"He said he wanted to protect the California Musical Theatre, his artistic home since 1984, from further controversy."
That is pressure.
"Scott Eckern, artistic director for the California Musical Theatre, resigned Wednesday as a growing number of artists threatened to boycott the organization because of his $1,000 donation to the campaign to ban gay marriage in California."
That's pressure, too. Attacking the theatre organization he worked for because of Eckern's personal beliefs.
"Los Angeles-based and Tony Award-winning composer Marc Shaiman ("Hairspray") wrote a blog saying he would never allow any of his shows to again be licensed or performed by California Musical Theatre while Eckern was employed there."
That's pressure.
"As a theater artist, Eckern said, "I have not imposed my beliefs onto any of the works" he oversaw, "but have sought to [allow] the truths found in the storytelling to speak for themselves.""
Eckern says he didn't impose his beliefs on the art.
Eckern, by the way, has a lesbian sister. He doesn't seem to be anti-gay, though he has his own beliefs about marriage.
So much for freedom of expression.
Theater exec Eckern, caught in Prop. 8 flap, resigns
