Actors' Equity Association

165 West 46th Street, New York, NY 10036

212-869-8530 (phone) | 212-719-9815 (fax)
[email protected]

www.actorsequity.org

Dear Basic Showcase Producer:

Enclosed with this letter you will find the Basic Showcase Application Form. This application must
be submitted to the Showcase Department two weeks prior to your first rehearsal. If you need
assistance or have questions concerning the completion of this form, please feel free to contact
us.

You must also submit the following documentation:

1. A breakdown of your Showcase budget expenses. Your budget cannot exceed $35,000
exclusive of AEA stipends, and no person engaged in any capacity for your Showcase shall
receive more remuneration than any Equity member.

2. Proof that you have the rights to produce the play, i.e., a copy of the executed agreement from
the play service or a signed letter from the playwright granting permission. (This rule does not
apply in the case of public domain works.)

3. Producer must provide proof of volunteer accident insurance to cover all Actors at interviews,
auditions, rehearsals and performances and must include such proof with the Application. Equity
does NOT keep insurance policies on file. If the theater has the appropriate insurance you must
obtain a copy of their policy. If you are utilizing a different rehearsal venue than that of your
performances, please be aware that the performance venue’s insurance will most likely NOT
cover the actors at a different rehearsal venue. General Liability insurance DOES NOT cover
the actors in the event of an accident. Please check carefully what type of policy it is that you
obtain. Included with this packet you will find referrals for companies who provide volunteer
accident insurance policies.

4. If your Showcase is being produced in an outdoor venue, such as a city park, please submit
copies of all approved Parks & Recreation permits for your location.

5. You must provide a contact name, address and phone number for all correspondence pertinent
to your showcase. If possible, please also provide an e-mail address and/or a fax number. Upon
approval of your Application, Equity will contact you about picking up your required approval
materials: the Showcase Producer Kit, Equity Signature Page and Showcase Deputy Packet. If
you have not heard from Equity by the first rehearsal, please contact the Showcase Department.
This may mean your Application has not been approved or that we are still in need of your cast
list. Producers and Actors are in violation of the Code if the Signature Page is not on file with
Equity by the end of the first week of the rehearsal.

6. Required Materials. Failure to file the following materials by the date indicated will place the
producer on the defaulting producers list.

• Signature Page – submitted by the end of the first week of rehearsal

• Program – submitted by the first performance
• Final Expense Report – submitted no later than 10 days after final performance

Rev 09-16
7. If you elect to do more than 12 performances each Equity Actor is to receive $10 (Ten Dollars)
per extra performance. (Limit: 16 performances). This is in addition to the basic transportation
reimbursement. (This applies to a Basic Showcase Production.)

In addition, you should also be aware of the following rules governing Basic Showcases:

• Unless Equity shall otherwise order, an Actor may not be required to alternate with an
Understudy or successor.

• Members of the industry, i.e., bona fide Equity franchised agents, casting directors,
professional producers, choreographers, playwrights, and directors shall receive
complimentary tickets. Remember you are producing a “Showcase” and our members
are foregoing regular contractual prerogatives in exchange for appearing in your
production; therefore, it is only reasonable to expect to have an opportunity to perform
before industry representatives.

• Video or audio recording, in whole or in part, of any Showcase production, for ANY
reason, is NOT allowed.

• The rehearsal period of a Showcase production cannot exceed a total of 128 hours
scheduled over a maximum of five consecutive weeks.

• The performance period of a Basic Showcase production cannot exceed four

consecutive weeks.

• With the exception of paid newspaper or broadcast ads, but including all flyers, internet,
posters, postcards, brochures, invitations, etc., all Equity Members shall have their
names listed. The Equity members’ names will be designated by an asterisk (*) with the
indication that “these Actors are appearing courtesy of Actors' Equity Association.”
Publicity and programs must also include the phrase “Equity approved Showcase.”

• You may not require or request any type of financial contributions, tuition, fees, etc. from
Equity members to supplement your production.

• Equity Members shall, upon presentation of a paid-up AEA card, be admitted to the
Theatre, at no cost, on a standby basis.

While this addresses some of the most frequently asked producer questions, it by no means
represents the entire Showcase Code. Please consult the appropriate Showcase Code
Rulebook for a complete listing of the rules governing the Showcase Codes.

We wish you much success with your Showcase production.

Sincerely,

Showcase Department
ACTORS' EQUITY ASSOCIATION

Rev 09-16
 New York City Showcase Code
Insurance Coverage

Showcase Producers are required to have accident/medical coverage for all Equity Members
engaged under the Showcase Code.

PRODUCER MUST ATTACH TO EACH APPLICATION PROOF OF INSURANCE COVERAGE.

EQUITY DOES NOT KEEP INSURANCE POLICIES ON FILE.

This coverage must be in place in all spaces to which any Actors are called. If the theatre’s rental
agreement provides accident insurance which covers our Actors, please obtain a statement from
the theatre stating the Actors are covered or attach a copy of their insurance. If you obtain your own
coverage, the insurance company will give you verification of purchase or you may request that
they notify Equity directly.

