So What Is the Difference Exactly?

I thought this might be a fun place to explore some "behind the scenes" information about theatre. When I started with the Kirkwood Theatre Guild, I really was just an enthusiastic audience member. I was curious about the different types of theatre in St. Louis. 

What is the difference between equity, non-equity and community theatres?

Equity refers to the Actors Equity Association, the union that represents stage performers.  The union regulates pay and work conditions. Actors recieve an equity card by following different paths. In St.Louis they mostly earn them by working at theatres that issue equity contracts and earn points. Once a member they must be granted permission from the union to work in a non-equity theatre. In order to work more some actors choose to go the non-equity route. There are several small non-equity professional companies in the area that pay a stipend to actor.

Community theatre is differentiated by the fact that the technicians and actors volunteer their time. Many are the same individuals who work for the professional theatres. Community theatres offers those who have an intrest in performing arts to recieve a regular pay check from a "day" job and still pursue their interest of bein on stage.  Community theatres run the gammet (as do the professional companies), some take place in church basements others are privledged enough to have a wonderful community resource like the City of Kirkwood's Robert G. Reim Theatre.

You have the opportunity to see how amazing community theatre can be, KTG's production of Annie Get Your Gun opens May 3rd! More information is on our website, ktg-onstage.org.