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MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA

New Jersey Theatre Alliance’s member theatres are professional, not-for-profit theatres that represent the best New Jersey and the region has to offer.

They include large and small theatres—each one a fully functioning business that pays its staff and artists (designers, technicians, directors, and actors). These theatres support the economic development of the state, contribute to their communities with outreach and arts education opportunities, and offer theatre that inspires, challenges, and entertains close to one million theatre-goers annually.

There are three types of membership with different criteria, listed below. Members of New Jersey Theatre Alliance have access to a broad range of programs, services, and benefits.

Affiliate Membership

Affiliate Membership Criteria

Affiliate Theatre Members have a commitment to professional standards and pay all their artists. They meet the following criteria:

  • Located in New Jersey, or in the region serving a significant number of audiences or participants from New Jersey
  • A minimum of one year of operation and theatre programming.
  • A minimum of one designated director or manager (volunteer or paid).
  • Currently operates as, or is in the process of establishing, not-for-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)3 or equivalent status at the time of membership application.
  • Pays all artists a salary or stipend (Actors, Designers, Directors, Musicians, Instructors) when producing or offering educational opportunities.
  • Currently has, or is working to establish, a Board of Directors at the time of membership application.

Associate Equity Producing Membership

Associate Equity Producing Membership Criteria

Associate Equity Producing Theatre Members have a commitment to professional standards and pay all their artists, including occasional contracts with Actors’ Equity Association performers, the professional union of actors and stage managers. They meet the following criteria:

  • Located in New Jersey, or in the region serving a significant number of audience members or participants from New Jersey.
  • A minimum of one-year of production history.
  • A minimum of one full production per year or a series of public staged readings.
  • A minimum of one full-time director or manager (volunteer or paid).
  • Not-for-profit, tax-exempt, 501(c)3 or equivalent status.
  • Operates under a Special Appearance or Guest Artist Equity Contract and pays all artists, (actors, designers, directors, musicians, and instructors) when producing or offering educational opportunities.
  • Established Board of Directors or established fiscal sponsorship.

Equity Producing Membership

Equity Producing Membership Criteria

Equity Producing Theatre Members have a commitment to professional standards and pay all their artists, including a majority of Actors’ Equity Association performers, the professional union of actors and stage managers. They meet the following criteria:

  • Located in New Jersey, or in the region serving a significant number of audience members or participants from New Jersey.
  • Not-for-profit, tax-exempt, 501(c)3 or equivalent status.
  • A minimum one-year production history operating under a standard Equity contract or on a Letter of Agreement with Equity referenced to a standard Equity contract (COST, LORT, TYA, SPT). Guest Artist and Special Appearance contracts are not considered standard by the Alliance.
  • A minimum of two weeks of rehearsal per production.
  • A minimum of one full production per year, produced or co-produced under a standard Equity contract.
  • A minimum of one full-time paid director or manager and a paid full-time or part-time support staff.
  • Established Board of Directors.