Performers at Casa Bonita are set to strike after management walked away from contract negotiations. Picketing will begin at 11 a.m. on Thursday, October 30. The entertainers, who perform various acts at the popular Mexican-themed restaurant, are represented by the Actors’ Equity Association.
Casa Bonita, a well-known Denver institution, recently completed a $40 million renovation funded by owners Trey Parker and Matt Stone. However, management’s ongoing negotiations with performers have stalled. “Casa management came to the table today offering an additional 11 cents over their last unfair wage offer, and very little for future layoff protections,” said lead negotiator Andrea Hoeschen of the Actors’ Equity Association. “Despite that insult, the negotiating team responded with major compromises to try to get a deal. And then Casa Bonita walked away from the table without responding.”
The negotiations have been ongoing since April 2025. The performers reaffirmed their commitment to the union with a labor peace vote on August 14, 2025. Tensions escalated after the union filed a complaint in September regarding the restaurant’s illegal reduction of employee hours without proper bargaining. Union representatives stated that management’s low wage proposal and refusal to discuss performer safety issues indicate a lack of respect for their workforce.
With a growing trend of unionization in the establishment, Actors’ Equity is joined by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), which is preparing for an election involving over 150 staff members at Casa Bonita.
For additional information, please follow Casa Bonita United and Actors’ Equity Association on Instagram.
The primary source was Actors’ Equity Association.