You may consult any insurance company of your choosing. While we do not endorse any particular
company, we know that the firms listed below provide short-term (volunteer) accident insurance.
Proof of such coverage is required before your application can be approved.

EVENT INSURANCE BROKERS, LLC. THE CIMA COMPANIES INC. INSUREVENTS

19 Fulton Street #308 1800 N. Beauregard www.insurevents.com
New York, NY 10038 Suite 100 West Virginia, 22311
Phone: 212-766-2058 Phone: 703-739-9300 Ext.7301
Fax: 212-766-2045 Fax: 703-739-0761
www.eventsinsurance.com www.cimaworld.com

OTTO PORAZZO FRACTURED ATLAS STARR COMPANIES

Robertson Taylor (North America),Inc.
70 West 40th Street, Mezzanine Level www.fracturedatlas.org Phone: 646-227-6400
New York, Ny 10018 www.starrcompanies.com
Ph: (212) 279-4519 Ext 107
Fax: (212) 279-4536
[email protected]
www.robertson-taylor.com

Rev 09-16
Equity Use Date Received: Show Name:

APPLICATION FOR AEA SHOWCASE CODE

This application and all collateral material must be executed and filed with Equity
no later than 14 days prior to the start of rehearsals or a penalty will be applied.

Please complete and return by email, mail or fax to:

[email protected]
SHOWCASE DEPARTMENT
ACTORS' EQUITY ASSOCIATION
th
165 WEST 46 STREET
NEW YORK, NY 10036
212-719-9815 fax

1. Showcase Code Desired (Check One):

‰ Basic Showcase Code ‰ Seasonal Showcase Code

2. Producing Organization
Name of producing organization:
Address:
City: State: Zip:
Phone: Fax:
Contact Name: Email:

3. Production Information
Title of Show:
Author(s):
Name of producer(s):

Type of production (check one): ‰ Drama ‰ Musical Material is (check one): ‰ New ‰ Existing Work
Is the material in the Public Domain? ‰ Yes ‰ No
Has this material been previously produced under a Showcase code? ‰ Yes ‰ No
Name of person(s) financing this production:

First rehearsal date: First performance date: Closing date:

Number of performances: Top Ticket price:

Performance schedule: ______________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Curtain time(s): ____________________________________________________________________________________

4. Locations
Name of performance venue:
Address:
Phone: Number of seats (maximum of 99 allowed):

(over)
Name of rehearsal space:
Address:
Phone:

5. Cast Information (Please include both Actors and Stage Managers.)

Total Cast Size: Number of AEA Members:
If show has been cast, please list all AEA member names below. Otherwise, submit names upon completion of casting.

I n d i vi d u a l R e i m b u r s e m e n t ( s t i p e n d ) p e r AE A M e m b e r : ____________________

Please attach the following materials with your application:

1. A proposed production budget, inclusive of all expenses (royalties, theatre rental, stipends, supplies, etc). (See rules
in Basic Showcase or Seasonal Showcase Codes.)

2. Proof of insurance. The producer must provide a certificate of volunteer accident insurance to cover all actors at all
interviews, auditions, rehearsals, and performances. A copy of such insurance must be filed with Equity before
approval will be granted.

3. If your show is not yet cast, complete a Casting Call Notice Entry Form, available at www.actorsequity.org in the
Document Library under Auditions. (Instructions can also be found at that location.) Your casting notice will be posted
on Equity callboards as well as CastingCall, Equity’s online job search engine.

I hereby make application for the above-mentioned Showcase, and certify the above and enclosed information to be true
and correct. I have read and will abide by the rules and regulations of the AEA Showcase Code.

Producer’s Signature Date

Producer’s Signature Date

Upon approval of your Application, Equity will email you the Code approval letter, and Equity Signature Page.
Failure to complete all steps of obtaining approval may place Producer on AEA’s list of defaulting producers.

Rev 09/28/16
 SHOWCASE CODE (NYC)
RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS WITH RESPECT TO FUTURE PRODUCTIONS

This Agreement is made between Actors’ Equity Association (hereinafter called “Equity”) as
the exclusive bargaining representative of its members appearing in a Showcase Production
and ______________________________ (hereinafter called “Producer”). By signing this
document, the Producer of the referenced Code Production agrees to the following terms
and obligations.

