Disney Theatrical’s Thomas Schumacher Accused of Sexual Misconduct
Disney Theatrical’s Thomas Schumacher Accused of Sexual Misconduct
#1Disney Theatrical’s Thomas Schumacher Accused of Sexual Misconduct
Posted: 2/21/18 at 12:41pm
The Wall Street Journal article is behind a paywall; this is the Variety article:
Disney Theatrical’s Thomas Schumacher Accused of Sexual Misconduct
eta - The WSJ article, as accessed thru Google, if this works
#2Disney Theatrical’s Thomas Schumacher Accused of Sexual Misconduct
Posted: 2/21/18 at 1:03pm
I've heard about his behavior for so long, I had assumed that this had already happened...
#3Disney Theatrical’s Thomas Schumacher Accused of Sexual Misconduct#1
Posted: 2/21/18 at 1:14pm
Disney is nothing if not fierce protective, so I imagine there was considerable pushback to dissuade an article like this from being published.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
raddersons
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/14/13
#4Disney Theatrical’s Thomas Schumacher Accused of Sexual Misconduct#1
Posted: 2/21/18 at 1:45pm
^^legal pushback was a big rumor why the NYTimes hasen't been published. Seems to be adding up. Although this definitely isn't who I thought that article would be discussing.
BwayLB
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/18/17
#5Reply
Posted: 2/21/18 at 1:46pm
Anakela said: "The Wall Street Journal article is behind a paywall; this is the Variety article:
Disney Theatrical’s Thomas Schumacher Accused of Sexual Misconduct
eta - The WSJ article, as accessed thru Google, if this works"
Here we go again
JennH
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/14/13
#7Reply
Posted: 2/21/18 at 2:44pm
raddersons said: "^^legal pushback was a big rumor why the NYTimes hasen't been published. Seems to be adding up. Although this definitely isn't who I thought that article would be discussing."
Same...glad to know I wasn't the only one thinking it was someone else. With both Lasseter and Schumacher on the radar, one wonders what this will mean. Maybe not super drastic, but still...
CurtainPullDowner
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
#9Reply
Posted: 2/21/18 at 3:04pm
The article doesn't go into a lot of specifics. I think for this to have a really damaging effect more concrete details are going to have to emerge. I don't think its necessarily enough for him to be a flamboyant personality who walked around in his bathrobe saying he didn't have anything on underneath in order to sink a Disney ship.
“I knew who I was this morning, but I've changed a few times since then.”
#11Reply
Posted: 2/21/18 at 5:32pm
QueenAlice said: "The article doesn't go into a lot of specifics. I think for this to have a really damaging effect more concrete details are going to have to emerge. I don't think its necessarily enough for him to be a flamboyant personality who walked around in his bathrobe saying he didn't have anything on underneath in order to sink a Disney ship."
Well in the moral panic today, it seems that careers can be ruined without any details, and there is apparently no distinction between the behaviours you describe, Harvey Weinstein or aggregated rape. And if anyone wants to call this out, they can also ruin their career too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1MZRowhMtc
Only in 2018 when we apparently don't care about science would no such 'spectrum of behaviour' exist. We are regressing into the middle ages.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
Updated On: 2/21/18 at 05:32 PM
Fosse76
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/21/05
bk
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/03
#13Reply
Posted: 2/21/18 at 6:31pm
Does "sexual misconduct" have no meaning anymore. He came in from a rainstorm and put on a bathrobe while his closed dried, and joked that he didn't have anything on underneath. That a TRIGGER. I mean, did anyone read the article or just this headline? Because not one person has accused him or alleged that he groped, pawed, or raped. The disgruntled now-usher who was let go and who says he complained and got a response from the Disney HR - if that was true they would absolutely have to have a record of the complaint and response and they don't. If they go after everyone who, in a different world, joked around, well, the line is going to be VERY long. Finally, these "sources" come up with a story about Josh Strickland that Mr. Strickland says is a load of hooey - not that he tanned with the guy, but that anything inappropriate happened or was even said.
Alex172005
Chorus Member Joined: 2/13/18
Dolly80
Broadway Star Joined: 5/15/11
#15Reply
Posted: 2/21/18 at 6:53pm
Sadly ‘sexual misconduct’ seems to cover everything from a flirty joke to serious abuse nowadays and it’s scary as hell.
One of the best things about working in the theatre is being able to have a joke with likeminded people but suddenly everything is deemed inappropriate and people are scared to say or do anything now.
No one should suffer ANY kind of mistreatment or harassment but there has to be some sensible evaluation of the severity of these ‘incidents’.
Schumacher will lose his job over this..
Dolly80
Broadway Star Joined: 5/15/11
Tag
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/19/05
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Broadway Legend Joined: 11/19/05
Dolly80
Broadway Star Joined: 5/15/11
#20Reply
Posted: 2/21/18 at 8:16pm
If you look at the responses to this article, there doesn't seem to be a big hullabaloo about it. There are only 18 responses on a Broadway message board (where one would expect to have a large number of responses), so I'm pretty sure it's not causing much of a fuss over there. There really just wasn't enough info in the article to do much damage. He'll get a slap on the wrist and maybe have to make a public apology.
BroadwayBen
Broadway Star Joined: 6/5/03
#22Reply
Posted: 2/22/18 at 8:47am
Dolly80 said: "Sadly ‘sexual misconduct’ seems to cover everything from a flirty joke to serious abuse nowadays and it’s scary as hell...No one should suffer ANY kind of mistreatment or harassment but there has to be some sensible evaluation of the severity of these ‘incidents’."
It seems like the pendulum of sensitivity has swung way too far in the other direction these days. Virtually anything can be cited as "sexual misconduct" now; the enormous dump-bin includes everything from inelegant humor to bona fide rape. Giving equal press and outrage to such extremes will eventually mitigate the gravity of true misconduct and result in a "Boy Who Cried Wolf" desensitization to legitimate concerns.
"Michael Riedel...The Perez Hilton of the New York Theatre scene"
- Craig Hepworth, What's On Stage
JennH
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/14/13
#23Reply
Posted: 2/22/18 at 10:53am
Fosse76 said: "The average ticket buyers to Frozen have no idea who Schumacher is, so this will zero impact."
Exactly. Honestly, only the show biz industry itself and super heavy regular theatre goers know who he is, and that's still a small amount compared to the vast amounts of people who'll see/want to see this. And there really wasn't an uproar about this (at least not on Weinstein the level), heck I think the deal about Lasseter has been mostly forgotten about, so unless he steps down, I can't see him being gotten rid of. And I can't believe I'm saying that Bill Maher has a point...and some pretty good ones at that.
Alex-I seriously doubt it. Refunds aren't a thing when it comes to seeing shows on Broadway unless you insure your tickets, and even then there are conditions to it, and claiming a moral high ground is not one of them.
