§ 1: No artist -
either an active or passive member of the Union
- has the right to perform with non-members of
the Union.
§ 2: The artist is obliged to accept every part
that was assigned to him by the stage manager
and was approved by the troupe management.
§ 3: One and the same part can be assigned to
two
or three artists that would replace each other,
which means all those filling in for the part
have equal rights to the part, and who will play
at the première is selected by lot.
§ 4: Every artist has the right to demand not
less than four proof rehearsals. Exceptionally he
might also have to play without rehearsals.
Note 1: Participation in the management gives
the right to receive additional pay.
Note 2: In the case when a leading role needs
to be replaced in the production, the troupe's
council will decide about it.
Note 3: Improvisations will be announced from
the stage.
§ 5: Artists are obliged to know their parts
thoroughly. They are given a certain period of
time for the purpose of learning their parts:
four
days for ordinary texts and seven days for complex
parts and for singing.
Note: At the second rehearsal the part must be
known superficially; at the third rehearsal the
part must be known without fail under the
prompter. For plays with extensive texts, the
artist must know his part by heart three days before
the première.
§ 6: Artists have no right to make changes or
shorten their parts without the previous
authorization of the stage manager.
§ 7: Artists must be on time for rehearsals. The
stage manager and his assistant must be present
fifteen minutes before the given time.
§ 8: Artists are obliged to rehearse in the
right tone of voice and at the right pace, and
must repeat scenes or acts as many times as the
stage manager requires.
Note: Rehearsals in low voice are only
exceptionally allowed by the stage manager.
§ 9: It is forbidden to rehearse while wearing a
hat or a coat (by temperatures of 12° Celsius),
or while holding walking-sticks or umbrellas.
§ 10: Artists who finished rehearsing may not
leave the theatre without the stage manager’s
permission.
§ 11: Artists may not make remarks to the stage
manager, or make any changes in the stage
production.
§ 12: During the last rehearsal the prompter
must prompt from the booth, as asked by the
stage manager.
§ 13: Nobody is allowed to be in the avant-scène
(apron) during rehearsals, except the stage
manager, his assistant, and the prompter.
§ 14: It is strictly forbidden to smoke on the
stage.
Note: Exceptions are the stage manager, his
assistant, and the prompter during rehearsals.
§ 15: It is strictly forbidden to drink alcohol
or play cards on the theatre premises.
§ 16: It is
forbidden to send on errands for your own needs
someone who is not from the theatre personnel,
and with the consent of the administration.
§ 17. Every actor is obligated to participate in
photographic sessions, which may not take place
on the same day of an opening performance.
§ 18. Every actor who works
entered into agreement to work for us, must
appear for at least one performance.
§ 19. Every actor who is a
member of the Union does not have the right to
play more than two roles as an understudy—and
not more than three roles in an actual
performance.
§ 20. Every performer is
obliged to be present for a performance one hour
before the opening of the act, in which he has
to appear for the director and the
assistants—one hour before the start of the
play.
§ 21. In case of illness, the
performer must immediately inform the
administration.
§ 22. Two hours before a
performance, an actor who is not at home must
provide us with the address where he is located.
§ 23. Every actor must be
prepared to take his place at the sound of the
second bell; meaning five minutes before the
start of an act.
Note: In case of a change of
costumes twelve minutes is allocated.
§ 24. The performers are forbidden at the time
of the announcements to be on the stage.
Note: The staff who assist
the actors must be in their dressing rooms; they
must not, under any circumstance find themselves
behind the wings without the specific permission
of the director.
§ 25. The performers must
submit to the director’s instructions in
connection with costumes, hairdos, wigs and
makeup.
§ 26. The performer who has participated in a
performance has no permission at the end of his
performance to show himself or herself in
public, either in the auditorium or in the
foyer, buffet or any other public place.
§ 27. The performers who do
not participate in the play have the right to
appear in the public areas but only in those
places that have been pointed out to them by the
theatre administrators, but no closer to the
stage than the fifth row; therefore if they do
find themselves in a public area, these
performers do not have the right to exhibit
either their pleasure or displeasure either with
the performance.
§ 28. An actor who is sick
and who has been replaced by another actor is
strongly forbidden to appear in the theatre at
any time during the performance.
