Re: RAT terminologically hip, but

[NOMADMONAD@aol.com]

Jonathan, 

Thanks for the summary of the 99-seat theatre plan. 

After the LA Rat Conference, one of the things that puzzled me was the 
relationship that some of the BCT theaters had developed with their actors.  
Most peculiar to me was the concept that an actor could leave a production 
with the simple reason that he got a better paying job in film or television, 
and doing this without creating any bad blood.  Now I see that the concept is 
written right into the contract that everyone uses:

>An actor is "ethically obligated" to stay with the show for the announced
>run unless the actor signs with a more remunerative 4A's production that
>conflicts with the rest of a run. Otherwise a two week termination notice
>is required.

So the more remunerative production is basically judged as the more ethical 
production.  This peculiar concept would of course make acting in film or 
television a much more ethical life and career to pursue than theater.

One of the new things that Ben Cameron initiated at TCG is that member 
theaters no longer need to have a relationship with Actors Equity.  With 
these two longtime representatives of "professional" theater now at odds with 
one another, the suggestion is that a reassessment of what is or isn't 
significant theater is really materializing across the country.  RAT has 
played a consequential role in bringing this dialogue to the forefront.

--nick