Actors’ Equity adds producer Garth Drabinski to ‘not working’ list after ‘Paradise Square’ announcement (EXCLUSIVE) –

Actors’ Equity said it plans to put producer Garth Drabinsky on its “not working” list after paradise square The actors sent a letter against him.

In a letter sent to Actors’ Equity and received the hollywood reporterThe show’s actors and stage managers requested Drabinsky’s inclusion in the list due to “ANYPerpetual pay and benefits and a persistent pattern of abuse and neglect that created an unsafe and toxic work environment.” The decision comes after the Broadway show’s cast and stage managers initially reported that they had not received their weekly direct deposit until Thursday morning.

“Company paradise square expressed its commitment to the show and wants to continue telling the story beyond its scheduled July 17 closure. However, Garth Drabinski has made it clear that he cannot meet the terms of his union contract, so Equity is looking to add him. immediately on our ‘don’t work’ list,” says a spokesperson for Actors’ Equity THR.

Previously, company members were instructed to show up at the theater on Thursday night to receive physical checks instead of direct deposit, the sources said. THR, but members were worried about the flood of checks. The cast and stage managers met with the union on Thursday afternoon to decide next steps ahead of the show’s scheduled closing on July 17.

The money was then released to members of Actors’ Equity on Thursday night and the actor was set to resume work as planned. Other members of the production still planned to accept paper checks.

General Manager Jeffrey Chrtzon says THR That the production thought it could use the actors’ capital bonus (money the union forces the production to pay if it meets its obligations to capital members) to pay the week’s wages, but didn’t allow capital. Instead, the production had to receive funding from one of its co-producers on Thursday, says Chrczon, causing late payment.

A spokeswoman for the production declined to comment on the Actors’ Equity letter.

As previously reported, Actor Equity taking paradise square to execute the court payment $189,877 in previously unpaid union dues and interest and benefit fund contributions. The union filed the complaint after the production failed to meet the payment schedule set out as part of a deal struck in May, according to court documents.

As detailed in the letter and lawsuit, while Drabinsky is listed as an executive producer for the production, he is not a director of the limited liability company that manages the show’s finances. Drabinsky was convicted of fraud in Canada in 2009 as director of a publicly traded theater company. In 2014, he Received full parole in Canada, with a promise that it would not be responsible for the finances of its projects, according to reports balloon and mail.

However, company members expressly request that Drabinsky be included on the list and say: “TThere is one person who makes all the executive decisions around the production.”

This is the second time in recent history that Equity members have supported the addition of a manufacturer to the list. In the summer of 2021, approximately 300 members of the Broadway community marched in New York City to protest producer Scott Rudin and encourage the union to take further action against him. THR exhibitionsI It details the producer’s allegations of bullying and harassment. Shortly after the article was published, Rudin said that he was leaving Broadway productions.

At the time, Equity said it could not add an active member of the Broadway League, which has a collective bargaining agreement with the union, to the “not working” list. The list is primarily used to alert members to non-union conduct, according to the union. Rudin then left the Broadway League. Your name It is not listed, nor is it currently in production on Broadway.

On its website, Equity describes the “doesn’t work” list as “An additional tool to alert Equity members or our sister unions 4A about the non-union status of certain employers.” He stated: “Unfortunately, there are times when good faith negotiations between Actors’ Equity and employers do not result in an agreement acceptable to union members. Other manufacturers may refuse to negotiate completely or may not honor the terms of their contract. “

According to a lawsuit filed by Equity in early July, paradise square He paid $224,900 of the $412,807 and now Equity is trying to pay the rest.

This follows an incident on February 21, when the union told its members not to attend a rehearsal. paradise square due to a contractual dispute with the production. The members returned to work the next day.

United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829, which represents designers at the fair, is taking the production to court separately to enforce an arbitration settlement for more than $150,000 in unpaid wages and benefits.

In an email about the show’s closure, which Drabinski sent to the company on Wednesday, he confirmed THR Several members who welcomed him, the producer stood firm in his actions.

“The art of production is filled with infinite options, with appropriate decisions made for the common good. Engagement is a tool that must often be part of the process. Every manufacturing decision made paradise square was to protect the show and make it as long as possible for the benefit of all of you,” the email read.

Drabinski’s email adds: “I have always fought for a company and products I believe in. The Holy Institution of Broadway”.

Complete letter to Actors Equity paradise square The company is listed below:

Members of the National Council for Equality of Actors,

Since “Paradise Square” began operating in Chicago in the fall of 2021, all executive decisions related to production have been made by one person. This person is not the producer of the record, but is known to be in full control and therefore no action can be taken against them. They withheld benefits and payments from many members of the company and created an unsafe, toxic and often hostile work environment. In bringing these concerns to the company, this person has always been dismissive, defensive, and often abusive.

As the man said, “every day is a new way to disrespect someone” and today is no different. We do not receive final payment via direct deposit and with this manufacturer’s history of default, this is a major concern.

Therefore, due to unpaid taxes and benefits, and an ongoing pattern of abuse and neglect that has created an unsafe and toxic work environment, Garth H. Drabinsky is invited by Paradise Square to appear on Actors’ Equity Do Not Work. The list is valid on July 18, 2022.

We really loved bringing this show to New York audiences, but we never had to go through the circumstances we went through for this, and no one should ever have to go through that again.

– Members of the company “Samotkhi Square”