While on hiatus from her role as Alison on the national tour of Tony-winning Best Musical Fun Home, actor Kate Shindle visited the Playbill studio. Aside from her role onstage, Shindle is also the President of Actors’ Equity Association. Elected in May 2015, Shindle is the youngest-ever Equity president and the third woman to assume the position in the history of the organization. Shindle made her Broadway debut in the original run of Jekyll & Hyde, but really made a splash as Vivian in the musical adaptation Legally Blonde. Now starring in Fun Home, Shindle continues to juggle work onstage and off.

The labor union that represents over 50,000 actors and stage managers nationwide, Equity advocates for its members through wage negotiations, mandating safe working conditions and more. Every actor and stage manager on Broadway, and many of the actors and stage managers around the country (those in Equity tours and many in regional productions) all must be members of the union.

Whether you are a professional in the industry or a fan of theatre, Shindle shares the 5 Things You Need to Know About Equity in the video above.

And, if you are a member, be sure to turn in your 2017 ballot for Equity Elections by September 1.

Visit ActorsEquity.org for more information about the union.

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