Members of the Los Angeles theatre community will gather August 22 for a town hall event that will examine the consequences on the city’s “cultural ecosystem” should Actors’ Equity Association implement its proposed plan requiring 99-seat theatres to pay actors minimum wage.

In April, AEA decided to require 99-seat theaters in Los Angeles to pay actors no less than minimum wage—currently $9 a hour—despite strong opposition from the local actors at those theatres. Most of them previously worked for far less, or nothing, but oppose the higher pay plan because they fear the union demand will stifle the theatres and result in substantially less work.

In the interim, a 99-Seat Transitional Code was created to give theatres and producers time to make the transition to one of the contractual agreements or membership rules. This period will expire December 14.

A town hall event will be held at the Los Angeles Theatre Center August 22, from 7:30‒9:30 PM. The meeting will discuss the repercussions of AEA’s proposed plan. This event will be hosted by LA STAGE Alliance, the City of Los Angeles and the Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI).

“This town hall is something we’ve been contacted about repeatedly by LA theatre-makers,” said LA STAGE Alliance Executive Director, Steven Leigh Morris in a statement. “We recognize this as a critical time for many of our 99-seat members and colleagues, and it’s our priority to provide them with the platform to convene and disperse information as needed, in order to ready themselves for any changes that may come. We're happy to partner with DCA and CCI to provide this platform.”

Attendance is free, but RSVPs are required. RSVP at lastagealliance.com/calendar.