What does Showcase Code mean?
Showcase Code is an Actors’ Equity Association agreement that allows union members to perform in small productions — typically in New York City — under modified terms with minimal or no pay, in exchange for the production meeting specific conditions regarding venue size, run length, ticket prices, and other parameters. The showcase code is designed to allow Equity members to perform in new work, experimental productions, and self-produced projects that could not operate under standard Equity contracts. Showcase productions serve as important development and visibility opportunities, particularly for emerging playwrights and directors seeking professional production experience.
Example:The actor and several colleagues mounted a showcase code production of a new play they had been developing — the AEA agreement allowed all the union performers to participate in what was essentially a self-produced laboratory production without jeopardizing their membership.
Example: The playwright secured a showcase code slot at a small Manhattan theater for his new play, giving him the opportunity to see his work on its feet with professional actors before deciding whether to pursue a full Off-Broadway production.
Did you know?
The showcase code has historically been one of the primary mechanisms for developing new American plays in New York. Producers, directors, and casting directors regularly attend showcase productions specifically to discover new writers, performers, and material. Several plays that eventually became significant Off-Broadway and Broadway productions began as showcase code productions — a testament to the developmental value of even the smallest, most modestly resourced theatrical productions.
You can also find “Showcase Code” and related terms in this category: Contracts and Agreements.
