Drunk Shakespeare’s Cast and Crew Ratifies First Union Contract

The workers of Drunk Shakespeare have unanimously ratified their first union contract, bringing them to the finish line of their organization campaign with Actors’ Equity Association!

The new agreement for the popular show Drunk Shakespeare and its seasonal companion production Drunk Dracula codifies practices around workplace safety, job definitions, terms of employment and job security. Under this contract, all employees will accrue health benefits, vacation and sick leave, with many employees seeing wage increases and increased stability in their income from week to week. The three-year agreement, formally ratified on October 18 and effective November 4, covers Drunk Shakespeare and Drunk Dracula productions at the flagship production in New York, as well as locations in Chicago, Phoenix and Washington, D.C.

“Huzzah! Seeing Drunk Shakespeare United ratify their first union contract is thrilling!” said Actors’ Equity Association President Brooke Shields. “The spirit of collaboration our members brought to the table was met in kind by their employer, and while the process wasn’t always easy, it was definitely worthwhile.”

The actors, stage managers, servers, bartenders and bar managers began organizing in the spring of 2023, and the employers immediately recognized the union, enabling contract negotiations to begin in September of that year. The new agreement was formally ratified on October 18, 2024, becoming effective November 4, 2024, through November 7, 2027.

“The dawn of Drunk Shakespeare's second decade begins like this: ratification,” said the leaders of Drunk Shakespeare United’s bargaining team. “Our union has earned security and dignifiable rights for our workers. We could not be more elated with the outcome. It makes the first decade feel more worthwhile, knowing this new chapter can be defined as safe, sustainable and equitable.”

This new contract is the latest in a string of organizing victories for Equity; Drunk Shakespeare is the first of these newly organized bargaining units to reach the finish line of contract ratification. Read more here.