La Ma Ma Experimental Theatre Club - Actors' Equity Showcase Code

Actors' Equity Showcase Code

Many more experienced actors began to work at the theater as La MaMa continued to establish itself, which created problems with the Actors' Equity. In 1966, the union refused to allow their members to work at La MaMa E.T.C. without contracts. As a result, La MaMa was forced to shut down from October 12, 1966 to November 9, 1966.

Equity believed that since La MaMa E.T.C. did not pay its actors, the theatre was unfairly competing with off-Broadway, and thus La MaMa E.T.C. would have to shut down. Peter Feldman, a talented off-off Broadway director, stood up for La MaMa E.T.C. in a letter he wrote to the New York Times disputing Equitys' reasoning. He pointed out that La MaMa E.T.C. "did provide a stimulating environment for actors to work," and the theatre's work often led to more paying jobs for actors when off-off Broadway productions got transferred to off-Broadway. Moreover, Feldman also underlined that Stewart was not a commercial producer, but rather the head of a not-for-profit theatre; Stewart was thus being judged unfairly.

After a hearing with Stewart, the union resolved the conflict with La MaMa E.T.C. by creating a new showcase/workshop code. As long as La MaMa E.T.C. remained a private club, Equity members could perform there. This agreement contains certain technicalities, which continue to govern off-off Broadway productions today.