SAG Awards Putting Politics Aside for a Night of Unanimous Glamour

Despite crumbling contract negotiations with producers and an ongoing, political tug-of-war over direction and leadership, the Screen Actors Guild promises its awards show will be as glamorous as ever.

This Sunday, the actors will get a break from the guild's struggles to get gussied up and hand out winners' statues, when the 15th SAG Awards take place in Los Angeles (8 pm/ET, TNT and TBS).

"This is the one night when actors get together to celebrate each other. That's the purpose of our show," producer Kathy Connell told TVGuide.com.

The event will get an aesthetic update with the Shrine's stage designed to look like an old-fashioned movie theater, featuring lobby-like entrances at either end.

"People want to dress up for this, so we want to have a set that looks as comfortable as possible with gowns going across it," production designer Joe Stewart explained. "It's a fancy evening ... and there's an expectation that our TV audience has of seeing all our wonderful performers look their best. There's an elegance and a glamour to the Screen Actors Guild that we want to underline."

An all-star roster of nominees (check out top picks here), such as Josh Brolin, Amy Adams and Frank Langella, will be seated for a four-course meal at tables set with black silk cloth, crushed silk runners and silver-plated flatware. Thousands of flowers will decorate the dining space, including 3,000 imported white orchids, 1,500 miniature calla lilies, 2,500 white, Ecuadorian roses and several hundred more stems of unpronounceable species.

Arguably, it's been a tough few months for the guild, which is seeking support from its members to authorize a strike for a better contract with online and DVD compensation.

"I think it's outside of the politics of the year," Stewart said of the show. "The wonderful thing about this event is it has such a support from within it all. The actors love to see other actors' work."

Tune in to TV Guide Network at 6 pm/ET for all the red carpet action with Lisa Rinna and Joey Fatone. Also, be sure to follow TVGuide.com on Twitter.