Theater issue

A minor, but significant, error was made by Jonathan Winn in his response (Letters, Feb. 16) to Don Shirley’s commentary “A Happy Medium.”

Winn refers to the “99-seat contract.” His error is that it is not a contract. It is a “code.” A contract refers to wages and benefits. In the 99-seat code there is no salary. There is a stipend. No benefits are attached.

Winn idealistically refers to the code as “a way to allow organizations to avail themselves of good talent while building a platform for growth.” It took the Colony Theater more than 20 years to “grow” to a contract. I appreciate his earnest optimism, but seriously doubt that many of the 99-seat companies and theaters truly want to “grow” to being full-fledged, contract theaters.

Small theater, if it was really being used to promote new work, could be great in Los Angeles. Actors, creators and theater owners must be willing to commit to making theater a legitimate pursuit here and creating theater on a real scale that can support the work.

Craig A. Meyer

Pasadena

Craig A. Meyer is an actor and council member of Actors Equity Assn./Western Region