Broadway Casting Director Fired for Sexual Misconduct - Page 5
Broadway Casting Director Fired for Sexual Misconduct
#100Broadway Casting Director Fired for Sexual Misconduct
Posted: 12/1/17 at 1:17pm
Call_me_jorge said: "This is kind of off topic, but I’ve always wondered why casting agencies exist. Why can’t shows cast with their own personel? Like shows already have a plethora in of resident/assistant/associate directors/choreographers and stage managers that can be used for casting."
A couple of reasons, jorge. (My husband once worked as Joanna Merlin's casting assistant at the Hal Prince office.)
1. Casting is both a skill and an art. Not every associate director or choreographer has both.
2. Thanks to union requirements that Equity principal interviews be held in addition to open chorus calls, casting a full-scale Broadway musical requires hundreds of hours of work (all the while the casting director may be negotiating with stars and featured players).
3. Good casting directors are out at showcases and off-off-Broadway shows almost every night, looking for new talent. The same may be said of their assistants. (Don't ask how many bad shows I sat through when my now-husband was casting for Prince.)
3. Some shows require very special casting requirements. I remember Julie Hughes of Theater Now, Inc. talk about combing elementary schools in and around Chinatown trying to find enough Asian children for THE KING AND I. She said she was worried after a while that she might be arrested for stalking Asian children! Joanna Merlin had a similar experience with PACIFIC OVERTURES (only she wasn't looking for children).
4. Hiring a casting agency may pass the liability for some of the claims we are seeing now to the hired agency rather than the show's producers (unless the latter were direct actors in the harassment). This is common in a lot of industries nowadays: it's much safer to say "No thanks" to someone provided by an employment agency, and any claims of racism, sexism or the like are directed at the agency rather than the primary employer.
In the early 1980s, it made economic sense for Hal Prince to have two casting persons on staff, because in addition to new Broadway shows, he was casting umpteen tours of EVITA and SWEENEY TODD. That isn't true of most producers, so hiring an agency is actually cost-productive.
#101Broadway Casting Director Fired for Sexual Misconduct
Posted: 12/1/17 at 1:24pm
leefowler said: "Is it wrong for a Broadway director to invite cute chorus boys to his Fire Island house? It seems like that would be the best part of being a Broadway director."
No.
But it's wrong to force yourself on them or coerce them into having sex in exchange for the promise of employment.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
#102Broadway Casting Director Fired for Sexual Misconduct
Posted: 12/1/17 at 1:33pm
Kad said: "leefowler said: "Is it wrong for a Broadway director to invite cute chorus boys to his Fire Island house? It seems like that would be the best part of being a Broadway director."
No.
But it's wrong to force yourself on them or coerce them into having sex in exchange forthe promise ofemployment."
It also can create a lot of pressure for those wanting roles to go to these parties. If you see that the ten people who went out to The Pines party all ended up getting hired, even if they all went consensually and even happily, then you might feel the only way to land a role is to go out to one of these parties too. It can create a culture where people feel like sex is just part of the bargain- even if they’re attracted and into it- to get cast in a show.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
#103Broadway Casting Director Fired for Sexual Misconduct
Posted: 12/1/17 at 1:36pm
And let's face it- this person we are alluding to has done a lot in his career to form expectations for what modern chorus boys look like (like underwear models).
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
#104Broadway Casting Director Fired for Sexual Misconduct
Posted: 12/1/17 at 1:37pm
"It can create a culture where people feel like sex is just part of the bargain- even if they’re attracted and into it- to get cast in a show."
What's all this "CAN" create stuff?
Liza's Headband
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/13
#105Broadway Casting Director Fired for Sexual Misconduct
Posted: 12/1/17 at 1:37pm
Those more concerned about the fate of their favorite show or director should be ashamed. We, as a society, have entered a new era. We're finally confronting and believing and pursuing, rather than denying and shaming. Don't be on the wrong side of history. Support the victims and focus on their recovery. We're talking about human beings here. A musical on Broadway pales in comparison.
#107Broadway Casting Director Fired for Sexual Misconduct
Posted: 12/1/17 at 1:44pm
Here here, Liza. As Lea Salonga mentioned on Twitter: "Broadway will survive." There is a pervasive culture in the theater world, where men promise all sorts of things to actors in exchange for sex. I've experienced it as well as many other performers I know. Its always a very pressured situation, and if the coming exposures start the much needed progress towards changing this environment then I'm all for it.
Also: does anyone else find it weird that Playbill is the only major Broadway outlet reporting this? BroadwayWorld, Theatermania, Broadway.com are all radio silence. They'll only be able to avoid mentioning it for so long (aka Monday) before they will look silly.
#108Broadway Casting Director Fired for Sexual Misconduct
Posted: 12/1/17 at 1:48pm
MayAudraBlessYou2 said: "Also: does anyone else find it weird that Playbill is the only major Broadway outlet reporting this? BroadwayWorld, Theatermania, Broadway.com are all radio silence. They'll only be able to avoid mentioning it for so long (aka Monday) before they will look silly."
BWW has a story on it, paraphrasing Variety.
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Broadway-Casting-Director-Terminated-Over-Sexual-Misconduct-Allegations-20171130
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#109Broadway Casting Director Fired for Sexual Misconduct
Posted: 12/1/17 at 1:56pm
wssinsider said: "Also the producers of the “My fair Lady” have also let go Telsey and company. They are not longer Casting the show.
So far Hello Dolly and My Fair lady have switched casting directors."
Telsey & Co have been let go from Carousel as well.