§ 29. The performers must
relate to both the rehearsals and the
performances with the fullest sincerity,
observing order and decorum.
§ 30. One actor to another
does not have the right to offer any comments
whatsoever about the presentation of his/her
role.
§ 31. The performers are
strongly forbidden, during a performance, to
make any comment whatsoever to the public.
Note: Upon the stage the
artists are strongly forbidden to make any
comments one to another or to comment on the
other’s shortcomings.
§ 32. Without the permission
of the director (or the company executives) the
actor cannot leave the city.
§ 33. Every actor who has
signed an outside agreement will be fined
through the executive of the Union.
§ 34. Every actor is obliged,
upon joining a troupe, to possess appropriate
clothes: for fancy parties, visiting and
out-of-doors costumes.
II. The Troupes
§ 35. A member of the Union
may not receive any other salary.
Note A: An exception can be
made for passive members or for guest stars.
Note B: A guest star is
anyone who performs for no more than two weeks.
After this period if he or she remains in the
troupe the guest star must undertake all the
rules of the Union.
Note C: In exceptional cases
we must refer to the Union for a decision.
§ 36. Points are issued
through a committee which is selected (through a
secret vote) at a general meeting of the troupe.
§ 37. After issuing these
points every single member shall be asked to
appear before the committee who will then
discuss with him or her the value of the largest
and smallest points, and how many points he or
she will receive without discussing the
value of the points of any other member. If he
or she is not satisfied with the valuation of
the points that person must explain his or her
motives and reasons so that the committee can
reconsider it after its disclosure. After this,
the artistic committee of the Union shall
confirm this.
§ 38. In every troupe and
venture, five members shall vote for one
administrator.
Note A: A troupe cannot
consist of less than fifteen members.
Note B: The number of passive
(non-active) members can reach ten percent (this
means from one to ten percent) or from two to
twenty percent, etc.
§ 39: Every new member who is
taken on by an existing troupe has the right to
make use of its inventory so long as he takes
part in a performance. The new member does not
have to pay any extra compensation.
§ 40: The question about
liquidation of inventory from a troupe has to be
carried out together with the Union.
§ 41: THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF
THE EXECUTIVE IN A TROUPE
1) Confirmation of the
creation of acting roles through the director.
2) Managing the budget and
material possessions of the troupe.
3) The executive is
responsible for the correct and exacting
payments to the Union.
4) Confirming the repertoire.
5) Enforcing all fines.
6) Cooperative orders.
§ 42: Every newly created
troupe must immediately join the Union, and then
submit this decision and any outstanding points
in his possession and confirm this with the
artistic executive.
§ 43: Any pre-existing troupe
must reorganize itself to integrate itself
according to these decisions.
III. The Duty of the
Directorate
§ 44: In case of a sickness
(as confirmed by the executive) the directorate
must pay the sick person up to three (3) months
of their total salary. Any amounts the exceed
three (3) months—half of the salary as agreed
upon in the confirmation.
§ 45: At the time of a
military draft notice we will pay half of the
salary.
§ 46: In case of a pregnancy the directorate
shall pay the entire salary till the date when
the actress was unable to perform any longer on
the stage.
§ 47: The directorate is
obligated to give each performer a paid-up leave
of absence for a time equal to half of the
length of the contract.
§ 48: The directorate is
obligated to protect the artist in case of
unforeseeable occurrences which may happen
during the period of work in the theatre
(according to the interpretation of the
executive). If this is not done, the directorate
must pay out all of the salary including all
payments for medical expenses for the entire
time when the artist was incapable of work.
§ 49: In case of cancellation
of the performances the directorate is
responsible to pay the entire salary owed. An
exception can only be made by legitimate farce-mazsher.
(Which can only be decided by the central
executive of the Union).
§ 50: The directorate is
obligated to provide the artist with all sorts
of costumes: historic, stylistic, also wigs,
powder, water to wash and the cost of a
hairdresser and tailor.
§ 51: If the directorate
decides that the artist has to make a necessary
costume apart from that in article 34, it is
obliged to cover forty percent of the costs,
and the costume remains the property of the
artist.
§ 52: It is obliged to pay for ruined or stolen
costumes in the theatre, if the costumes were
the property of the theatre personnel.
