Equity Files Charges Against Supper Club Over The Rat Pack is Back

Actors' Equity Association has filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board against the non-union venue, the Supper Club, and its owner, Martin Thesing. The charges relate to the shuttered The Rat Pack is Back, which Equity claims was closed "because members of the cast were represented by the Union," according to statement.

The Rat Pack is Back, written and directed by David Cassidy who also appeared in the show, began performances at the Supper Club on November 17. Some members of the cast, including Cassidy, were Equity members; some were not. The show ran eight performances before shutting down for a hiatus following the November 26 show. The Rat Pack is Back was scheduled to resume performances the week of December 11 with an eye toward a December 19 opening. However, on December 12 a release was issued stating that the production had been closed by producer RPIB, Inc. headed by Cassidy, "due to unforeseen and irreconcilable circumstances on both artistic and managerial levels."

Shortly after it was made public that The Rat Pack is Back was closed, it was announced the Supper Club would be presenting another Rat Pack-themed show, Frank, Dean & Sammy: Live In Concert in its place. Frank, Dean & Sammy: Live In Concert is a non-union production.

"We filed these charges because we take care of our members," an Equity spokesperson told Broadway.com. "We believe our members were put in a situation [by Supper Club management] where their jobs were threatened."

In response to the Equity charges, Supper Club owner Thesing issued this statement: "The Supper Club is a completely non-union house and therefore never had any contracts whatsoever with any of the actors in The Rat Pack is Back. Any and all questions regarding any employment issues during the time that The Rat Pack is Back performed at the Supper Club should be directed to the officers of RPIB, Inc., the show's producing entity."

An Equity spokesperson said it would likely take a couple of months for the National Labor Relations Board to begin researching the complaint.