#110Broadway Casting Director Fired for Sexual Misconduct
Posted: 12/1/17 at 2:00pm
disneybroadwayfan22 said: "My only hope is that child actors aren’t among victims."
Should we really start making up worst case scenarios?
Clyde15
Leading Actor Joined: 5/9/15
#111Broadway Casting Director Fired for Sexual Misconduct
Posted: 12/1/17 at 2:02pmI have very few connections directly to New York theatre so I am fascinated to see who is exposed on Monday. I can only imagine this will just be the beginning.
#112Broadway Casting Director Fired for Sexual Misconduct
Posted: 12/1/17 at 2:13pm
haterobics said: "disneybroadwayfan22 said: "My only hope is that child actors aren’t among victims."
Should we really start makingup worst case scenarios?"
Anthony Edwards
Anthony Rapp
https://twitter.com/JennyHatch/status/936579915213705216
#113Broadway Casting Director Fired for Sexual Misconduct
Posted: 12/1/17 at 2:26pm
phan24 said: "wssinsider said: "Also the producers of the “My fair Lady” have also let go Telsey and company. They are not longer Casting the show.
So far Hello Dolly and My Fair lady have switched casting directors."
Telsey & Co have been let go fromCarousel as well."
Sounds like all Rudin productions will move from Telsey.
"Oh look at the time, three more intelligent plays just closed and THE ADDAMS FAMILY made another million dollars" -Jackie Hoffman, Broadway.com Audience Awards
#114Broadway Casting Director Fired for Sexual Misconduct
Posted: 12/1/17 at 2:28pm
Anakela said: "haterobics said: "disneybroadwayfan22 said: "My only hope is that child actors aren’t among victims."
Should we really start makingup worst case scenarios?"
Anthony Edwards
Anthony Rapp
https://twitter.com/JennyHatch/status/936579915213705216
"
That woman also seems very wrapped up in Pizzagate, so I wouldn't take her to be a serious journalist.
When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain.
-Kad
#115Broadway Casting Director Fired for Sexual Misconduct
Posted: 12/1/17 at 2:31pm
Also: does anyone else find it weird that Playbill is the only major Broadway outlet reporting this? BroadwayWorld, Theatermania, Broadway.com are all radio silence. They'll only be able to avoid mentioning it for so long (aka Monday) before they will look silly
Um...BroadwayWorld and Variety posted articles on it YESTERDAY. Also NJ.com, the Daily News and NewNowNext.
GoogleNews is your friend.
#116Broadway Casting Director Fired for Sexual Misconduct
Posted: 12/1/17 at 2:32pm
That twitter account is BONKERS.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#117Broadway Casting Director Fired for Sexual Misconduct
Posted: 12/1/17 at 2:47pm
phan24 said: "wssinsider said: "Also the producers of the “My fair Lady” have also let go Telsey and company. They are not longer Casting the show.
So far Hello Dolly and My Fair lady have switched casting directors."
Telsey & Co have been let go fromCarousel as well."
Good.
And I whole-heartedly agree with Liza's Handbag's last post. 100%
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#118Broadway Casting Director Fired for Sexual Misconduct
Posted: 12/1/17 at 2:58pm
Why is everyone so happy about Telsey being fired from shows, when they fired their accused employee? Am I missing something? Is the entire organization forever tainted by just having once had such an employee?
#119Broadway Casting Director Fired for Sexual Misconduct
Posted: 12/1/17 at 3:02pm
No one seems particularly happy about it.
The implication from earlier in this thread was that there's more to this than Huff being let go.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
#120Broadway Casting Director Fired for Sexual Misconduct
Posted: 12/1/17 at 3:04pm
newintown said: "Why is everyone so happy about Telsey being fired from shows, when they fired their accused employee? Am I missing something? Is the entire organization forever tainted by just having once had such an employee?"
This is what I'm not understanding either. Is this a notoriously pervasive issue with the entire Telsey company? Seems weird to remove the whole agency's involvement from a show because of the actions of one director who's been fired.
#121Broadway Casting Director Fired for Sexual Misconduct
Posted: 12/1/17 at 3:04pm
"No one seems particularly happy about it."
Well, dramamama611 just wrote "Good" in response to Telsey being let go from My Fair Lady and Carousel... That sounds "happy," doesn't it?
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#122Broadway Casting Director Fired for Sexual Misconduct
Posted: 12/1/17 at 3:08pm
Just like Weinstein....there is NO way they didn't know about it, and looked the other way. And it's unlikely that he's the only one. There was talk...someone here even confirmed it.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
Updated On: 12/1/17 at 03:08 PM
#123Broadway Casting Director Fired for Sexual Misconduct
Posted: 12/1/17 at 3:09pm
Elsewhere in this thread, it is mentioned as a being a part of the prevailing culture at that office.
I don't know, I'm no longer an actor and have never auditioned for them. But things have been said in this thread alone.
JSquared2
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/23/17
#124Broadway Casting Director Fired for Sexual Misconduct
Posted: 12/1/17 at 3:10pm
newintown said: "Why is everyone so happy about Telsey being fired from shows, when they fired their accused employee? Am I missing something? Is the entire organization forever tainted by just having once had such an employee?"
Thank you. Although I'm not at all surprised by it, I really don't get the lynch mob mentality of many in this thread. So much joy with each new ALLEGATION and gleeful grabbing of pitchforks and torches. The east and west coast liberal factions are now so focused on turning on their own in these sex scandals, and the media is practically ignoring the important things --- like the republican tax bill and health care --- which is exactly what the repugs want.
