About Us

This section gives a Brief History of Local One IATSE and a list of officers and staff

About Local One

Local One is the premier stagehand union of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E). We are the Brothers and Sisters who construct, install, maintain, and operate the lighting and sound equipment, the scenery and special effects which thrill and delight audiences attending Broadway shows, concerts at Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden and Carnegie Hall, the magnificent, spectacular productions at The Metropolitan Opera and throughout Lincoln Center, and the many entertaining broadcasts from CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, and PBS. We work at numerous cable TV studios and make possible the presentation of major corporate industrials and special events.

Local One does it all -- lights, sound, video, scenery and rigging, special effects. Whatever your production needs may be, however big or small, nobody can make your dreams come true better than the skilled, talented professional stage employees of Local One. We are famous for our dedication and unique abilities.

Local One is New York. We welcome you to our city and to our website. Please explore these pages to find out more about us, our history, and our capabilities.

History of Local One

  • In 1863 the first stage employees' organization was named the Theatrical Workman's Council and then became the Theatrical Mechanical Association in 1865 when it incorporated under New York State law. This was encouraged by Abraham Lincoln being elected president of the United States with the votes of the working class.

    Though not quite a modern union, the Theatrical Mechanical Association did provide welfare benefits and grew to 41 members. On April 26, 1886, many of those members met at 187 Bowery in the heart of the theater district to draw up a new charter and a constitution that states:

    We, the theatrical employees of the theatres of New York, deem it eminently right that we should organize for the development and improvement of our conditions, asking but a fair and just compensation commensurate with the service rendered so that equity may be maintained and the welfare of our organization promoted, accepting any wise, honorable, and conservative mediation as a proper adjustment of all difficulties that may arise.

    The Theatrical Protective Union Number One was born.

    The Theatrical Protective Union joined other labor groups of the day in the 700,000-strong Knights of Labor. On May Day 1886, 25,000 people of the Knights of Labor held a torchlight procession down Broadway to Union Square to demand an eight-hour day and the end of child and convict labor. That victory would take many years.

    Union wages at the time topped out at 50 cents a day during a 60-to-100-hour work week. The threats to the union were men willing to handle the scenery for the privilege of witnessing the play. But as stock companies were replaced by traveling (touring) companies, a higher standard of theatrical mechanics and skilled stage employees became essential and drove the unskilled and the free workers from the field.

    The union's first strike was in 1888. A work stoppage at the Bowery Theatre, a walkout at Wallack's Theatre and a strike at the Academy of Music on 14th Street put muscle behind the union's demand of a dollar a show and 50 cents for each load in and load out. Strikebreakers were hired. When a flat dropped on acclaimed actor Louis James during Hamlet's soliloquy, the actor retired to his dressing room and informed management that he would not return to the stage until the professional stagehands were reinstated. They were. The bond between stagehands and actors, still solid today, was made fast.

    Growth

    The success of Theatrical Protective Union in New York did not go unnoticed in other cities. Chicago, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Denver, Syracuse, Buffalo and Boston also organized stagehand unions. On July 17, 1893, representatives of those ten cities assembled at Elks Hall in New York to join with their Broadway brothers in founding the National Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and selecting John G. Williams of New York as the first National Alliance president. The Theatrical Protective Union of New York was designated Theatrical Protective Union Number One in honor of its place in history. The Local became better known as Local One of the National Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, the "mother local" of the Alliance and today holds a place of honor whenever the Alliance meets. The National Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees became the International Alliance of Theatrical Employees in 1902 (IATSE) to better reflect the addition of Canadian locals.

    New York's Herald Square, 1906

    By 1916, Local One was putting its union stamp (the "bug") on all scenery and equipment built in its jurisdiction. By then, most scenery was being built in New York for shows in the city or to be sent out on tour and the bug became the symbol to stagehand locals throughout the country that the scenery coming in the stage door was union made by a sister local.

    The Roxy and Radio City Music Hall had many things in common. In addition to films and a stage show, the history of both venues boasts the Rockettes. Originally from St. Louis and known as the Missouri Rockets in 1925, the long-legged and high-kicking precision dance troupe was brought to New York City by Samuel Roxy Rothafel, renamed Roxyettes, and became part of the spectacular stage show at the Roxy. When Rothafel opened Radio City Music Hall, the dance troupe followed and danced on opening night. They were later renamed The Rockettes.

