Profiles Theatre - Chicago: Abuse Allegations

[ggersten]

Posted: 6/9/16 at 1:52pm

A pretty horrifying story out of Chicago - https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/ActorsCrew-Speak-Up-On-Actual-Violence-in-Profiles-Theatres-2010-KILLER-JOE-20160608.  There is a new non-equity Code of Conduct that some theatres are using - and this story may give more impetus to use of that agreement.  

Meanwhile, Profiles is busy deleting comments on its FB page - and the local awards group - the Jeff Awards - is reviewing the situation regarding prior awards to Profiles.  

[aaaaaa15]

Posted: 6/9/16 at 2:10pm

How awful.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 6/9/16 at 2:18pm

It's a rather long, grueling read, but utterly important and hair-raising. 

[Tom5]

Posted: 6/9/16 at 2:22pm

With the large number of people  alleging this horrible abuse the names of anyone who uses the word "unsubstantiated" should be carefully noted and retained.

[Sertzo19]

Posted: 6/9/16 at 2:49pm

Read this earlier, it was shocking. I've seen quite a few shows there and never would have imagined this was going on. So sad.

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 6/9/16 at 5:15pm

I read this last night and it was pretty horrifying. This man is clearly a predator and I hope he never works in theater again. 

However, I'm glad this is leading to a code of conduct being drawn up for non-Equity theaters. I'm not sure how it will work in practice (and it seems they aren't either yet), but it's important for young actors to know their rights and be treated with basic decency and respect. 

[followspot]

Posted: 6/9/16 at 5:38pm

Full original article:
http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/profiles-theatre-theater-abuse-investigation/Content?oid=22415861

And three follow-ups:
http://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2016/06/09/a-critics-mea-culpa-or-how-chicago-theater-critics-failed-the-women-of-profiles-theatre

http://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2016/06/09/jeff-awards-committee-steppenwolf-and-others-condemn-abuse-alleged-in-reader-investigation-of-profiles-theatre

http://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2016/06/09/actors-hand-out-copies-of-the-reader-in-front-of-profiles-theatre
 

Updated On: 6/9/16 at 05:38 PM

[ggersten]

Posted: 6/9/16 at 5:48pm

The Non Equity Code of Conduct may be downloaded here:  http://www.notinourhouse.org/code-of-conduct-pilot/#

 

 

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 6/10/16 at 12:12am

The fact that the theatre is blowing this off and saying that the claims are unsubstantiated is a bit worrisome, and feels like bad PR.

They should have at least said something along the lines of, "We as a company, support a good work environment for our artists to grow and to create exciting theatre for our patrons. We are deeply troubled by these allegations, and we will conduct a thorough investigation regarding this matter. As always, we support out actors and crew, and strive to provide a safe work environment for everyone employed at our theatre." Instead, they chose to take things in the opposite direction, and sound reminiscent of those involved in the Brock Turner scandal. If the evidence is there, the victims should not be blamed, nor should they be called liars.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 6/10/16 at 2:28am

The theatre IS Darrell Cox and Joe Jarhrus. They can't investigate themselves.

I lived in Chicago for several years and saw a bunch of Profiles shows, including Killer Joe. Their production of The Glory of Living remains one of the most powerful experiences I've ever had as an audience member. It was a great theatre company and Cox is a fantastic actor. I am deeply saddened not only by what these girls went through, but that a man I so long admired has turned out to be such a monster.

 

Updated On: 6/10/16 at 02:28 AM

[coolboi952]

Posted: 6/10/16 at 9:28am

Updated On: 6/10/16 at 09:28 AM

[mpd4165]

Posted: 6/10/16 at 9:33am

Since I came to Chicago 5 years ago, rumors had always circulated regarding Cox and Profiles. I've seen 4 shows there, 3 either staring or directed by Cox, and it horrifies me what has gone on there.
 

The Code of Conduct, which is being piloted by both new and experienced non-equity companies this year, will hopefully lead the conversation that even without a union, people will be held accountable.

[ggersten]

Posted: 6/10/16 at 11:00am

Meanwhile, Chris Jones and the Chicago Tribune - at least their web version of the newspaper and twitter feed (the paper and his personal accounts) - are silent on this story.  So far.

[ggersten]

Posted: 6/10/16 at 12:15pm

Some of the discussion I'm seeing on FB concerns the choice of plays at Profiles but also at lots of other smaller theatres - a constant stream of plays about dominant - but immature - males (most often white) who are angry, violent and misogynistic and whose women exist only as objects, not as characters - that seemingly proliferate through plays of Mamet, Shepard, Labute, etc.  These plays, it is alleged, enable and perhaps even encourage the conduct at Profiles because "it is just "true acting"" and that viewpoint is supported by rapturous reviewers and award givers.  

[ggersten]

Posted: 6/10/16 at 11:56pm

One of the actors referenced in the article has commented and seems, to me, conflicted:  https://emilyvajda.wordpress.com/2016/06/10/i-said-no-comment-but-here-is-my-comment-in-regards-to-profiles-theater-and-the-chicago-reader-article/

Meanwhile, Mr. Cox has made a statement:  https://www.facebook.com/ProfilesTheatre/posts/1081551785217384

And Penelope Skinner has withdrawn the rights for Profiles to present her play - The Village Bike - this August.  http://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2016/06/10/playwright-withdraws-script-rights-from-profiles-theatre-in-the-wake-of-the-readers-abuse-investigation.  

