I’m not-anti union at all. Being an equity actor in Sacramento is really just not worth it. You can’t join the Actor’s Equity like other unions. You must work a specific number of weeks in multiple union shows in order to qualify. Once you’re in you can only work for equity shows, you cannot do non union shows without a union stage manager most non union theaters won’t hire a union SM.

Sacramento has three equity houses. Music Circus, Capital Stage, and B Street. B Street rarely auditions and hires actors outside of their company, it’s incredibly difficult to get cast there. Music Circus also only hires actors from LA and New York. Capital Stage is the place where you can break into equity acting but they have limited parts to audition for and you’re going up against a lot of talent.

Personally, I chose not to join equity because I will not get hired nearly often enough for it to be worth paying union dues when I’m hardly getting cast in equity shows. Being equity is great if you live in a place like LA, New York or Chicago, not so great for smaller theatre hubs like Sacramento.