Broadway Cast moral code?

This is an odd inquiry, but I'm curious to hear people's thoughts on the matter. Is there a kind of moral/behavior/ethics code at Broadway productions or is it all Union driven? For example, in my job, we are not allowed to date each other or have that kind of relationship with another employee.

I would think this would be massively important in something like Broadway because can you imagine how a bad breakup between cast members could affect a show?

Take Wicked for example. You have Travis Taber (ensemble/Fiyero US) getting engaged to Kali Grinder (ensemble). Then poof, engagement is over and Grinder is out of the show, followed by Taber now dating Celia Hottenstein (ensemble/Glinda US).

I recall hearing about backstage romance at Be More Chill too but that show didn't last long enough to have much of an effect.

I'm just wondering if each individual show sets their own rules? Or does Equity have a hand in that at all? I mean if everyone is happy, great for them. But I can see how one wrong move could create massive unnecessary tension amongst castmates.

blaxx said: "hayleyann said: "For example, in my job, we are not allowed to date each other or have that kind of relationship with another employee."

What kind of work do you do, out of curiosity? I can understand respect and boundaries, but can't imagine a place of work that can stop two adults from dating. Just think the gazillion marriages that came out of people meeting at work.

"

I am a paralegal. In our firm that is a major no no.

I don't think it would be legal for Broadway producers to tell cast and crew members that they can't date each other - at least from a union standpoint. Actors' Equity would never allow such a crazy and totally unenforceable rule. I understand that in some businesses, they can make whatever rules they want, but no way would this ever fly with a theatre production. Showmances are practically an industry tradition, ha ha.

Thank you Hogan, pretty big difference in consensual sex and sexual assault/rape.

Sunny11 said: "
HR policy’s that discourages relationships between employees is at least partially due to sexual harassment concerns though.

I completely understand the difference between what’s appropriate and inappropriate in the workplace but the messiness of human behaviour means that employers have to lean on the conservative side."

They do? That will come as news to a lot of employers. Almost everything I hear and read is that "romance policies" don't work, are bad for morale, are bad for employee retention, etc. And a good employer deals with "sexual harassment concerns" as such rather than fighting human nature by trying to regulate (and therefore police) the private behavior of their employees.

Sunny11 said: " According to this article 75% of companies ban relationships between employees and “ anyone in their chain of command”

That's a very different thing.

Sunny11 said: "Why ? If having a consensual relationship isn’t an Issue why should it matter what their job titles are?


Sunny, I swear you know the answer to this. Just sit back and relax and think your way through it. I have confidence in you.

In a broadway show is it ok for an a list lead to hook up with an understudy or a makeup artist?"

As already rehearsed, yes. (ditto for a non-Broadway show)

I don't think it's been explicitly mentioned yet, but a morals clause in someone's employment contract is not the same as a no-fraternization policy. They are different things. As others have already mentioned, there is a big difference between a consensual relationship between co-workers and sexual harassment/coercion.

Consensual relationships can lead to termination or action, of course. Jed Bernstein was forced to resign as president of Lincoln Center several years ago over a consensual, but undisclosed, sexual relationship with a woman who reported to him. Most companies require employees who are in a relationship to disclose that fact so that there isn't even the suggestion of impropriety.

On the other side of the coin -- for most people, whether they work on Broadway or in an office building, work is where they spend the majority of their time. To say that there can be no dating among co-workers is unfair and unrealistic.

HogansHero said:

As already rehearsed, yes. (ditto for a non-Broadway show)

HH I noticed on numerous threads that you use the word 'rehearsed' in a way I don't understand, as above.

Do you mean 'gone over many times'?

At least one brain cell seems to be working then.