[Tom5]

Posted: 6/11/16 at 7:56am

So Mr. Cox is semi-humorously portraying himself in these reports as "The Villain". But as I read it this is not a play and that is not at all what he is being portrayed as.. What he is exactly being portrayed as is the predator.

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 6/11/16 at 1:20pm

Now we have two sides to a story, and it is possible that the truth lies somewhere in the middle. In any case, these are serious allegations and they should not be made light of. It is clear to me that actors have been made to feel uncomfortable and have been hurt, and that is unacceptable. 

It is equally unacceptable that the theatre has been vandalized and threats have been made against Cox and his family. People who do such things are no better than Cox himself.

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 6/11/16 at 1:25pm

Haha. No. Taping copies of a magazine to a window is not "equally unacceptable" to years and years and years of lies abuse. It's tacky and gross... but it's not really in the same realm. 

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 6/11/16 at 2:25pm

The Bitter Lemons article about this has rubbed people the wrong way and everyone is kicking off.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/11/16 at 2:34pm

How awful.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 6/11/16 at 2:51pm

Bitter Lemons article wherer the notorious assh**e of a writer pretty much blames the victims. 

 

http://socal.bitter-lemons.com/learn/article/3449

[Tom5]

Posted: 6/11/16 at 3:03pm

"Bitter Lemons" is owned lock stock and barrel by their advertisers which are the big money class.

[John Adams]

Posted: 6/11/16 at 3:16pm

In spite of how long the conditions described in the backstory were allowed to go on, this really is a good news story, in the end - or, it will be when the Code of Conduct is finalized and universally accepted in all non-equity houses. A major element I find missing at this stage is any discussion regarding how a violation of the Code might be addressed, but the project is still in pilot stage and the process will obviously take time to mature.

As I read the original Reader article, I kept wondering, Why?  Why did an actor (and other actors) stay with a show when their co-actor bruised them, endangered their life by deliberately ignoring the 'safe word' agreement, slammed them so hard into a set piece that it damaged the wall behind it, etc.? More importantly, why did subsequent actors seek out roles with this company knowing the anecdotes regarding what occurred?

I mean, these situations are not like domestic violence where there are heightened emotional attachments, children, marriages, etc. involved This is workplace violence - established workplace violence that actors were aware of before paying money to be a part of.

I am proud of Emily Vajda for her honesty in helping to answer that question for me. I think the honesty of her blog post was courageous. She wrote:

"Even though I talked with these women, even though behind the scenes we would build each other up, give each other strength to walk away from this “family”, yes, that’s what we called each other, and strength to say – “No. This is not OK.” Still, I complied. Because I saw the wolf in sheep’s clothing.  And yet, I used this wolf and this theatre to build my resume, to do good theatre – yes, we did good theatre because I thought, 'I can handle this man. I’m aware of this man. My eyes are wide open.'"

I'm very grateful for Ms. Vajda's willingness to share her story openly and honestly because I feel that what she said speaks to the heart of the issue. This story is not unique, and although I do not condone his clearly abusive actions, Darrell W. Cox didn't get away with anything he wasn't allowed to get away with.

I agree with Christopher Piatt when he wrote in his Mea Culpa article, "The fact of the matter is we all helped create Profiles Theatre, and now we all own it. The question is, can we now, ahem, man up like a hyper-masculine Darrell Cox character and admit it?"

Again, this is a good news story in that in spite of (and because of) what occurred in the past, there are good people currently working to create safeguards and measures of redress for non-equity actors in the future.

[A Director]

Posted: 6/11/16 at 4:05pm

With abuse, there are not two side of the story with the truth somewhere in between.  At Profiles, domestic abuse and workplace abuse are one in the same?  Cox got away with this because Jos Jarhus allowed him.

Back in March, Profiles produced Jerusalem. Now that the truth has come out, the Chicago Tribune review is ironic.  How much did Chris Jones know?

"That's not to say Cox is a shrinking violet. Au contraire, he is every inch a decent Johnny Rooster and, in his guy's final meltdown, he indulges himself for about five minutes more than we really need. But it's a very solid and colorful piece of acting and, I think, a legitimate attempt to make Rooster more of his milieu. Cox clearly has thought hard about this role — I suspect he finds echoes of himself therein — and it's one of his best pieces of work in a long career, spent mostly at this theater.

 

"Jerusalem" is, I suppose, an homage to English exceptionalism, as well as being a harsh critic of its legitimacy and morality. Rooster is a lot of fun, a force for conservation in a twisted kind of way, an updating of the rudest of mechanicals.

Of course, he's also an ogre lying await in the woods for young people who cannot know better."

 

 

 

[lambchop2]

Posted: 6/11/16 at 5:10pm

Collin Mitchell has been removed from Bitter Lemon.

http://socal.bitter-lemons.com/learn/article/3455

http://socal.bitter-lemons.com/learn/article/3456