Actors’ Equity may draw the line

Civic LIGHT OPERA of South Bay Cities plans to reduce its debt by presenting a few imported shows -- including a nonunion tour.

James Blackman, South Bay executive director and producer, reports a $1.8-million debt, accumulated primarily from 2001 to 2003. It prevents the group from applying for many grants, he says. So he plans to cut costs by presenting, instead of producing, two upcoming shows.

One of them, “The Rat Pack,” has a cast on Actors’ Equity contracts. But John Holly, the union’s Western regional director, says union members won’t be happy if South Bay presents a non-Equity “42nd Street.” “I’ve got some very angry actors” who might decide to pass out informational leaflets to South Bay audiences, Holly says.

Blackman refuses to confirm that “42nd Street” is the show in question, citing contractual restrictions, but he says rights to it are locked up by producers of the nonunion version. He expects he would still be able to meet his required number of Equity contracts for 2006. Last week he decided to produce his own version of “Cats” instead of importing a touring version.

-- Don Shirley