DEFINING COMMUNITY THEATER

Community theater refers to theater primarily produced by and for residents of a local or regional geographical area. Artistic, technical, and administrative staff members, including musicians, may be paid as full-time, part-time, or contract employees. Auditions for productions are typically open to the general public. While actors in productions are volunteers, however they may receive stipends, travel reimbursement, complimentary tickets, or other forms of compensation. Actors may be members of Actors’ Equity Association or other professional unions, but may not be compensated at a professional (Equity) “living wage” scale for their performance in standard community theater productions. Union members must follow the applicable contract or code required by their representative union. The primary distinctive characteristic of community theater is that auditions are announced and open to members of the community (the general public).