Unions and Associations

Theatrical Stage Management Union

Actors Equity Association (AEA) represents and protects theatrical actors and stage managers. A theatrical production will either be a union or nonunion production. Oftentimes, union productions will look to hire union stage managers.

How do you join the union?

• Get Hired on an AEA Contract
• Join the Equity Membership Candidacy (EMC) Program
• Hold Prior Membership to a Sister Union (SAG-AFTRA, AGMA, AGVA)

Other Theatrical Unions

• I.A.S.T.E. (Backstage Employees)
  • Divided into Chapters by Location
  • Local 764 (Wardrobe & Child Actor Guardians)
• United Scenic Artists (Designers)
• Stage Directors and Choreographers (Directors & Choreographers)
• American Federations of Musicians (Orchestra)

Other Performance Unions

• American Guild of Musical Artists (Opera and Ballet Performers & Stage Managers)
• American Guild of Variety Artists (Variety Performers & Stage Managers)
• SAG-AFTRA (Film/Television Actors, Assistant Directors, Broadcast Journalists, Singers, Voice-over Artists, & more)
• Director's Guild of America (Film/Television Directors, Asst. Directors, & Stage Managers)

Stage Management Association

Stage Managers' Association (SMA) is a membership organization for stage managers that plans stage management networking events across the United States. Their websites also features job listings and an "Ask a Stage Manager" feature. To utilize these features, a stage manager must pay a membership fee. Learn how to join here.

General Theatrical Associations

Broadway Cares / Equity Fights Aids (BC/EFA) is a nonprofit organization that fundraisers to provide service for people with AIDS. Due to its connection to theatre across America (including and especially Broadway), BC/EFA collects donations after theatre performances, oftentimes with the performers doing the collections themselves. The organization also hosts several large-scale events (Broadway Bares, Broadway Backwards, and Broadway Barks, to name a few) to raise funds for their cause.

Theatre Communications Group (TCG) is an organization existing to facilitate communication and connection between American theatre companies large and small. TCG publishes the most dramatic literature of any independent publisher in the United States, as well as a theatre magazine called American Theatre and the job listing resource ARTSEARCH. Membership provides access to American Theatre, complimentary membership to other theatre organizations, and discounts to performances and publications.

Theatre Development Fund (TDF) is an not-for-profit organization that exists to both nurture art and make art accessible to as many people as possible. Membership provides discounted rates for performances.

United States Institute for Technical Theatre (USITT) is an association for theatrical technicians, designers, and managers. The group holds a yearly conference in the United States to introduce new and demonstrate technologies, as well as providing a forum for theatre professionals of all levels to expand their network.

NOTE -

Regarding websites that require a subscription, check with your university to see if they offer university membership or student discounts!