enthusiastic about unionization.