Posted: 7/6/18 at 7:28pm
Here's a link to a story published about an hour ago:
https://1010wins.radio.com/articles/loved-ones-broadway-actor-claim-bullying-prompted-suicide
Posted: 7/6/18 at 7:33pm
Oh my god. I won't say anything on here about individuals involved, but this is incredibly heart-wrenching. I wish his family and friends nothing but strength and love at this time.
This is horrifying.
Posted: 7/6/18 at 7:35pm
I'm not comprehending how one is a standby for a role for 22 years, unless the person for whom you were standing by has also been there for 22 years on a similar contract?! Can someone enlighten me?
Posted: 7/6/18 at 7:37pm
Guys there is a gofundme for Jeff and his family:
https://www.gofundme.com/celebrate-jeff039s-vibrant-life
Many Chicago alumni have donated. Bebe Neuwirth donated $1000.
Posted: 7/6/18 at 7:54pm
haterobics said: "I'm not comprehending how one is a standby for a role for 22 years, unless the person for whom you were standing by has also been there for 22 years on a similar contract?! Can someone enlighten me?"
You are a standby for the role, not the Actor. It's not a Midler/Murphy thing.
Posted: 7/6/18 at 8:11pm
CurtainPullDowner said: "haterobics said: "I'm not comprehending how one is a standby for a role for 22 years, unless the person for whom you were standing by has also been there for 22 years on a similar contract?! Can someone enlighten me?"
You are a standby for the role, not the Actor. It's not a Midler/Murphy thing."
I guess I keep thinking that in 22 years, the role would be available full time and the standby could then take it over?!
Posted: 7/6/18 at 8:22pm
haterobics said: "CurtainPullDowner said: "haterobics said: "I'm not comprehending how one is a standby for a role for 22 years, unless the person for whom you were standing by has also been there for 22 years on a similar contract?! Can someone enlighten me?"
You are a standby for the role, not the Actor. It's not a Midler/Murphy thing."
I guess I keep thinking that in 22 years, the role would be available full time and the standby could then take it over?!"
In one of the blog entries that one of his family members (his partner?) wrote, it was explained that he was offered the role full-time numerous times but turned it down because it meant giving up his lucrative Run of Show contract.
Posted: 7/6/18 at 8:30pm
Posted: 7/6/18 at 8:42pm
EthelMae said: "After reading Page 6 of the Post, and I'm not saying this is total truth, but, unfortunately, this is all too common when "they" want you out after a long term of service. They don't want to pay you in full what you're owed by contract so they torture you hoping you'll leave on your own accord or, perhaps in this case if you're fragile in spirit, decide life is not worth it. Family has already said he was fine and not suicidal. I hope this "investigation" goes all the way.
On a personal note, I was understudy to a marvelous actor who became ill during final rehearsals. He was too ill to return and they wanted to terminate me. They decided to recast with a woman and wanted a female understudy. I asked for my 4 weeks salary compensation per the contract- either party may terminate with 4 weeks notice- which I didn't get. The company manager said I was disgusting and greedy considering the circumstances. I countered that I was horrified that this actor had taken ill and realized he was part of the reason I got the part but that I was only asking what was signed by both parties. He relinquished and gave me 2 weeks salary instead of the 4 contracted. I let it go.
That's why we have unions and lawyers. Sorry to say but some producers, directors,.casting, etc., will try to get around contractual language."
The blog author is wanting future episodes to cover other actors' stories of harassment. I encourage you message the author (you can do this from the blog itself) and provide your story.
Updated On: 7/6/18 at 08:42 PM
Posted: 7/6/18 at 9:18pm
The circumstances of this man's death, and recollections of that last rehearsal, horrify me. The more I wade slowly into this industry, and the more I learn about the behavior of certain high-powered individuals in it, I feel deeply cynical, disillusioned and frustrated that such behavior is either sanctioned or ignored. I certainly won't partake in it. I hope Equity does indeed investigate CHICAGO's stage management and the actions of its director, Walter Bobbie. From reading about Mr. Loeffelholz's personal experiences with John Kander and Fred Ebb on CHICAGO and THE VISIT, I'm heartened and glad to continue to be able to think and say that John Kander is a treasure and a good man.
I wish Mr. Loeffelholz's loved ones whatever peace they can muster during these sad days.
John Verderber
Updated On: 7/6/18 at 09:18 PM
Posted: 7/6/18 at 9:23pm
Here’s the post article with a statement from Bobbie and the Weisslers’ lawyer.
https://pagesix.com/2018/07/06/chicago-cast-members-suicide-probed-after-backstage-bullying-allegations/
Updated On: 7/6/18 at 09:23 PM
Posted: 7/6/18 at 9:57pm
Posted: 7/6/18 at 10:09pm
What I can't wrap my mind around is why either Walter Bobbie or musical director Leslie Stifelman would really care about how much it would cost to buy Jeff out of his contract. What would it matter to the two of them? I could be completely wrong and this is just a wild guess but to me it would make sense only if someone very high up within the production perhaps "strongly suggested" to Bobbie and Stifelman in a "wink wink" kind of conversation that the two of them begin a process of stirring sh*t up in order to make Jeff's work environment intolerable in hopes that he would quit. I just don't understand how this situation would be something that Bobbie and Stifelman felt compelled to do on their own. I'm not defending the two for their alleged actions, but I feel like they must have gotten pressure from someone at a producer level to suddenly behave the way they did.
Posted: 7/6/18 at 10:17pm
The max you get bought out is 15 weeks of pay. Thats probably around 35k for a standby.