    The 1920s was the dawn of broadcasting that boomed in the 1930s. Radio, though slow to spread, would mean entertainment delivered to the living room took the lead when it formed NBC. William Paley soon formed the Columbia Broadcasting Service (CBS) to compete. As radio grew as free entertainment supported by advertising, the need for studio space increased. Radio broadcasters took over theaters and kept the Local One stagehands employed in them. When RCA built NBC studios in Rockefeller Center, CBS built on Madison Avenue.

    On July 1, 1941, the Federal Communications Commission authorized the start of commercial television transmission in the United States. Its growth was delayed by World War II, television repeated and expanded that process of turning legitimate theaters into broadcast studios in the late 1940s. Because live television was so much more demanding than radio, the building of sets, the hanging and focusing of lighting, the manufacture of props and the moving of scenery meant more employment for Local One stagehands.

    The Metropolitan Opera had been at home on the square block on the west side of Broadway between 39th and 40th Street since 1883. Local One stagehands have been at home at the Metropolitan Opera for almost as long. Both moved to Lincoln Center in 1966. It is little-known that the 3,900-seat Metropolitan Opera House is the largest single live entertainment production complex in the world and builds most of its own sets and costumes on premises. Stagehands work round the clock during the season. The Met employs more Local One stagehands than any other organization.

    Employment uptown at Lincoln Center is very important for Local One. Not only were jobs kept by the saving of Carnegie Hall and City Center, but new jobs were created in the 1960s when the 2,713-seat New York State Theater (now the David H. Koch Theater), the 1,080-seat Vivian Beaumont (originally home to Repertory Theater of Lincoln Center and now home to Lincoln Center Theater), the 2,738-seat Philharmonic Hall (now Avery Fisher Hall and home to the New York Philharmonic Orchestra) and the 1,095-seat Alice Tully Hall opened.

    The growth of Lincoln Center still means the growth of union-stage labor. In 2010, New York Fashion Week moved to Lincoln Center's Damrosch Park, and without a demonstration or a picket line, accepted Local One to supply its labor. When the New York Coliseum at Columbus Circle was torn down to build a shiny new skyscraper named Time Warner Center, a permanent home for Jazz at Lincoln Center was created. The Frederick P. Rose Hall complex includes the 508-seat Allen Room, the 92-seats and 48- barstool Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, the 1,094-seat Rose Theater concert hall and Local One stagehands throughout.

    The Apollo was reopened in 1983 when it was bought by Inner City Broadcasting and became home to a televised Amateur Night at the Apollo, a television program without a union stage crew. Local One's right to bargain on behalf of the crew was legally asserted in support of the stage crew. The media blitz did not let up until Apollo management recognized the union three weeks later.

    Following up on the Apollo victory, Local One began an era of organizing and merging. The leadership of the union believes that any stage worker is its brethren and, if possible, should be under the union's protection. The new millennium saw Local One organizing successes with City University of New York venues including Sylvia & Danny Kaye Playhouse and Lehman College Center for the Performing Arts. Local One organized Pace University's Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts, the Joyce Theater, Summer Stage, and the Nokia Theater (now the BestBuy).

    Protecting Jobs

    Local One merged with Local 366 IATSE, the stagehands in Westchester and Putnam, in 2000. The year before, Local One merged with Local 922 IATSE, Theatrical Sound Designer's Association.

    Prior to 2007, Local One had never struck the Great White Way though it has honored other labor organizations’ picket lines. After months of fruitless negotiations, management imposed and posted non-negotiated work rules and Local One reluctantly exercised its legal rights with a nineteen-day strike. The union came together as one to take care of its own. Brothers and sisters employed in other parts of Local One's vast jurisdiction gave up shifts at their own jobs to employ striking workers and with other craft, local members took their place on the thirty one established picket lines. The union obtained wage and benefit increases while honorably exchanging terms and conditions to finally achieve a new five-year collective bargaining agreement.

    A Modern Union

    In 1985, Local One bought its own building at 320 West 46th Street. The building houses the union offices, hiring hall, a state-of-the-art TET Fund Training Center, and benefit funds with floors left over for income-producing tenants, including a ground-floor restaurant.

