What is 99? Los Angeles theater is at least partially defined by the Actors’ Equity 99 Seat Plan. This low-budget agreement has existed for decades and a tight-knit theatrical community has grown up around it. A newly proposed change to the plan has rocked the LA intimate theater world, leading to serious questions about art, commerce, and the definition of labor. On today’s show, we investigate the issue from the front lines, hearing testimonials from Los Angeles Equity members on both sides of the fence— from a young company reaching the cusp of major growth to a 46-year Artistic Director of a storied institution, from working actors seeking artistic fulfillment onstage to passionate professionals who cannot afford their place within the current Los Angeles market.

We set out to represent a diversity of experiences and opinions, and we hope that we have done so; as with so much of art, there seems to be no right answer—except, perhaps, to continue the conversation.

In 99 Seats (Part 1) we hear from John Flynn of Rogue Machine Theatre, AEA stage manager and SDC director Armina Lamanna, and AEA  actors Joel Swetow, Matt Hermann, Rebecca Metz, Ramon DeOcampo, Christian Barlllas, Ann Colby Stocking and Ben Mathes.