§ 53: In cases where it is
necessary to transfer the troupe or an
individual member from the city as shown in the
contract to any other place, the directorate
takes upon itself the following debts:
1) Must pay for: the trip
(second class), baggage up to five poods (ed.: 1 pood=16.38
kg) for every member of the troupe, and also for
coaches and porters.
2) Upon moving the troupe to
a second city the time (up to two months) shall
be paid for by the directorate to every member
also an additional amount of fifty percent of
the members salary and in addition all the hotel
costs.
3) In cases where a trip has
to be undertaken the directorate must inform the
troupe a week beforehand.
Note: All contracts must be
approved by the Union.
§ 54:
The enterprise has not role in engaging artists
who are not members of the union.
§ 55: The directorate is
obligated to pay their salaries two weeks in
advance.
Note: Not paying the salary
three days gives the artist the right to bring
the dispute to the directorate.
IV. The Organization of
the Work and the Work in the Theatre
§ 56: On the day of a
performance there can only be one rehearsal.
When no performance is being held---two
rehearsals may be permitted. Each rehearsal
cannot last more than four hours.
Note: Rehearsals cannot be
held on Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and those
days when there are two performances.
§ 57: For any new play under
production, there cannot be more than two full
dress rehearsals, and neither of them can last
for more than six hours.
Note: General rehearsals are
those that include with make-up, costumes and
decorations.
§ 58: On the day of a live
performance there cannot be a dress rehearsal.
§ 59: Rehearsals cannot begin
earlier than ten o’clock in the morning.
§ 60: After waiting for an
hour for a rehearsal to begin, the actor has the
right to leave the theatre. If this issue is not
important to the players, the rehearsal can
proceed.
§ 61: All benefit and special evening
performances are unconditionally forbidden.
Anniversary performances can be held but only
with the agreement of the Central Committee of
the Actors' Union.
§ 62: In changing a bit that
has not been staged in the course of three
months, the actor has the right to demand a
rehearsal.
§ 63: The Assistant General
Director has no right at the time of a rehearsal
or of a performance to go onto the stage in
order to ask an actor to explain him or herself
for being late. The actor is, however, solely
responsible for his or her lateness and he or
she alone must answer for it.
Note: The assistant must
provide chairs for the actors behind the wings.
§ 64: The first bell will
ring fifteen minutes, and the second five
minutes prior to the opening. The third bell
will announce the beginning of performance.
§ 65: By the time of the
second bell the actor must be onstage.
§ 66: The Assistant General
Director must not perform in any roles on stage
at the time when he is actively the assistant.
§ 67: There will be a
designated place behind the wings where there
will be a place upon which all of the
announcements are posted.
Note: The repertoire must be
posted four days before the performance and the
rehearsal schedule, two days prior to the
rehearsal.
§ 68: A fully supplied medicine chest must be
present behind the wings of the theatre. The
Assistant General Director must have the key on
his person to this chest.
§ 69: All foods and beverages
that will be served on the stage must, without
exception, be hygienically clean and answerable
to the Assistant General Director.
§ 70: A clock must be
displayed in a visible place behind the wings.
This is done for the correct operation of the
performance and for the responsibility of the
administrators of the theatre.
V. Penalties
Every actor can be
penalized in the following manner:
§71. For refusing to perform
or to be an understudy for a role, the actor is
penalized according to the discernment of the
committee, a fine of seven days' wages and to
dismissal from the troupe.
§ 72: For refusing to perform
on an extraordinary occasion from a role—
dismissal from the troupe.
§ 73: For being late for a
performance that is completely the fault of the
actor as late as fifteen minutes,--three days'
salary; thirty minutes—ten days' salary, over
thirty minutes is considered to the be the same
as not appearing at all to a performance (see
items 20, 23).
§ 74: Being late to appear on
stage during a performance: the first time—three
days' salary, the second time—ten days' salary,
the third time—fifteen days' salary, the fourth
time dismissal from the troupe (see item 65).
§ 75: For not appearing at a
performance: the first time fifteen days'
salary, the second time—dismissal from the
troupe
Note: A. In a case where a substitute is engaged
to replace the actor, the actor has to pay the
costs of hiring the substitute.
Note B. On the occasion when the play has to be
changed completely, the guilty party must pay
for the difference in ticket sales that occur
due to refunded tickets.
Note C: If it becomes necessary to cancel the
performance the guilty party must pay for all
costs (see item 20).
