TIMELINE
FEBRUARY 6th, 2015
Actor's Equity Association (AEA), the union of professional actors, informs its members of substantial changes to LA's seat plan - Effective 2016
PRESS:
FEBRUARY 9th, 2015
Los Angeles based members of AEA meet to discuss proposed changes and form the I Love 99 organization
MARCH 23rd, 2015
On March 23rd, 2015 approximately 400 members of Actors' Equity Association and theatre lovers alike rallied in support of intimate theatre in LA and to voice their opposition to Equity leadership's plan to eliminate the 99-seat waiver contract.
PRESS:
RALLY FOOTAGE...
1. I Love 99! Equity Union March, NoHo.
2. #ILOVE99 rally, pt 1 - Roslyn Cohen, Frances Fisher, statement from Alfred Molina
3. #ILOVE99 rally, pt 2 - Curt Bonnem
4. #ILOVE99 rally, pt 3 - Frances Fisher, statements from Helen Mirren, Tim Robbins, Jason Alexander
5. #ILOVE99, pt4 Jeff Perry, statements from Ed Harris, Sally Kirkland, Linda Hart, Blythe Danner
6. Actors' Equity Members march to save intimate theatre in Los Angeles
APRIL 17th, 2015
Los Angeles AEA members vote on Equity's proposed changes to the 99 seat plan and reject the changes by an overwhelming, unprecedented majority - 66% to 33% (with 45% of ballots returned)
PRESS:
APRIL 21st, 2015
AEA National Council - Equity's governing body - rejects the Los Angeles actors' vote and enact the new proposals anyway, creating the 99 seat agreement.
PRESS:
MAY 21st, 2015
AEA National Council elections held, ousting the sitting president and seating new "Pro 99" councilors.
PRESS:
JUNE - SEPTEMBER, 2016
AEA and Pro 99 actors and producers continue to lock horns over the future of the contract.
OCTOBER 17th, 2016
Plantiffs file suit against the AEA and executive director Mary McColl. Plantiffs include:
ED ASNER, TOM BOWER, GREGG DANIEL, JOHN FLYNN, MARIA GOBETTI, GARY GROSSMAN, ED HARRIS, SALOME JENS, VERALYN JONES, KAREN KONDAZIAN, SIMON LEVY, AMY MADIGAN, TOM ORMENY, LAWRENCE PRESSMAN, MICHAEL A. SHEPPERD, JOSEPH STERN, FRENCH STEWART, and VANESSA STEWART
PRESS:
OCTOBER 30th 2016 - PRESENT
AEA agrees to meet with plantiffs and begins mediation on the 99 seat plan / new 99 seat agreement. Mary McColl is dropped from the suit. The 99 seat plan to remain in place through the negotiations.
Negotiations break down.
Equity announces their plan to replace the former 99 seat agreement on December 15th, 2016.