Angel Cabaret will break with actors union

NEW PORT RICHEY -- The Angel Cabaret Theatre is canceling its affiliation with Actors Equity Association at the close of its current show, Nunsense, on May 18.

Equity is the official union for professional actors.

"We have made a financial decision to part ways," said Jimmy Ferraro, owner of the Angel.

The theater plans to remain open, using non-Equity performers in its shows.

Under the agreement, signed in August 2001, the theater is required to have at least two Equity actors in each show and to have an Equity stage manager. Equity contracts usually require the theaters to provide employee health care, a retirement plan, unemployment compensation, a guaranteed minimum weekly salary, housing, transportation and a substantial performance bond deposited with Equity's office.

The departure from Equity means that neither Ferraro nor his wife, Dee Etta Rowe, both members of Equity, will be allowed to perform in the theater, unless they resign their union membership, said Rick Berg, senior business representative for dinner theater contracts for Equity's office in New York.

"As Equity members, they are not permitted to act anywhere without an Equity contract," Berg said.

Only Equity-affiliated theaters can issue such contracts.

Ferraro will be allowed to introduce shows and performers, Berg said. Anything more would make him "subject to union discipline."

The theater also loses the ability to hire any of the more than 40,000 professional Equity actors. Until mid 2001, non-Equity theaters could hire Equity actors as "guest performers." That no longer is allowed.

At the time of signing the Letter of Agreement with Equity, Ferraro said: "In the show business world, being an Equity theater does set you apart from other theaters."

Berg said that he understood why the Angel had to leave Equity.

"With the current economic climate, we can see how it would not be possible to keep that up," Berg said. "But if they come into a position to (reaffiliate), we will be happy to talk with them at any time."

Pasco County's oldest and largest professional theater, the 7-year-old Show Palace Dinner Theatre also joined Equity in August 2001 and recently increased its commitment to Equity.

"We have to have five Equity people right now," said Sal Sessa, co-owner of the Show Palace. "That's two chorus members, two lead actors and one backstage manager. We've had as many as nine Equity people in our shows in the past." There is no upper limit on the number of Equity members who can perform in any show at the Show Palace.

"It's very expensive," Sessa said. "We have to provide housing, and each Equity member gets a private bedroom." The Sessas own two five-bedroom homes and have recently rented an apartment to accommodate more of their cast members.

As for the future: "We have no plans to leave (Equity)," Sessa said.

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