NYTimes: Sex & Violence, Beyond the Script

[theatregoer3]

Posted: 3/15/15 at 1:23pm

This made the cover of the Sunday edition of the NYTimes. I found this to be a fascinating and tragic article. I worked in the theater for years and I think I had become somewhat numb to the sexual harassment that occurred all around me and sometimes towards me.

Although this incident, as reported, occurred outside of the rehearsal space it involved two of the company members and had, as reported, a lasting effect of the rest of the company. The Wooster Group should have contacted the proper authorities to report a violent and/or physically abusive situation the minute they became aware of it.

I see no reason why the terms proposed in this article could not be adopted by AEA. It could only serve to promote a safer, healthier working environment.

Thoughts?

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/15/theater/sex-and-violence-beyond-the-script.html?ref=theater&_r=0

Sex and Violence, Beyond the Script Updated On: 3/15/15 at 01:23 PM

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 3/15/15 at 1:55pm

Yeah, I posted this in the OT Board. It's a sloppy article, but the story of Shepard, Ireland, and the Wooster Group is beyond belief. I don't believe for one second that LeCompte wasn't playing favorites with Shepard. Can you think of any other job where this was going on and there wasn't some kind of firing?

For the record, I saw CRY, TROJANS and it was one of the most execrable first acts I have ever sat through.

[Kad]

Posted: 3/15/15 at 2:10pm

I'm seriously confused as to why the Wooster Group had to turn into an incompetent therapy session to deal with what was obviously domestic abuse going on between two of its actors.

[Tag]

Posted: 3/15/15 at 2:19pm

It's an incredibly strange example to use to discuss this topic. 1) If the play was in London, what does it have to do with changing American Equity regulations? 2) The incident didn't didn't happen at work. 3) Why does the article ignore that she slapped him too?

Nothing about this article is at all surprising. It happens all the time in theatre. Generally people are hired for the work they do and how they are offstage is looked over.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 3/15/15 at 2:23pm

The article states very clearly that she slapped him on one occasion. It left out, however, that Shepard is a black belt in karate whose blow sent Ireland across the room.

[mar6411]

Posted: 3/15/15 at 2:43pm

In case anyone is interested in other comments, besides borstalboy's post on the off topic board, it was also posted on this board this morning (further down the page) and there is a lengthier discussion thread on ATC.

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 3/15/15 at 3:25pm

I'm with team Kad on this one. What does an argument between a couple in their home, physical or otherwise, have to do with the theater? I don't think it's the business of producers to insert themselves into domestic disputes involving their company members. Nor should company members bring their disputes into the workplace. As for other forms of harrassment, if an actor sleeps with someone in hopes of career advancement, it's only harrassment if it doesn't work out. If they fall in love, get married, have three kids and great careers, then it wasn't harrassment after all. What consenting adults do together, they both own. Yes, it's despicable when someone with authority or power lures someone less knowing into their web, but let's not forget that the person being wooed is also an oportunist.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 3/15/15 at 3:47pm

How do things like this not get pulled by an editor? God, Patrick Healy.

"And it is a unique work environment, one that asks employees to flirt and kiss, argue and fight, strip naked and simulate sex eight times a week for what can be months on end."

I always thought those scenes were unnecessary in The Sound of Music.

[Kad]

Posted: 3/15/15 at 4:12pm

Also: what does domestic abuse have to do with the casting couch and inappropriate professional conduct? They're entirely separate issues.

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 3/15/15 at 4:17pm

Wilmington,

In any job, it's a sign of a good supervisor if they notice a problem, see that it impacts more than one person and solves that problem. That was what was going on with the aftermath of Shepard giving Ireland a black eye. Yes, if you're working with the same person you're in a relationship with you should leave any issues with that at the door and focus on work. We aren't talking about Shepard and Ireland walking into the studio carrying on with a petty argument they had at home. We're talking about someone walking in with a visible black eye. That is something that, like it or not, is going to impact the entire company.

As for you to say that it's only sexual harassment if the casting director/ director whoever doesn't keep to their word ls laughable. It's sexual harassment regardless of how you look at it simply because the girls in question were taken advantage of. That's what makes it harassment and it's sad that you don't see something that simple.

[followspot]

Posted: 3/15/15 at 4:26pm

By starting and ending his article with the sensational details of the Ireland/Shepherd imbroglio — which only very tangentially has anything to do with the article's actual subject (sexual harassment in the theater workplace), Patrick Healy has done Ireland, her cause (Equity mediation rules), and the harassment issue itself a heavy disservice. That's an impressive accomplishment in one article (sarcasm) and can't be what anyone was hoping for when they spoke to Healy on the subject of harassment. This story should never have run in its present form.

Updated On: 3/16/15 at 04:26 PM

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 3/15/15 at 4:28pm

Domestic violence isn't "an issue between a couple", it is a crime and it needs to be addressed when both parties are in the same workplace. Actors are subjected to a lot of inappropriate behavior under the guise of "we're artists" and that somehow they should just absorb this.

The other side of this coin is that if Equity starts really clamping down on things it could start forbidding relationships (sexual or romantic) between co-stars, as it is in many workplaces.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 3/15/15 at 5:18pm

Some of the reactions in this thread prove exactly how relevant the discussion within the article really is.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 3/15/15 at 9:07pm

I don't think the article does Ms. Ireland any favors. Mr. Shepherd says that he regrets slapping Ms. Ireland, but she comes across as a bit vindictive in the piece.

