Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), the union that represents over 51,000 professional performers and stage managers, has revealed plans to honor Equity chorus members throughout 2025. The celebration will be dubbed “A Chorus Year.”
It will kick off with the 10th annual Swing Day, being celebrated on Jan. 15. Swing Day honors Broadway’s offstage covers known as swings, who understudy chorus roles (as opposed to principals). Many swings are prepared to cover multiple ensemble members’ tracks.
Aug. 12 will mark the 70th anniversary of Chorus Equity merging with AEA. Chorus Equity was established by the chorines of Florenz Ziegfeld’s “Follies” series during the 1919 AEA strike; the two unions merged in 1955.
Finally, the 75th anniversary of the creation of the Legacy Robe will be celebrated in November. Created in 1950 by “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” ensemblist Bill Bradley, the Legacy Robe encompasses a ritual where a robe is passed from show to show on opening night, presented to the ensemble member with most Broadway chorus credits.
“It’s always a great time to celebrate the chorus, but there are so many milestones to mark this year in particular,” said AEA president Brooke Shields in a statement. “These brilliant workers are masters of their craft, and they make the American theater what it is today.”
“There’s no better anchor for ‘A Chorus Year’ than swings!” added Al Bundonis, who, as AEA’s second vice president, represents the chorus. “We are excited to spend the day uplifting the incredible, and often demanding, work they do. We also want to raise awareness of what these high pressure jobs entail and the often unreasonable expectations employers may have for members performing these functions. It is Equity’s goal to ensure the safest possible working conditions for our swings.” Bundonis also chairs the Advisory Committee on Chorus Affairs.
Throughout the year, AEA will share stories of chorus members. The union also encourages its members to share their own experiences using either the hashtag #EquityTeamSwing or #SwingDay2025.