    There were hundreds of scenery shops in New York. As scene shops consolidated after World War II, a man named Peter Feller (once master carpenter to Irving Berlin's This is the Army) opened one of the largest scene shops ever operated in New York. A generation of Local One stagehands developed their skills in Mr. Feller's studios as scenery construction evolved to become more and more complicated.

    The skills of the stagehand have grown as scenery and effects have grown. Flying wood-frame painted muslin-covered flats have given way to heavy steel structures that have to be removed from view in seconds, often on century-old stages that lack the elevators, trusses, and hydraulics of more modern theaters such as the Metropolitan Opera. Dreamgirls was the last Broadway show with complex scene changes where every motor to move scenery was hand controlled. Since then, most complex scene changes are computerized. Stagehands are often thought of now as "stage technicians."

    Since A Chorus Line was the first show to use a computerized lighting board on Broadway, a Broadway show may now have thousands of individually programmed lighting instruments run by computers more powerful than those on the first space shuttle. Manufacturers designing much of this new equipment regularly consult with Local One members to make sure their equipment can meet the demands of Broadway.

    Keeping up with technology is imperative at Local One. The union offers its members classes or training in welding, rigging, sound engineering, forklifts, and upholstery. Many Local One technicians attend certification or licensing programs for welding, rigging, laser operation, pyrotechnics, and firearms. The drive to keep up with technology is in protecting Local One's jurisdiction so that no one can claim that anyone can do the job better than a Local One stagehand.

    One thing that technology has not changed in 279 years is the love of the craft, doing a tough job well, and the pride in being the best: a Local One stagehand.

  • More than 1000 people attended the Gala. The opening of the festivities was a video history of Local One that will be used in the future for the orientation of our incoming members. The fabulous Radio City Rockettes immediately followed the video. Their precision and beauty were even more extraordinary because we were all so much closer to them than in Radio City Music Hall.

    President Claffey then welcomed everybody to the Gala. Representatives from many areas of Local One’s jurisdiction performed. Eric Owens of the Metropolitan Opera gave a rousing rendition of “Old Man River.” Bebe Neuwirth sang, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre performed a duet, David Letterman had prepared a video “Top Ten List,” and the “Million Dollar Quartet” closed the evening.

    But, it wasn’t just about entertainment. Local One was honored by proclamations from Governor Cuomo and Mayor Bloomberg. The I.A.T.S.E. International President Matthew D. Loeb spoke movingly of our leadership. The New York State AFL-CIO President Denis Hughes spoke to the need for unions like ours in this time of crisis.

    Finally and most importantly, Local One honored others. First, honorary membership cards were presented to Bebe Neuwirth for her unstinting support of so many of the organizations that aid our members such as the Actors Fund and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA); BC/EFA was honored for it years of work against AIDS and its support of the Actors Fund; and Phil Hymes, lighting designer, for all of the assistance he has given our members over a long career.

 

Officers

  • (212) 333-2500 ext 133

    Email: mikewex@iatse-local1.org

  • (212) 333-2500 ext 126

    Email: Abraunstein@iatse-local1.org

    Adam Braunstein is a proud 3rd generation Stagehand. He started working in the local’s jurisdiction in 1977, received his Local One card in September of 1984, and is grateful every day for the honor.

    Work history

    Adam is currently the Vice president of Local One and the TET Fund's Director of training. When not working on the educational efforts of the Local, he is the Local One Crew Chief at Madison Square Garden. Before that, he worked on Broadway, in television, and in industrials.

    Education

    Adam is a high school graduate with two years of college studying Business and Basketball. His most important education was working side by side with the generation of talented men and women that came before him.

    Service to Local One

    Adam served as a Shop Steward in the Cort Theater for a number of productions. He was also one of the Trustees of the General Fund for a term before becoming the Vice President of Local One. He is currently the Director of Training for the T.E.T. Fund of Local One.

  • (212) 333-2500 ext 123

    Email: mcaffrey@iatse-local1.org

    Michael is happily married to his wife Dina Caffrey for 33 years. They have two children, Michael, a maritime engineer, and Juliana, who is a social worker.

    Work as Local One Member

    Michael has been a proud rank-and-file member of Local One, For 30 years, he has worked in Local One's jurisdiction at Lincoln Center, Broadway Theatres, CBS, ABC, and Carnegie Hall.