All management should be aware of what people are bringing into the workplace, but this is really a domestic violence issue. Both parties are guilty for having hit the other. There are laws in place, yet neither one called the police or filed a police report. It's difficult to get onboard with someone's campaign when they themselves won't go through the proper channels to ensure that procedures are followed.

I also think that other cast members shouldn't have to go through group therapy because of the problems these people are having outside of the work place.

By the way, Marin Ireland is appearing in NBC's "The Slap" playing Zachary Quinto's wife.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 3/15/15 at 9:12pm

I'm 100% with Kad and followspot here. This article's critical thesis, diluted appreciably by its NY Post worthy headline, is poorly served by the anecdotal evidence employed as Exhibit A. A specific and clearly unique and complicated case of domestic violence is too readily exploited to make a larger point not universally documented via such case-specific incidentals. The article might've presented more industry-wide evidence of audition, rehearsal room and backstage practices unreported and under-policed (by union deputies and reps, stage management and management). The focus, including the choice of photographs (that headshot), takes a genuinely ubiquitous problem and conflates its justifiable grievances with a single unresolved case not persuasively tethered to workplace decisions or lack thereof. Harassment, intimidation, and the general climate in/around productions -- from 99 seats to Broadway -- are in many ways unrelated to this case's merits and outcome, again, defined by domestic violence charges and prosecution. It should have at least been presented as a sidebar, not the lead.

Updated On: 3/15/15 at 09:12 PM

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 3/15/15 at 9:39pm

I think we can all agree that abuse or harassment of a physical or sexual nature is wrong, and should not be tolerated in the workplace (or outside the workplace between co-workers).

That said, count me in among those who finds it kind of disturbing that Ms. Ireland is being treated as the only victim in the situation with Mr. Shepard. SHE HIT HIM TOO, and hit him first. It was a week earlier but she set that standard. The only difference is that when he did it, it didn't leave a mark, and that she's a girl.

Furthermore, making this guy the central villain of a huge Sunday Times article because he slapped his girlfriend once in the heat of an argument is just f*cking cruel. I mean, this is not a Chris Brown/Rihanna situation. We all make mistakes - and this is not one that warranted a national shaming in The New York Times.

I feel more sorry for Shepherd than I do for Ireland in this situation.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 3/15/15 at 9:55pm

I've never heard of anyone getting a black eye from a slap. I have from "Chris Brown situations".

[Gothampc]

Posted: 3/15/15 at 10:01pm

Interesting that the article doesn't even mention the Toni Collette/Mandy Patinkin "The Wild Party" incident, which seems to be more in keeping with the workplace violence theme. Collette put a lot of the blame on George Wolfe for not having more control over the rehearsal process.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 3/15/15 at 10:02pm

Yes, a complex domestic dispute took place over time, for which this man has not been charged or convicted. He may be a guilty, he may not. It maybe an unresolvable conflict, it may be genuine abuse. The circumstances are not cut and dried. Yes, a woman should be trusted, heard, supported. Yet the rush to judgment here is in service of a Times thesis is built on specious logic, and to futures of the parties involved, insidious ad hominem indictment. Yes, we live in a world of under-reported and under-convicted abuse and violence to women. But we must solve these problems in court, not in the court of public opinion. I feel bad for anyone thus splayed across the front page of the NY Times. It's bad journalism and not likely to help any crisis in auditions, rehearsal rooms, or backstage.

Updated On: 3/15/15 at 10:02 PM

[TalkinLoud]

Posted: 3/15/15 at 10:02pm

Thank you somethingwicked. Updated On: 3/15/15 at 10:02 PM

[Auggie27]

Posted: 3/15/15 at 10:11pm

Some of the reactions in this thread also prove that a sweeping generalizations about an acknowledged and ubiquitous problem should be supported by telling, widespread evidence, not a specific case that doesn't represent anything close to industry-wide practices and concerns. Let's find legitimate solutions that are tied to real-world circumstances, not one rarefied case.

Updated On: 3/15/15 at 10:11 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 3/15/15 at 10:14pm

Regardless of who was hit first (which seems to me to be beside the point entirely), this is not something for a theatre group to be attempting to mediate and it certainly shouldn't be linked to inappropriate professional conduct- which is something that exists and MUST be resolved by employers and unions.

I don't think Ireland appears vindictive and I don't think the article is attempting to villainize Shepherd. It just shouldn't be thrown in with inappropriate sexual behavior in a professional setting, sexual harassment in the arts, or the casting couch. It diminishes an important issue that is beyond the power of arts employers to adequately deal with.

[Tag]

Posted: 3/15/15 at 10:25pm

Canadian Equity recently completed a massive survey of their members regarding harassment in the workplace. Over 50% of the women and 37% of the men who responded reported having been a target of this behaviour. 43% of the cases reported were instigated by directors. 45% of respondents took no action after an incident, with 85% not even contacting Equity. Only 13% of cases where action was taken resulted in the behaviour to cease. Clearly these numbers are way too high. Canadian Equity now has the task of moving ahead with the results and to see what the next steps will be.

Updated On: 3/15/15 at 10:25 PM

[followspot]

Posted: 3/15/15 at 11:41pm

The fact that all anyone is discussing (here and elsewhere) after reading this article is who was right and who was wrong in the Ireland/Shepherd domestic abuse case proves my point — that Patrick Healy effectively buried the actual (very important) subject of the article — unchecked sexual harassment in the theater workplace, and Ireland's attempts to have Equity rules put in place to address such matters.

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

Posted: 3/15/15 at 11:54pm

Here's an interesting post from a friend of Ireland's from 2013.

http://allupinthekitcheninmyheels.tumblr.com/post/50939716070/scott-shepherd-hit-my-friend