Actors’ Equity Association has revealed the results of its 2024 officer and councilor election. The union, which represents professional actors and stage managers working in theater across the country, filled 45 council seats.
Brooke Shields was elected president. She will succeed Kate Shindle, who recently announced she would step down after an eight-year tenure. Shields, who appeared on Broadway as a replacement in 1994’s “Grease,” 2003’s “Wonderful Town” and 2010’s “Addams Family,” will serve a four-year term.
Rashaan James II was elected eastern regional vice president, Sarah LaBarr was elected central regional vice president and Jeffrey Landman was elected western regional vice president, the latter two of whom were elected without opposition. All will serve four-year terms.
Jeff Blumenkrantz, Jennifer Cody, Jacqueline Jarrold, Claire Karpen, Austin Ku, Jeffrey Omura, Kellie Overbey, Nancy Slusser, Richard Topol and outgoing president Shindle were elected as eastern regional principal councilors for a four-year term. Michele Ragusa was also elected, but for a two-year term.
Newly elected as eastern regional chous councilors were Belinda Allyn, Holly Ann Butler, Rebecca Kim Jordan, Nikka Graff Lanzarone, Melissa Hunter McCann and T. Shyvonne Stewart. They will serve four-year terms, while Ryan Rodiño was elected to a two-year term.
Anne McPherson, Rebecca McBee and Peter Royston were elected to four-year terms as eastern regional stage managers councilors.
Finally, Tamara Anderson, Logan Benedict and Leslie Sears were elected to four-year terms as eastern regional at-large councilors.
In the central region, Rebecca Prescott, Colin Sphar and Nikki Switzer were elected to four-year terms as central regional principal councilors. Katherine Nelson was elected as central regional stage manager councilor and Carolyn Fast was elected as central regional at-large councilor; both will serve for four years.
Western region-wise, Ry Armstrong, Michael James Bell, Kate Burton, Barbara Callander, Josh Grisetti and Kwana A. L. Martinez were elected to four-year terms as western regional councilors; Brian Herndon, Cynthia Marty and Gregory North were elected to two-year terms as western regional councilors.
Juliane Godfrey, David S. Cohen and Michelle Dunn all ran unopposed and were elected to four-year terms as western regional chorus, stage manager and at-large councilors, respectively.