    Education

    Michael is an ETCP Certified Electrician and holds a Class 2 NYC Department of Buildings Welding License. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Labor Studies at SUNY Empire State College in January 2017 and has completed IATSE Officer Training Institute Classes. He has completed online classes in Basic Negotiating, Negotiating Skills and Strategies Effective Communication, and Steward Training from Cornell University ILR School Worker Institute. He has continued to take Employee Benefits Classes at the International Foundation of Employee benefits and is currently working on his Certificate as a Certified Employee Benefit Specialist.

    Service to Local One

    Michael was elected to the office of Recording Corresponding Secretary in 2022 and Administrative Secretary in 2019. He has served as a Delegate to the 67, 68, and 69 IATSE Quadrennial Conventions, and in 2016 was elected as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Local One Executive Board. He has served on various negotiating committees and also sits on the Benefits Committee for Local One. For five years, Michael was Shop Steward at the Plymouth Theatre and Carnegie Hall. Working to improve communication with our membership, he serves as Webmaster of Local One's refurbished Website and Administrator of the Local One Facebook page. Michael has co-chaired the 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 “Labor Day Parade and Celebration” and the Annual Holiday Party. He is also a volunteer member of the Local One PAC.

    Associations & Honors

    A member of the Rockville Centre Lions Club and a founding member of the RVC Youth Council, which is a 501C3 nonprofit for the education and awareness of underage alcohol and drug abuse. Michael was the 2015 honoree at the RVC Lion’s Club annual Dinner in the Dark for his work with the RVC Youth Council.

  • (212) 333-2500 ext 128

    Email: tmcdonough@iatse-local1.org

    Robert (Toby) McDonough has been working in the Local One jurisdiction for the past 38 years. He is a third-generation stagehand whose grandfather received his Union Card from Local One in 1917. This represents OVER 100 years the McDonough Family has been in the business. The McDonough family spans four generations in our Local.

    He is married with four children: Matthew, Bobby, Christian, and Jillian. He and his wife Joanne have been happily married for the past 33 years.

    Toby gives all the credit for any and all his success in his life to his father, Thomas A. McDonough, who passed away July 22nd, 1995. "He was my hero, my friend, and my mentor. He told me that education is something they can never take away from you; never make fun of someone else's religion...they may have the right one and finally; always get the last word in when arguing with your wife........"Yes, Dear." He was also the very first MVP of the Broadway Show League. Obviously, an impossible act to follow.

    Work as Local One Member

    Toby worked at several venues throughout the jurisdiction since 1981 including various theatres, Hudson Scenic, Radio City Music Hall, and Madison Square Garden as well as various industries in hotels and events in Central Park.

    Education

    Toby received a Bachelor's Degree from the Adelphi University School of Business in 1983. His Major was Finance with a Minor in Management. He is also a Licensed New York State General Real Estate Appraiser. This Professional Designation allows him to appraise any Residential or Commercial property in the State of New York.

    Service to Local One

    Toby was voted in as Financial Secretary in May of 2001. He served the Union proudly for six years. In 2006, he was appointed Alternate Trustee to the Pension, Welfare, and Annuity Funds of Local One. Due to the untimely death of Treasurer Donald B. Kleinschmidt in February 2007, Toby was appointed Acting Treasurer. In May of the same year, Toby ran unopposed for the position of Treasurer and was voted in by the membership on May 6th, 2007.

    Associations & Honors

    "Toby" is a New York State Licensed General Real Estate Appraiser. He has attended and received credit for several International Foundation courses in regard to Health Care, Pension Fund Management, and Annuity Fund Investments. He was recently a guest speaker at the Argyle Investment forum in New York City to discuss the Taft-Hartley side of Pension Investments. He is Co-Chair of the Budget, Benefits, and Political Action Committee along with President Claffey. He is also a Trustee to the Pension, Welfare, Annuity, and TET Funds.

  • (212) 333-2500 ext 124

    Email: pdean@iatse-local1.org

    Paul F. Dean, Jr. is a fifth-generation Local One Stagehand who was initiated in 1987.

    Work as Local One Member

    He has worked throughout Local One’s jurisdiction for 42 years in venues including the Metropolitan Opera House, various television studios, Broadway Theatres, and numerous industrial events.

    Education

    He has taken courses at Cornell Labor Studies as well as a Workers’ Compensation Course. Paul is currently serving on the New York State Department of Labor Pyrotechnic Examining Board.

