Rice is not only the Foundation’s first woman president, but its first new president in 20 years. She succeeds Arne Gundersen, who followed the late Carl Harms.
About her new position Rice said at a recent Foundation awards ceremony, “I am the first woman to hold this position. That made me think of [Actors' Equity Association Executive Director] Mary McColl and [Actors' Equity Association President] Kate Shindle with great pride. We seem to have hit a trifecta here, ladies, and I’m delighted to be a part of it.”
The 56-year-old Foundation, which recognizes actors in New York and Los Angeles with its eight annual performance awards, distributes grants to over 150 theatres nationwide and provides financial support to various agencies serving the arts community.
Rice, a member of Actors’ Equity Association for nearly 47 years, serves on many union committees and ancillary boards. She is an original member and current Trustee of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and a Trustee of the Actors’ Equity Staff Pension Plan.
About the Foundation’s future, Rice recently said, “Although the Foundation is a completely separate entity from Equity, they are very much joined at the hip in their efforts to better the lives of the Equity membership. Moving forward, the Foundation will focus additional efforts on the development and enhancement of the actor’s professional life. This is a big change and an exciting one.”
Vice President Narang is a playwright, member of The Dramatists Guild and The Theatre Communications Group, a published author, and has sat on several boards, including the Actors’ Equity Foundation’s Board of Directors.
Narang said in a statement, “It’s an exciting time at the Foundation. I look forward to collaborating with Judy, and the board, to continue our mission in supporting the theater community at large.”
