875 USA Members Petition the Times to Restore Credit Box

A total of 875 members of United Scenic Artists have petitioned the New York Times to restore the credit boxes attached to its theatre reviews, the website Playbill.com has reported.

Traditionally, the Times has attached a box to most reviews, containing the name of the production, author, director, cast, and the rest of the creative team. The paper recently discontinued this practice. Earlier, a list of major playwrights sent a letter asking the Times to rethink the decision.

The letter says in part: "We, the undersigned 875 Scenic, Costume, Lighting, Sound, and Projection Designers and Scenic Artists are members of United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829 of the IATSE, and we wish to collectively voice our dismay at the decision of the Times to stop publishing the credit list in reviews of theatrical productions. That small box at the end of each review is extremely important to designers as it is often the only place in the review that our work is acknowledged. The credit box also provided basic information about the location and dates for the production, the author, cast, director, and other key creative personnel. The vast majority of people who contribute to any production work behind the scenes and by eliminating their credits you have taken away the minimal recognition that these important creative artists receive."

"Not only is the credit information necessary for designers currently working, it is good for the future of American theatre to include this information. There are young people across the country who are hungry for this information. They are the next generation; young designers and young directors and they want to know who designed shows and who directed shows; who the people are that make theatre happen."

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