§ 76: For being late for a
rehearsal: fifteen minutes—one-tenth of the
daily salary, till thirty minutes—one-half days'
salary, over thirty minutes is considered the
same as not appearing for a rehearsal altogether
(see item 7).
§ 77: For not appearing for a
rehearsal: the first occasion—three days'
salary, on the second—seven days' salary, on the
third—fifteen days' salary, On the
fourth—dismissal from the troupe.
§ 78: For leaving the theatre
at the time of a rehearsal without the
permission of the director: on the first
occasion—three days' salary, on the second—seven
days' salary, on the third—fifteen days' salary,
on the fourth—dismissal from the troupe. (See
item 10).
§ 79: For not preparing for a
role (see item 5), for improper adornment at the
first rehearsal (see items 8, 9,11,28)—three
days' salary, for the second seven days' salary,
for the third—fifteen days' salary, for the
fourth—expulsion from the troupe.
§ 80: For appealing to the
public in order to emphasize another actors
shortcomings, or for improper appearance on the
stage during a performance, for the first
time—seven days' salary, for the second—fifteen
days' salary, for the third—expulsion from the
troupe (see item 31).
§ 81: For appearing in
another theatre or for leaving the city, without
the permission of the director or the committee;
for the first time—seven days' salary, for the
second time –fifteen days' salary, for the third
time expulsion (see item 32).
§ 82: For not informing the
administration of the theatre in case of an
illness, for not agreeing to appear in a
photograph or for lending theatre inventory to
outsiders; for the first time—three days'
salary, the second time—seven days' salary, the
third time—fifteen days' salary, the fourth
time, expulsion.
§ 83: Not leaving your
address with the theatre administrators is the
same penalty as for not coming to a performance
(see item 22).
§ 84: For smoking on the
stage—not more than one-third of daily salary
(see item14).
§ 85: For ignoring item 15:
for the first time—fifteen days' salary, for the
second occasion—one month’s salary-- for the
third time, expulsion from the troupe.
§ 86: For not following items
16, 26, 27, for the first time three days'
salary, for the second time—seven days' salary,
for the third time—fifteen days' salary, for the
fourth occasion – a month’s salary, and for the
fifth time expulsion from the troupe.
§ 87: If the assistant
director leaves the stage his is fined (See item
63) for the first time—five days' salary. For
the second time—ten days' salary, for the third
time—twenty days' salary for the fourth time—one
month’s salary, for the fifth time—expulsion
from the troupe.
§ 88: If an actor violates
various rules, on the sixth occasion he will be
expelled from the troupe.
§ 89: All penalties are to be
handled by the union for the benefit of the
retirement and school funds.
§ 90: All penalties must be
confirmed by the Board of Directors of the
troupe.
Note: All penalties are
deducted by the committee when salaries are
distributed.
§ 91: If an announcement
regarding a penalty is not is not posted two
days prior to the offense, then the person to be
penalized is not guilty.
§ 92: Complaints for
expulsions from the troupe can be presented to
the Union.
§ 93: For signing a
fictitious contract the penalty will be decided
after an investigation by the Union.
VI. Surcharges for a
Director
§ 94: For participation in a
outside performance on the same day--one-half of
the daily salary.
§ 95: For every hour of a
special rehearsal: Daytime: one-eighth of the
daily salary. Nighttime: one-half of the daily
salary.
§ 96: In exceptional cases,
for outside understudying: thirty days salary
according to the final decision of the
committee.
§ 97: For rehearsals which
are not defined in the final contract: for each
rehearsal one-half of the daily salary.
VII. Payments for the Benefit of the Union
§ 98: Every director pays two
percent of the gross income after paying taxes:
one percent to support the retirement fund and
one percent for the sake of the school fund.
§ 99: Actors who are also
directors pay one-and-one-half percent of their
salaries for the sake of the sick fund one
percent, and one-half percent for the press
fund.
§ 100: The “Ches” troupe
contributes three percent of their net income
for the sake of: retirement one percent, The
school fund one percent, sickness fund one-half
percent and the press fund one-half.
§ 101: Every member of the
union pays monthly, for the appointment of the
executive of the Union and in order to support
Union activities.
§ 102: Guest stars and other
performers must pay five percent of their
earnings.