    Service to Local One

    Paul served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees from May 2, 2010, to 2013, when he was elected to Theatrical Business Manager on May 5, 2013.

    He was also appointed as the Chairman of the Local One Education Committee. In these positions, it is his goal to create opportunities for the membership of Local One with up-to-date training and technology such as Vari-Lite and the Entertainment Technician Certification Program (ETCP Stage Electrician and Arena Rigging.) Paul was re-elected as Theatrical Business Manager in May 2013 and is privileged to serve the membership of Local One.

  • (212) 333-2500

    Email: Jvalentino@iatse-local1.org

    Work as a Local One Member

    Joe started his career in Local One at Hudson Scenic and on many Industrial events dating back to 2007. He achieved his card in 2012 and carries his grandfather’s card number in his pocket every day. Joe is a third-generation stagehand; he holds high praise for the great honor of being a Local One member. Throughout his career, he worked in many Broadway houses and on many large one-off productions as a production carpenter, some of which include the Tony Awards, MTV VMA Awards, ESPY Awards, and the CMA Awards.

    Service as a Local One Member

    In May 2019, Joe was elected to the Board of Trustees, where he helped steer the Local One Executive Board through the Pandemic of COVID 19. While serving on the Board, Joe was a part of various committees, including the Benefits committee, Budget committee, Broadway League negotiating committee, Green Committee, and Social Justice Committee. In 2022 Joe was elected to serve as Legitimate Theater Business Manager, a duty he excepted with great responsibility to the membership of Local One.

  • (212) 333-2500 ext 125

    Email: emcmahon@iatse-local1.org

    Work as Local One Member

    Eddie is a third-generation stagehand. He worked at the ABC-TV Carpenter Shop for twenty-seven years, as well as at various theaters and industrials throughout the jurisdiction. He served as the Shop Steward for twenty years.

    Education

    Cornell University Labor Studies Program, I.A.T.S.E. Officer’s Institute Training Educational Program

    Service to Local One

    Eddie offers 39 years of production experience in television, traditional theater, and live events. Prior to his current position as Television Business Manager, he served on the Board of Trustees of Local One, I.A.T.S.E. He has been a member of the ABC Contract Negotiating Committee for 32 and served on contract committees for CBS, NBC, Fox, WNET/CNG-TV, Madison Square Garden Network, King World Productions, Chelsea Distribution, Men’s/Women’s Fashion and several others. Eddie has been a member of the Local One Safety Committee with the networks since its founding.

  • (212) 333-2500 ext 129

    Email: Flazarto@iatse-local1.org

    Frank Lazarto has been happily married to his wife, Alicia for 23 years, and together have two boys, Blaise and Bryce. As Business Manager, Frank is honored to serve the great membership of Local One. Frank has worked throughout the Local One jurisdiction for over 30 years. He has labored at numerous venues including various television studios, special events, and live theatre.

    Education

    Frank earned a Bachelor’s Degree, in Finance, from Baruch College in 1992. He is also a graduate of the I.A.T.S.E. Officer Institute 1.0, Secretary-Treasurer 2.0, Organizing 2.0, and Trustee Training Certification. Frank holds multiple Cornell University ILR Certificates in Labor Leadership, Contract Negotiation, Costing Out Contracts, Advanced Collective Bargaining, Communication and Stewardship. He is also a graduate of the Long Island Federation Of Labor Leadership Program.

    Service to Local One

    In 2022, Frank was elected to the position of Business Manager, following his successful elections in 2019 to Chairman of Trustees and 2016 to Trustee. Frank was appointed to the Local One Benefits Committee in 2008 and Budget Committee in 2010 and is an active PAC Committee Member. Frank has served on multiple Television, Theatre, and Arena Contract Negotiations, as well as inaugural contracts at Local One organized venues. His past service also includes arbitration and grievance proceedings, as well as Shop Steward at CBS Studio 43, ABC TV23, and ABC TV17. Frank was elected Delegate to the 67th, 68th, and 69th I.A.T.S.E. Quadrennial Conventions.

    Associations and Honors

    Frank is a Local One Delegate to the New York City Central Labor Council and the Long Island Federation of Labor. In 2013, at Lehman College, Frank represented Local One as a guest speaker for the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting.

