BWW SPECIAL FEATURE: How I Got My Equity Card - By Mary Testa

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!

"I had just moved to New York in September of 1976. I was prepared to allow myself six months to get acclimated, so I wasn't worried about finding a job right away. One day, I came home and had a message from this casting director. Since I didn't know any casting directors yet, I was pretty surprised. It turns out that a playwright I had worked with in college (Jeff Wanshel) had recommended me to Steve Robman who was directing a production of THE ROSE TATOO at Long Wharf. I met with him, got the job as Guiseppina, a neighborhood lady (a very small role) and got my Equity Card. No mess no fuss, no bother. The production was full of stars and stars to be: Rita Moreno, Steven Keats, Glenn Close, Linda Hunt, Toni Kalem, and Tom Berenger. I was very lucky!"