Stage Directors and Choreographers Society Wins in Arbitration with SPIDER-MAN Producers

Stage Directors and Choreographers Society has prevailed in arbitration against Producers of Spider-Man concerning the Producers' refusal to post the required bonds for the employment of Director Philip W. McKinley and Choreographer Chase Brock.

Arbitrator Carol Wittenberg has just released her ruling that the Spider-Man producers are bound by the grievance and arbitration provision of the Collectively Bargained Agreement and violated the Agreement when they failed to post security bonds for both Chase Brock and Phillip W. McKinley. In addition, Ms. Wittenberg granted SDC's request for pre-judgment interest.

In the arbitration, SDC cited the provision of the SDC/League Agreement which requires Broadway producers who are not members of the Broadway League to post a bond equal to the artist's minimum fee and advance. The bond serves as security against payment of future royalties and benefits should a producer default.

Karen Azenberg, SDC President, noted "The posting of bonds is a basic industry practice which is embedded in all our collectively bargained agreements to protect Members in the event of a producer's default. We are grateful that the arbitrator honored this practice and fully enforced our rights under the agreement. We are pleased that this decision continues to support our Members."

"We regret that SDC has to resort to the legal process to get these producers to meet obligations to SDC Members," added Laura Penn, Executive Director. "Although not members of the Broadway League they still have to honor our Agreement."

SDC is the theatrical Union that represents and protects 2,400 Member Directors and Choreographers working throughout the United States.

SDC has jurisdiction over the employment of Directors and Choreographers working in the following areas: Broadway and National tours, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway (Association of Non-Profit Theatre Companies, New York City – ANTC), Resident Theatre (League of Resident Theatres – LORT), Resident Summer Stock companies (Council of Resident Stock Theatres – CORST/TSS), Dinner Theatre (Dinner Theatre Agreement – DTA), Regional Musical Theatre (RMT), and Outdoor musical stock (OMS).