  • (212) 333-2500 ext 132

  • (212) 333-2500 ext 119

    Email: jlott@iatse-local1.org

  • (212) 333-2500 ext 122

    Email: vlamour@iatse-local1.org

    Valarie LaMour is proud to have gotten her start in Local One by using the Local One Replacement Room. At the time, the distinguished Chairman of the Replacement Room sent her out on various calls to concert halls, arenas, legit theaters, and television studios. Valarie is a single mother and is super proud of both of her children.

    Work as Local One Member

    Valarie has worked at many venues throughout the jurisdiction since 1994. She has climbed up the (stagehand) ladder by working as a light board operator, spotlight operator, electrician, carpenter, rigger, steel rigger, and property person. She toured internationally on various Broadway tours. She has also worked at the following Local One venues: Hudson Scenic, Studio 54, ABC studios, NBC studios, Madison Square Garden, Randall’s Island, Jones Beach, and Nassau Coliseum as well as various industrial shows in hotels and events in Central Park. She is currently a Head Prop Person at a Broadway Theater.

    Education

    Valarie has a BFA in Technical Theatre from Adelphi University and has a MA in Labor Studies at CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies in progress.

    Service to Local One

    Valarie was sworn into Local One in 1999 and is very humbled to have been voted in by the membership as the third woman to serve as a Local One Trustee. She was Shop Steward at the Barrymore Theatre for four years and was appointed to the Benefit Funds Committee by the previous administration. She is also a member of the Social Justice Committee, the Local One Sister’s Committee, and the Local One PAC.

  • (212) 333-2500 ext 142

    Email: kmusser@iatse-local1.org

  • (212) 333-2500 ext 111

    Email: amanno@iatse-local1.org

    Anthony Manno is married with two children, Mackenzie and Anthony. He and his wife Melissa have been happily married for the past 19 years. Anthony is proud and honored to serve the membership and to be an Officer of Local One.

    Work as Local One Member

    Anthony has been working in the Local One jurisdiction for 27 years. He started out at the Metropolitan Opera House and then moved on to work TV, Broadway, and numerous industrial events.

    Education

    Anthony earned a Bachelor's Degree, in Finance, from St. John's University, College of Business Administration, in 1992.

    Service to Local One

    Anthony was first elected as Financial Secretary in 2007. He ran unopposed and was re-elected in 2010, 2013, and 2016 for the same position.

  • (212) 333-2500

 

Staff

 

Community Work

The history of community involvement and support by Local One is both rich and diverse.

Many organizations in the theatre district itself and throughout the jurisdiction are strongly supported by Local One.

Many Local One Brothers and Sisters participate in a joint venture between The Roundabout Theatre Company and IATSE Training and Education Department instructing students who wish to have a career in professional theater. They participate in Hidden Career Days, Mentoring Programs and various training days.

The Actors Fund, which provides social services for all those in the entertainment industry, has partnered with Local One in terms of services for the membership and their families and, in return, Local One supports The Actors Fund throughout the year. President James J. Claffey, Jr. is the first Local One President to sit on The Actors Fund Board of Trustees and Recording-Corresponding Secretary Robert C. Score serves on The Actors Fund National Board of Advisors and the newly formed Senior Needs Committee.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, recognized as an international leader in the fight against AIDS, is also strongly supported throughout the year by Local One in many ways. Recording-Corresponding Secretary Robert C. Score proudly serves as a member of their Board of Trustees.

St. Malachy’s Church, also known as The Actors Chapel and The Actors Temple, are both located in the heart of the theatre district and receive year-round support from Local One.

Other neighborhood social service organizations and community groups that Local One supports include The Fountain House, an exceptional organization helping those in need of mental health issues, Encore Community Services, another exceptional organization helping seniors throughout New York City, and Samaritan Village, a much-needed organization helping the United States military veterans who have proudly served their country. Local One also supports the Professional Performing High School, the local New York City Public High School School.

In addition to the already mentioned neighborhood organizations, Local One supports Yonkers Partners in Education, The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island, The Kristen Ann Carr Foundation for Cancer Research, The Medicare Rights Center, The Muscular Dystrophy Foundation, Career Transition for Dancers, Long Island Harvest, The Angel Guardians for the Elderly and The Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation among many others.