Why wouldn't the weisslers pay 35k to buy him out? that doesn't make any sense. the weisslers are multi millionaires..why would they care about 35k (or so)?
Updated On: 7/6/18 at 10:17 PM
Posted: 7/6/18 at 10:31pm
Dailymail.co.uk in the United Kingdom has picked up the story:
https://www.google.com/amp/www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5927617/amp/Veteran-Chicago-cast-member-committed-suicide-directors-bullied-him.html
Posted: 7/6/18 at 10:47pm
None of this makes sense. According to the blog, Jeff Loeffelholz had not played Mary Sunshine since Feb. If Leslie Stifelman had a problem with his performance, why did she wait FOUR months to let him know? Why did Walter Bobbie suddenly need to call in Mr. Loeffelholz for a rehearsal? Does Bobbie regularly stop by the theatre to make sure the integrity of the production is being upheld? If there was a problem with Mr. Loeffelholz's performance four months ago, why did Bobbie need to be at this so-called rehearsal?
If an actor is doing something wrong, a competent director and musical director would take the time to explain the problem and work with the actor to solve the problem. Based on what I read on the blog, it seems to me, Bobbie and Stifelman expected Mr. Loeffelholz to figure things out on his own. It seems to me, Bobbie and Stifelman were way too busy to work with Mr. Loeffelholz.
Unlike Bobbie, a competent director does not humiliate an actor in front of the cast. A competent director should never humiliate an actor at anytime.
Is Chicago having financial problems these days? Is that why the powers that be wanted to get rid of Jeff Loeffelholz?
Posted: 7/6/18 at 11:08pm
EthelMae said: "After reading Page 6 of the Post, and I'm not saying this is total truth, but, unfortunately, this is all too common when "they" want you out after a long term of service. They don't want to pay you in full what you're owed by contract so they torture you hoping you'll leave on your own accord or, perhaps in this case if you're fragile in spirit, decide life is not worth it. Family has already said he was fine and not suicidal. I hope this "investigation" goes all the way.
On a personal note, I was understudy to a marvelous actor who became ill during final rehearsals. He was too ill to return and they wanted to terminate me. They decided to recast with a woman and wanted a female understudy. I asked for my 4 weeks salary compensation per the contract- either party may terminate with 4 weeks notice- which I didn't get. The company manager said I was disgusting and greedy considering the circumstances. I countered that I was horrified that this actor had taken ill and realized he was part of the reason I got the part but that I was only asking what was signed by both parties. He relinquished and gave me 2 weeks salary instead of the 4 contracted. I let it go.
That's why we have unions and lawyers. Sorry to say but some producers, directors,.casting, etc., will try to get around contractual language."
yes this is quite a common practice not just in theatre but all forms of work. it's cheaper to make your life uncomfortable and make you leave of your own accord rather than pay redundancy etc
Posted: 7/6/18 at 11:11pm
Posted: 7/6/18 at 11:30pm
EthelMae said: "After reading Page 6 of the Post, and I'm not saying this is total truth, but, unfortunately, this is all too common when "they" want you out after a long term of service. They don't want to pay you in full what you're owed by contract so they torture you hoping you'll leave on your own accord or, perhaps in this case if you're fragile in spirit, decide life is not worth it. Family has already said he was fine and not suicidal. I hope this "investigation" goes all the way.
On a personal note, I was understudy to a marvelous actor who became ill during final rehearsals. He was too ill to return and they wanted to terminate me. They decided to recast with a woman and wanted a female understudy. I asked for my 4 weeks salary compensation per the contract- either party may terminate with 4 weeks notice- which I didn't get. The company manager said I was disgusting and greedy considering the circumstances. I countered that I was horrified that this actor had taken ill and realized he was part of the reason I got the part but that I was only asking what was signed by both parties. He relinquished and gave me 2 weeks salary instead of the 4 contracted. I let it go.
That's why we have unions and lawyers. Sorry to say but some producers, directors,.casting, etc., will try to get around contractual language."
I absolutely believe they might try to create an environment where a cast member would leave on their own accord but to imply that anyone would be trying to get someone to take their own life is a dangerous leap. Something is certainly up here and Bobbie and Stifelman were clearly up to something that should be investigated fully, but I don't think it's fair to imply that they might have hoped he would take his own life.
Posted: 7/6/18 at 11:49pm
Posted: 7/7/18 at 12:11am
John Verderber, you sent me that lovely PM about playwriting- always a voice of reason, you have again expressed how a situation has me feeling.
It's extraordinary to me how this industry is the ultimate Jekyll/Hyde incarnation. On the one hand, theatre is a beacon of expression, art, and community for people all over the world...they wrap their lives around it...they dream of joining this microcosm and becoming an agent of social change with the craft...
Then, things like this occur...and this "dark side" of showbiz is made all the more darker by its juxtaposition to the above. How can you promote those positive wonders of the performing arts with a straight face when you don't practice the values that it stands for? You are worshiping the almighty dollar and your own ego. You might as well be a crooked politician- the worst kind of hypocrisy!
RIP, Mr. Loeffelholz! Your painful experience will not have been in vain!
Posted: 7/7/18 at 12:15am
Posted: 7/7/18 at 12:20am
MosaicOwl said: "Hold up a second. If the Weisslers have hired an attorney to investigate the matter, and there's a chance they had a hand in trying to push Jeff out of the company, who's to say that the lawyer will be unbiased? Is Equity not launching their own investigation?"
Like how NBC's investigation of NBC found that NBC did nothing wrong re: Matt Lauer?
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