Carol Waaser

The Nominating Committee attends all productions during the Broadway season and meets on the date designated by the Administration Committee to determine, by vote, the Tony Award nominees for that season. The committee of Tony Nominators, which has been expanded to 46 members for the 2013-2014 season, includes:

Nominations in 26 competitive categories for the American Theatre Wing's 67thAnnual Antoinette Perry "Tony" Awards were announced today by Tony winning-actress Sutton Foster and star of both stage and screen Jesse Tyler Ferguson, at the Tony Award Nominations Announcement sponsored by IBM. The nominees were selected by an independent committee of 24 theatre professionals appointed by the Tony Awards Administration Committee. The 2013 Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.

The Tony Awards Nominating Committee is a rotating group of up to 35 theatre professionals selected by the Tony Awards Administration Committee. Nominators serve for overlapping three-year terms. They are asked to see every new Broadway production and then meet each year shortly after the Tony eligibility deadline. They determine the nominations based on secret ballots supervised by an accounting firm. The results are announced early the following morning.

The Tony Awards Administration Committee announced today the Nominating Committee for the 2011-2012 Broadway season. The Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.

Assemblyman Rory Lancman (Chair, Assembly Subcommittee on Workplace Safety), Senator Eric Adams, Assemblyman Richard N. Gottfried ( who represents the theater district) today held a press conference in front of the Foxwood Theater, the home of 'Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark,' to discuss the safety issues surrounding the production and the need for proper safety regulations and oversight of aerial performances. Joining them were representatives from Actors' Equity (Paige Price, First Vice President; and Carol Waaser, Acting Executive Director).

Assemblyman Rory Lancman (Chair, Assembly Subcommittee on Workplace Safety), Senator Eric Adams, Assemblyman Richard N. Gottfried ( who represents the theater district) today held a press conference in front of the Foxwood Theater, the home of 'Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark,' to discuss the safety issues surrounding the production and the need for proper safety regulations and oversight of aerial performances.

Actors Equity held a celebration for the 60th Anniversary of the Gypsy Robe on Monday night, October 25th at Sequoia on Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport where past gypsy robe winners came back to reminisce and to celebrate.

Actors' Equity Association has announced the selection of Mary McColl as Executive Director, effective January, 2011. Ms. McColl succeeds Acting Executive Director Carol Waaser, who retires in 2011 after 26 years with the Union.

The Wall Street Journal reports today that battles between unions over jurisdiction for Broadway singers and dancers is intensifying. As BroadwayWorld reported earlier, the recent union dispute surrounding Broadway's COME FLY AWAY has caused American Guild of Musical Artists to try to play a bigger role in the Broadway community. Alan Gordon, AGMA exec director, expressed interest in representing dancers not ony in dance-heavy shows like COME FLY AWAY, but other productions as well. Gordon stated, 'We think that down the road it's better for dancers appearing in anything, including Broadway shows, to be represented by AGMA.'

To borrow the lyrics from 'The Best of Times' - the joy was contagious, the entourage outrageous, it was hot and hectic, effervescent and eclectic at LA CAGE AUX FOLLES when, on Sunday, April 18, 2010, the cast made its way to the stage for the traditional Gypsy Robe Ceremony just prior to the musical's official opening later that evening.

Last week on April 8, 2010, Actor's Equity's 2nd Vice President Rebecca Kim Jordan hosted the famed Gypsy Robe Ceremony for company members of THE ADDAMS FAMILY at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. A long-standing opening night tradition on the Great White Way, the fabled Gypsy Robe is bestowed upon a veteran Broadway chorus member for each opening production. In what has now become a theatrical ritual, originating on Broadway 60 years ago, COME FLY AWAY chorus member Kristine Bendul turned over the robe to ADDAMS FAMILY cast member Jim Borstelmann. BroadwayWorld was there for the celebration.

Conard Fowkes, a long-time Secretary/Treasurer of Actors' Equity Association and a Co-Founder of VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) passed away on December 14, 2009.

Actors' Equity Association (Equity), which represents more than 49,000 professional stage actors and stage managers nationwide, has announced the appointment of Carol Waaser to serve as Acting Executive Director. Ms. Waaser replaces John Connolly, who has decided not to seek a second contract as Executive Director.

Actors' Equity Association (Equity) announced the appointment of Rick Berg to the position of Eastern Regional Director (ERD), effective February, 2010.