The Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers - Independent National Labor Union

Thursday, August 28, 2008

A contract must be filed
whenever and wherever you
work. Working without a contract
makes it impossible for your
union to protect you! All SSDC
Collectively Bargained Agreements
and Special Contracts protect your
property rights, right of first
refusal, and electronic rights. If
you do not file a contract, you are
giving up these rights. If you have
any questions regarding rights
and protections, contact us at
info@ssdc.org

The Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers (SSDC) is a national independent labor union representing members throughout the United States and abroad. SSDC has jurisdiction over the employment of Directors and Choreographers working in the following areas:

• Broadway and National tours

• Off-Broadway

• Off-Off-Broadway (Association of Non-Profit Theatre Companies, New York City - ANTC)

• Resident Theatre (League of Resident Theatres - LORT)

• Resident summer stock companies (Council of Resident Stock Theatres - CORST)

• Summer stock and civic light opera (Council of Stock Theatres - COST)

• Dinner Theatre (American Dinner Theatre Institute - ADTI)

• Regional Music Theatre (RMT)

• Outdoor musical stock (OMS)

• Non-Equity tours - Troika

SSDC also provides a Special contract to protect members who wish to work for theaters not covered by one of the above mentioned Collectively Bargained Agreements.

The union provides many valuable services and benefits to our members including:

Minimum fees and advances, property rights, subsidiary rights, first refusal rights, arbitration procedures, health insurance and a pension plan.


Incorporated in 1959, SSDC was established to be a national independent labor union with the broad purpose of elevating the standards of the art of stage direction and choreography; to develop communication among the Director and Choreographer craft-persons; to establish means for the dissemination and exchange of ideas of directorial and choreo-graphic interest to the profession; to aid the development and training of Directors and Choreographers; to increase the professional and public esteem of these arts and to develop all conditions which encourage them.

1962 February 14, Bob Fosse signed the first SSDC contract as Director-Choreographer for the Broadway production of Little Me. 1970 First League of Off-Broadway Theatres and Producers agreement achieved. 1972 League of American Theatres and Producers agreement renewed. 1972 Jurisdiction expands to Collective Bargaining Agreement with the League of Resident Theatres (LORT). 1983 Property rights clause secured in Off-Broadway Agreement stating that Directors and Choreographers owned their work and this material could be used or licensed only on the condition that royalties were paid. 1985 Property rights provision added to LORT agreement for extended runs and transfers. 1987 Expansion of Off-Broadway Agreement to include subsidiary rights participation for Choreographers and copyright for the Director. 1997 Broadway Agreement Restructured to reflect industry practices. 1997-98 National Representation Initiative 1999 40th anniversary year LOVE! VALOR! COMPASSION! Property rights suit settled. 2000 Julliard Agreement 2001 Radio City Music Hall Agreement 2002 Coalition of Broadway Unions and Guilds, founding member. 2003 Online dues and assessment payment, and online membership directory established. 2004 AEA/SSDC Videotaping Agreement 2005 SSDC and SDCF join forces. Membership reaches 2000 nationwide. 2006 Regional Commercial Agreement established. 2007 SSDC and Disney reach Agreement.