NY SM Question

[johnmurdock]

When you are putting New York credits on your resume... do you have a section with "Off-Broadway" and then another with "New York Theatre" or do you put it all under one or the other?

I am going back and forth on this.

Any opinions on this?

[MatthewShiner]

Being that off-broadway has a specific AEA contract associated with it, that may inform how you use the term.

[johnmurdock]

that is part of the reason as to why I am asking.  Lately some of the AEA off-broadway houses have been doing non-union productions so it all becomes very muddied. 

I just dont want to give anyone the wrong impression on my resume, because before I have been given advice that any non-broadway production is Off-broadway... which i think is totally false and glad i didn't heed their "advice"

[Scott (formerly Digga)]

I just list NY Credits and then specify which contract it was under in parenthesis next to the name of the show.

[johnmurdock]

Thanks Digga, thats along the lines of what I was thinking.

[Libby]

I actually disagree with Matt. I have 4 headers when it comes to what shows I've done, Broadway, Off Broadway, Touring, & Regional. I think it is perfectly acceptable to list Off broadway, even when one or two of the shows on that list were not under the off broadway contract.
Yes, there is an agreement called "off broadway", but there is no agreement called "Broadway" (since it is a Production Contract). I've personally never met anyone who splits their resume up by contract (since under my regional section I would then have to have headers for LORT, SPT, LOA, CORST, etc.) I've had PSMs ask me about some of the shows listed under Off-Broadway, for instance a workshop I did that was actually under a Lort B contract.

I never lied on my resume, but I personally see "Off Broadway" as the header meaning "NYC theatre not on broadway".

[johnmurdock]

Thanks for that.. this was the reason for my question, because i think different people have different opinions on this issue, and wanted to see what people on this forum thought.

[Jessie_K]

I agree that the "Off Broadway" category (though I do not personally use on my resume) could be used to indicate non-Broadway NY gigs.  But I would only consider a few other AEA contracts or theaters would merit inclusion.

Certainly never refer to an AEA Showcase as Off Broadway.  But would consider listing an ANTC contract if it was at a well known enough place.  (example: Atlantic Theater Company.  Well known, has sent shows to Broadway, but is not under an OB contract with AEA)

Always when putting an entry under Off Broadway remember, most NYC producers and SMs have a pretty good idea of the shows/ theaters in town and will be able to spot an illegitimate placement.  This will not make you look good.

If I did not have enough legit OB credits, I would use the header New York Theater with the OB credit at the top.  Again, the employer will probably recognize the show or theater and take notice without the header.

[MatthewShiner]

Here's the thing . . . it's either going to come off as two ways . . .

1) That you really are just saying the show was off-Broadway, that is not a Broadway show.  (what Libby said)

2) That you are try to pass an off-off-broadway, or off-off-off-in someone's living room as an off-Broadway show.

I guess it really depends on what you are applying for.  If you are applying for work in NYC, then the producer probably already knows what contract the show was, based on what theatre it was at, etc, etc.  It's a little bit of a crap of shoot really.  I like the way Libby breaks up her resume, it makes perfect sense, when you have the Broadway credits, then it's saying Broadyway, Off-Broadway, Regional, Touring - I get the sense of where the work falls, but let's play the example where there is no Broadway credits, and you have just Off-Broadway, and then some other categories - like educational, regional, etc.  Then the Off-Broadway classification may look like you are stretching your resume beyond your current skill level.

But, this is such a style and splitting hairs discussion, go with what looks good on your resume and sells you the best.  Given that you just got your card, people will probably be able to tell form your resume what contract and what level your shows have been produced by.