BroadwayWorld.com is proud to present its weekly feature, presented in association with and to celebrate the importance of the Actors' Equity Association. "AEA" or "Equity", founded in 1913, is the labor union that represents more than 48,000 Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. Equity seeks to advance, promote and foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of our society. Equity negotiates wages and working conditions and provides a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans, for its members.
Check back weekly for new entries from stars of stage and screen on how they got their Equity cards!
AUTHORS NOTE: Since I've been writing plays my whole life I thought I'd use that form to tell this story. And I've also cast all the parts - all Equity, of course. "ZERO HOUR" is set to reopen at the DR2 Theatre (103 East 15th Street) for an open-ended run beginning February 24th. For more information about "ZERO HOUR," visit www.ZeroHourShow.com.
HOW I GOT MY EQUITY CARD
A Play in One Act
By Jim Brochu
The Time: December, 1969
The Place: New York City
(The curtain rises on JIM, age 23 (John Candy) walking excitedly down center. He carries a box and tears it open. He looks at the contents and grins wildly, almost insanely. He addresses the audience.)
JIM: My new pictures and resume. You know, thirteen weeks ago I didn't have a resume - except for some shows I did in high school and college - and then of course there was the scene work at the American Academy; but after thirteen weeks at The Surflight Summer Theatre in Beach Haven, New Jersey - look, I have a professional resume. Listen New York, I have just performed in twelve musicals in twelve weeks. I'm only twenty-three and have played some of the greatest octogenarian roles in the American Musical Comedy canon. The guy who printed my pictures said, "Sure, you're a good type but you won't work until you get older." I knew he was wrong. My size would get me work. After all I was 300 pounds and could move like a butterfly. Haven't I just done a commercial as a dancing raisin for Post Rain Bran? The nerve of him. (He crosses to a different part of the stage. A secretary, BETTY (Bernadette Peters) sits typing at her desk. Jim crosses to her.)
BETTY: Hiya Big Boy.
JIM: (To the audience) She calls me Big Boy. (To Betty.) Did you get the breakdowns today?
BETTY: Sure, and I looked through them but didn't see anything you were right for - that was non-equity, that is.
JIM: How do I get my Equity card, Betty?
BETTY; Get in an Equity show.
JIM: That's easy.
BETTY: But first you need an Equity card.
JIM: Okay so I needed to get into an equity show to get a card but I can't get a card until I'm in an Equity show.
