Does the theatre hire Equity Actors? If yes, how many contracts per show? If not

Question:the spreckels theatre in san Diego

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: the spreckels theatre in san Diego

Thought you might like to hear from someone who knows what he's talking about [I'm based in San Diego].

The Spreckels doesn't have any kind of resident theatre company. It's simply a theatre for hire -- and both union and non-union things are presented there. Some local organizations use it, but it's mostly rented by touring shows and concert promoters [music and comedy].

For the most part, the only regular employment there for locals is when a tour hires local IATSE members to work as stage crews.

Since you asked about Equity work here . . . the biggest employers are the Old Globe and the La Jolla Playhouse, followed somewhat distantly by the San Diego Rep. Numerous musical theatre organizations like Starlight and, up in Vista, Moonlight generally offer three Equity contracts per show for actors and one contract for the stage manager. And various smaller theatres use Guest Artist contracts now and then. I highly recommend that you join the Actors Alliance of San Diego, a terrific resource -- any production hiring actors posts audition announcements with them, and there's the annual All-City Auditions in which you can do one audition and be seen by representatives from most of the local theatres.

Yes, it is an Equity theatre. The number of contracts depends on the size of the cast and the level of contract with Equity (SPT or LORT, etc.)