What happened BEFORE December 13th, 2016?

The 99-Seat Theatre Plan had been in place for decades, allowing union actors in Los Angeles to perform in small, intimate venues without the full financial burden of standard Equity contracts. It nurtured a vibrant ecosystem of storefront and black-box theatres across the city — places where artists could take risks, develop new work, and build careers.

Actors' Equity Association proposed replacing this plan with a new agreement that would mandate minimum-wage compensation. In April 2015, LA AEA members voted overwhelmingly — 66% against — the initial proposal. Despite this, Equity moved forward.

What has happened AFTER December 13th, 2016?

On December 13, 2016, Actors' Equity terminated the 99-Seat Plan in Los Angeles. The union promulgated a new agreement that imposed wage requirements on productions in venues of 99 seats or fewer.

After the Fallout: Effects of Equity's New Agreement for LA

According to reporting from StageRaw in January 2017, the early evidence showed that paying jobs for union actors were decreasing, not increasing, following the plan's termination. Many small theatre companies found the new financial requirements unsustainable, leading to fewer productions and reduced opportunities for actors across the region.

Why would actors oppose making more money?

This question gets to the heart of the controversy. LA's intimate theatre scene was never primarily about income — it was about artistic freedom, community, and opportunity. Under the 99-Seat Plan, actors could choose to perform in projects they believed in without producers facing prohibitive costs. The new agreement, while well-intentioned, threatened to eliminate the very venues where many actors honed their craft, built relationships, and found their voices.

For thousands of LA actors, the trade-off was clear: preserving the ecosystem that sustains their artistic lives mattered more than a mandated wage that would shutter those stages.

What can I do to get involved?

• Stay informed — follow developments on the Pro99 News page and read personal accounts on the Stories page.
• Spread the word — share information with fellow actors, directors, and theatre lovers. Use #ILove99 on Instagram and follow @99SeatsLA on Twitter.
• Support the legal effort — a crowdsourced fund was established via GoFundMe to help cover legal costs in the fight to protect intimate theatre.
• Connect on Facebook — join the community at the I Love 99 Seats LA page.