(A) General
(1) The Code Producer hereby assumes obligations to make certain payments as
specified in this Article to AEA members who participate in such Code Producer’s
Code production (“Code participants”) upon subsequent exploitation of the
property. The terms and conditions of the Code Producer’s obligations as
hereinafter set forth shall be interpreted in conformity with the Consent Judgment
in Weller v. AEA, 80 Civ. 6084, filed in U.S.D.Ct., S.D.N.Y., November 5, 1981,
which shall be deemed incorporated herein.
(2) The Code Producer’s obligations commence, and the AEA member’s rights vest,
on the first day of the member’s participation in the Code production, regardless
of whether the member’s role is subsequently written out of the play.
(3) The Code Producer shall furnish any documents or information required by AEA
for implementation of the provisions contained herein.
(B) Conversion to an AEA Contract Production
(1) In the event that a Code production is immediately converted to a contract
production containing a provision (“Subsidiary Rights clause”) requiring the
contract Producer to make bona fide offers, or payments in lieu thereof, to AEA
members who appear in the Code production or
(2) In the event of a contract production within the time period specified in the
applicable Subsidiary Rights clause, of a property which has been performed or
rehearsed under the Code; then
(a) All original Code participants who performed in the first paid public
performance shall receive a bona fide offer in writing with a copy to AEA to
perform their identical function, or payments in lieu thereof, as set forth in
the applicable Subsidiary Rights clause prevailing at the time of the contract
production.
(b) When more than one AEA member has performed the identical function in
the Code production and no such member receives a bona fide offer to
perform such function in this production then all members who performed
said function will share in such monies. All payments due hereunder shall
be made to AEA for distribution among the Code Actors in such proportion,
as AEA finds appropriate.
(c) In cases where there is a transfer to LORT, payments due hereunder shall
be made to the Equity/LORT Subsidiary Rights Trust Fund, which shall
distribute the monies among the original performers, where such is due.
(d) Except as outlined in 1(D) below, in the event that the Code Producer
notifies subsequent producing interests and AEA, in writing, of the Code
production, the Code Producer shall have no further obligation under this
provision.

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Showcase Code Rights and Obligations to Future Productions   

(C) Conversion of Revivals

(1) In the case of a code production of a revival (of a property previously produced
under an AEA contract), the provisions of 1(B) apply if the subsequent contract
production results from the code production.
(2) In the event of dispute as to the code origins of a contract production the final
determination shall be made by AEA.
(3) Where the contract production following a code production of a revival is a
production under the LORT Agreement, then neither the code Producer nor the
LORT Producer shall have any obligation to make conversion payments,
anything to the contrary in this code notwithstanding.
(D) Multiple Code Productions of the Same Property (Other than Revivals)
If two (or more) Code productions of the same property are followed by a contract
production, and both or all such Code productions occurred within the time period
specified in the Subsidiary Rights clause applicable to the contract production, then the
Code participants and Code Producer understand and acknowledge that:
(1) The contract Producer’s obligation shall be to the Code participants from the
initial Code production.
(2) Subsequent Code participants shall not be eligible for Subsidiary Rights
payments until all prior Code participants’ rights have expired under the
provisions of the first contract production.
(E) Conversion to Other Media
(1) In the event a property rehearsed or performed under the Code is subsequently
produced in another medium (e.g. motion picture, television, videotape) whether
now existing or developed in the future (“Other Media”), and the disposition of the
rights for such Other Media production is made within four years from the close
of the Code production regardless of when such Other Media production is
actually produced, the Code Producer agrees that up to a maximum of 50% of
Code Producer’s total proceeds from subsequent exploitation of the property
shall be used exclusively to reimburse each Code Participant until an amount
equal to five weeks salary under the production contract is paid (at applicable
rate at time of the disposition of those rights), except that said five weeks
production contract salary shall be reduced, in the event of a contract production
following the Code production and before the Other Media production, by the
amounts paid by the contract Producer pursuant to the Subsidiary Rights clause
applicable to such contract production (or, if a Code participant had received a
bona fide offer to perform in such contract production, the amount the participant
would have received in payments in lieu had he not received such offer).
(2) “Proceeds from subsequent exploitation” means proceeds from any and all
exploitation of the property in any media throughout the world in which the Code
Producer or his financial backers are entitled to share, including but not limited to
Other Media, contract productions, other stage productions and any and all other
exploitation generally known as “Subsidiary Rights”.
(3) In the event that the AEA Code participants are engaged to perform their identical
function in another media, according to terms approved by AEA and SAG-
AFTRA, the Code Producer shall no longer be liable under this provision.

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Showcase Code Rights and Obligations to Future Productions   

(4) The Code Producer shall be responsible for notifying Equity, or cause Equity to
be notified, in writing, of any disposition of the rights for such Other Media
production within 30 days of said disposition. Failure to provide Equity with the
aforesaid timely notification of the disposition of media rights shall render the
Code Producer liable for breach payments of two weeks Production Contract
salary at applicable rate at the time of the disposition of those rights to each
Actor, Stage Manager, and Understudy in addition all other monies required
hereunder.
(F) Payments
(1) Other Media conversion payments shall be due upon receipt of proceeds by the
Code Producer and shall be payable to AEA, to be held in escrow, to be
distributed to the Code participants.
(2) AEA Members acknowledge that union dues, including delinquent dues, may be
deducted from conversion payments.
(G) Arbitration. Any dispute or controversy arising from the application or interpretation
of the provisions of this Document, Rights and Obligations with Respect to Future
Productions, shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the Voluntary Labor
Rules of the American Arbitration Association. Said arbitration shall take place in
New York City.
 

Signature of Showcase Code Producer: 

Name of Showcase Code Producer: 

Title of Showcase Production: 

Author of Showcase Production: 

Dates of Showcase Production: 
 

Rev 1‐22‐2018 

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