Calandra Hackney
BA Theatre Education 2000
“I remember visiting UNC Greensboro as a high school student and standing on Spring Garden Street when I said to my mom, ‘This is where I want to go to school.’”
That gut feeling, says Calandra Hackney, paid dividends:
“UNCG offered a myriad of learning opportunities. The diverse selection of courses we had accessible to us, as well as study-abroad experiences like the semester I spent in Plymouth, England, were invaluable.
“My time in the School of Theatre also taught me that education didn’t have to end with an undergraduate diploma. I learned through my degree program that I had a passion for theatre arts and wanted to further my studies. I was lucky to have professors and mentors who encouraged continued educational growth.”
Hackney’s passion for theatre led her on a career path that includes acting, directing, and now a top job in labor management as Assistant Executive Director for the Eastern Region at Actors’ Equity Association:
“UNCG gave me a foundation of independence and the confidence to know that I could build my own career path. Did I know when I was a student that I would have a career as a labor leader for a performing arts union? Absolutely not, but UNCG allowed me to understand that there isn’t just one path in the theatre industry. If you are tenacious enough you will find a way to always find work within your degree of study.”
Hackney says her favorite college memories include the times she performed or served on the technical crew for theatre productions:
“The School of Theatre is a family. As you spend a lot of time together over four years, you watch and help each other grow and mature. It’s a special bond that is created in the theatre community. It’s like nowhere else.”
Story by Terri W Relos
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Calandra Hackney has performed on stage in both Chicago and New York City and had the opportunity to work as a member of the faculty at the Harlem School of the Arts as Assistant Director of Theatre. She has directed We Are Proud to Present… and Flyin’ West at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Sweat at Wayne State University in Detroit.
In 2008 Calandra joined the staff at Actors’ Equity Association, the labor union for stage actors and stage managers, as the National Agency Business Representative administering Equity’s promulgated agency agreements between Equity members and Equity franchised talent agents. From there, she stepped into the role of Senior Business Representative for the League of Resident Theatres (LORT) employment agreement and worked as the senior staff person with in-house counsel on discrimination and harassment investigations. During that time, she helped create and implement Equity’s internal tracking system for discrimination and harassment complaints as well as training for Equity staff on intake processes for harassment and discrimination complaints.
Currently, Calandra is the Assistant Executive Director for the Eastern Region at Actors’ Equity Association. She supervises Equity’s Discrimination and Harassment and Diversity and Inclusion departments as well as supervising contract administration for the Broadway Production and Touring, Off-Broadway, and Walt Disney World departments.
Bio provided by Calandra Hackney