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Each month we will showcase a City agency employee or an industry specialist who helps to facilitate production in New York City.
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Industry Star of the Month James J. Claffey, Jr., Local One: Sets, Sound and Special Effects James J. Claffey, Jr. is President of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E.) Local One, New York City's stagehand union, whose members create the magic that illuminates the Great White Way as well as television studios across the City. The 3,000 members of Local One construct and manage sets, scenery, lighting, sound and special effects for theatre, television and special events, from Wicked’s flying witches to the snowfall in Radio City Music Hall's Christmas Spectacular. Local One was the IATSE's first local, and celebrated its 119th anniversary on April 26. As President of the Local, Claffey is in charge of the union's operations, negotiations and benefits program. Claffey became a stage hand the day after he graduated from high school in 1982, and became a member of the union in 1988. The first production he worked on was Monty Python's Flying Circus at City Center on 55th street, and over the years he worked as a stagehand on hundreds of productions, ranging from Radio City Music Hall to CBS soap operas and a ten-year tenure at ABC's All My Children. He attended the Cornell school of Labor Studies and the Harvard School of Negotiation, later becoming Chairman of Local One's board of trustees in 1996, before advancing to Business Manager in 1998 and President in 2004. "But I still consider myself a stage hand," he said. Claffey said his talented members have a reputation for delivering whatever a production needs. "We pride ourselves on staying on top of technology. Over the years, the size of productions has grown, but theatres haven't gotten larger. We have the talent that can do anything for a show." Local One offers an apprenticeship program to train future members, and reaches out to the community to encourage diversity among its membership. And the Local’s members have helped to shape New York City’s status as the entertainment capital of the world. “With Broadway, Lincoln Center, Madison Square Garden and Radio City, New York City is truly a cultural mecca,” Claffey said. “Productions may start out elsewhere, but everyone has their eyes on New York City’s stages.” Click here for more information on Local One  More Industry Stars | |
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 design by  The City of New York Mayor's Office of Film Theatre & Broadcasting 1697 Broadway Suite 602, New York, New York 10019. |
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