Wave of Waiver Openings This Weekend

Welcome to Waiver Weekend.

At last count, 22 Equity Waiver shows will open this weekend (Thursday through Sunday), the final weekend of the Waiver as Los Angeles has known it since 1972.

Beginning Monday, Actors’ Equity will impose new rules on shows presented in the Waiver theaters--those with 99 or fewer seats. But Equity attached a grandfather clause to the new rules, so that any smaller-theater show that offers a paid public performance before Monday will be allowed to operate under the old rules.

Hence the wave of Waiver openings.

Some of these “openings” are, in fact, what are normally called previews. Producers of at least six of the shows have asked critics to stay away until next weekend or later.

One producer called The Times Wednesday to make sure no critic would be in attendance and added that she hoped no one else would attend the “opening,” either.

On second thought, however, it might be useful if the actors showed up.