Local One proudly upholds the labor movement’s commitment to the social fabric of our community, our neighbors, and our families. It is a tradition that goes back 136 years since our founding and will surely continue into the future to fill whatever voids exist and to help be the safety net for all those in need.

Health & Safety

Your Safety Committee is committed to keeping our members safe, and we are working on new ways to do so. We are working to spread our message of Union Safe is Union strong to the membership (make sure to pick up your stickers at the next meeting or at the union hall), through our recent safety survey, and through our newly established email address, safety@iatse-local1.org. As a reminder, if you have an immediate safety concern or issue please go to your department head, steward, or Business Agent. For all other safety concerns or issues, please feel to email the safety committee, we are here to help!

Other items of note:

Hire Local One

See why we say "no job's too big, no job's too small."

Call the professionals at Local One IATSE for:

  • Television, theater, video, and live events

  • Industrial and corporate meetings

  • Special events

We have everything you need:

  • Crews

  • Set construction

  • Installation

  • Lighting

And competitive rates as well!

Where We Work

TV

 

Theater

 

Shops

 

Why Local One?

Local One has served the entertainment industry in New York City for more than 136 years. Our experienced, skilled professionals and our "can do" attitudes translate into the best bang for your production dollar in New York City. You have the personal assurance that your project will be executed to the highest standards and your satisfaction guaranteed.

Need a stage exhibit? Built or rented, we have the shops and craftsmen to make your concepts a reality.

Need lighting or sound equipment? Knowledgeable representatives are waiting to tailor a package to your needs.

Need a crew? We are lighting directors, property persons, stage and studio electricians, set carpenters, sound and audio technicians, moving-light operators, riggers, special effects people, and teleprompters.

Our clients represent a "Who's Who" of the industry: ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS, Nextstar/PIX, StudiosUSA, FX (cable), Disney, The Shubert, Nederlander, and Jujamcyn Organizations, The Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center, Madison Square Garden, and Radio City Music Hall. This is just a partial list of the venues we serve!

We are dedicated to making your project a success. Our primary goal is to guide you through all aspects of the New York City production scene. We work with and accommodate any size show or budget. We tailor rates and manpower to your immediate needs.

So put the backing, clout, and resources of IATSE Local One behind your next production. Satisfaction is guaranteed!

New Candidates

All Candidates must have earned at least $35,000.00 per year under a Local One Agreement, for 3 consecutive years in order to be considered for membership. Candidates who have met their earning requirements will receive an educational registration packet at the end of year 3. Dates for 2022 classes are forthcoming.

Call or Email Chairman, Board of Trustees
Ryan McDonough:
Ryanmac@iatse-local1.org
(212) 333-2500

Training Opportunities

  • Basic Sound / Basic Electric - Date: TBA

    Human Resources Class (2 sessions for A.M. or P.M.) - Date: TBA

    OSHA Certification IATSE GES - Date: TBA

    OSHA Certification IATSE GES - Date: TBA

    Basic Rigging - Date: TBA

    Local One History / Orientation - Date: TBA

  • Basic Sound / Basic Electric - Date: TBA

    Human Resources Class (2 sessions for A.M. or P.M.) - Date: TBA

    OSHA Certification IATSE GES - Date: TBA

    OSHA Certification IATSE GES - Date: TBA

    Basic Rigging - Date: TBA

    Local One History / Orientation - Date: TBA

  • Basic Sound / Basic Electric - Date: TBA

    Human Resources Class (2 sessions for A.M. or P.M.) - Date: TBA

    OSHA Certification IATSE GES - Date: TBA

    OSHA Certification IATSE GES - Date: TBA

    Basic Rigging - Date: TBA

    Local One History / Orientation - Date: TBA

Register today by contacting a union representative for more information about these training opportunities!

”No job too big, no job too small!”

  • Television

  • Theater

  • Audio/Video

  • Live Events

  • Industry Tradeshows

  • Corporate Meetings

  • Special Events

We Have Everything You Need

  • Crews

  • Set Construction

  • Installation

  • Lighting

We Help Make it Possible

We are the Brothers and Sisters who construct, install, maintain and operate the lighting and sound equipment, scenery, and special effects that thrill and delight audiences attending Broadway shows, and concerts at Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, and Carnegie Hall, the magnificent, spectacular productions at The Metropolitan Opera and throughout Lincoln Center, and the many entertaining broadcasts from CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, and PBS.

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