Kolton Krouse of DBH no longer participating in show bows- Page 2

[ivy3]

Posted: 3/18/25 at 1:38am

It isn't a gender neutral name. It is a spelling variation of Colton which is 99%+ male name. For example Casey is a gender neutral name with 60% male , 40% female split. 

Anyway some previous posts said it would require significant effort to figure out Kolton's gender identity. All I'm saying it might be as simple as checking the Playbill and seeing the name.

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 3/18/25 at 2:23am

Kolton should do whatever they want to feel safe, and there is no question this fascist regime has it out for the trans/nonbinary community. 

But this story makes little sense. Of course we could be missing something, but it is unclear what anyone could possibly be doing during a loud raucous curtain call to single out any one performer, let alone on such a consistent basis? Are we meant to believe hostile transphobes are so regularly seeing Death Becomes Her, and so regularly harassing/interrupting a curtain call, without anyone in the audience ever capturing it, reporting it, noticing it? 

Again, Kolton should do whatever they want, but this story just isnt clicking (and it doesnt have to, its not our business, except for this performer putting out a statement to make it so). 

[ivy3]

Posted: 3/18/25 at 8:25am

Are we sure this is a case of regular harassment by hostile transphobes or just not wanting to be in the spotlight?

I'll admit I was surprised by this announcement too. I would imagine Broadway to be a safe place. It has a lot of LGBTIQA+ performers and audiences and I wouldn't think MAGA crowd to be the audience of any Broadway show. While I can see protests happening outside the shows (for variety of reasons not limited to the situation here), it is hard to imagine a consistent harassment during a show / curtain call. 

That being said as a person living in a small mostly red town, I have seen people take down pride flags, or gay couples not showing PDA because they are afraid and not want to be visible and put a target on themselves. So I can totally see Kolton want to protect themselves. 

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 3/18/25 at 1:40pm

I want to make this very clear. I do not blame Kolton one little bit for wanting to forego bows for their safety. The fact that transphobia is so rampant in this country makes the fact that they feel they have to take this step (which I believe is a proactive one) is heartbreaking on multiple levels.

That being said, I do not believe that Kolton has been being booed during bows. This is not because of some sort of personal vendetta, or wanting to victim blame, or anything like that. I have heard not one single iota of reporting (outside of the claim from them) of any kind of boos at this show directed at one performer. And given that there are multiple places on the internet that basically serve as Broadway's version of the Ring App (most notably, Broadway sub-Reddit and The Sweaty Nutsack), I think the fact that there haven't been any reports of this is significant. Furthermore, as has been stated by other posters in this thread, Kolton does not reveal their pronouns in their bio – and not just for this show, but for any of their Broadway shows. So taking what I know about the situation, this is me using critical thinking to draw a conclusion based on known factors.

I think Kolton is trying to protect themselves, in the event that something DOES happen. What if someone DOES jump the stage during bows (when performers are most exposed)? What if someone DOES seek them out? That's what I think is happening here. For whatever reason (which, to be clear, is none of any of our business), I think they are disguising a proactive decision as a reactive decision. And it's very likely because this is, they feel, the safest way to go about it. Or at least one would hope that's the reason, as opposed to a Jussie Smollett type of situation (where he just wanted attention). Either way, regardless of the reasoning behind the decision, I think we can all agree that safety is the most important thing.

And obviously we all wish this discussion was not a necessary one to be had, in this context. But unfortunately that is not the world in which we currently live.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 3/18/25 at 1:58pm

Yeah--now that I've had chance to take a look at Kolton's actual post on this matter, but they don't mention receiving boos

This initial post in this thread seems to be misleading, though I suppose Kolton's post might confuse some, as they mention feeling it during their solo bow. 

Kolton has decided to forgo bows for the foreseeable future, but they don't really cite boos--just the feeling that the country is unsafe for trans and nobinary people right now, and they feel particularly uncomfortable during their own bow. 

They didn't go into it more than that. It could just be a lack of feeling safe, and feeling on display outside of playing a character--we don't have to put words and stories in their mouth. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 3/18/25 at 2:01pm

MAGAs attend Broadway shows. I know plenty that do. However, odds are MAGAs are not seeing Death Becomes Her. They'll probably stick to the more classic shows like Lion King, Aladdin, Gypsy and Sunset Boulevard.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 3/18/25 at 2:37pm

Y’all are working overtime to gaslight someone about their experience. Clearly it made them uncomfortable enough to stop participating in the curtain call. Period.

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/18/25 at 3:01pm

ACL2006 said: "MAGAs attend Broadway shows. I know plenty thatdo. However, odds are MAGAs are not seeing Death Becomes Her. They'll probably stick to the more classic shows like Lion King, Aladdin, Gypsy and Sunset Boulevard."

 

In my time there I found they went to see more than just the hit and classic shows. And Death Becomes Her was a popular movie that did well. They also see shows off-Broadway. I know they loved "Avenue Q".  They weren't happy when Trumps name was used in "For Now" though! 

 

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 3/18/25 at 4:17pm

TotallyEffed said: "Y’allare working overtime to gaslight someone about their experience. Clearly it made them uncomfortable enough to stop participating in the curtain call. Period."

I think you don’t know what gaslighting means. Wondering what happened is not gaslighting. 
 

To be fair—Kolton doesn’t owe an explanation beyond what they posted either. But this is a discussion board so people will, well, discuss. 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 3/18/25 at 4:25pm

BroadwayGirl107 said: "I think you don’t know what gaslighting means. Wondering what happened is not gaslighting.


To be fair—Kolton doesn’t owe an explanation beyond what they posted either. But this is a discussion board so people will, well, discuss."

 

I know exactly what it means, thanks. I wasn't referring to people who are wondering what happened, I was referring to people who are trying to come up with reasons why Kolton shouldn't or doesn't feel uncomfortable despite...saying they are uncomfortable. That would be gaslighting.

[Dolly80]

Posted: 3/18/25 at 5:48pm

Does this need to be endlessly discussed ? They are doing what they feel is best. It’s depressing, and worrying that some have caused this - but not sure it needs endless analysis at this point.

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 3/18/25 at 6:04pm

BorisTomashevsky said: "But performing for them (and taking a paycheck from their ticket sales) is okay?"

Jesus Christ. I suppose you would be happier if they refused to sell tickets to your low life MAGA comrades?????

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 3/18/25 at 6:06pm

TotallyEffed said: "BroadwayGirl107 said: "I think you don’t know what gaslighting means. Wondering what happened is not gaslighting.


To be fair—Kolton doesn’t owe an explanation beyond what they posted either. But this is a discussion board so people will, well, discuss."



I know exactly what it means, thanks. I wasn't referring to people who are wondering what happened, I was referring to people who are trying to come up with reasons why Kolton shouldn't or doesn't feel uncomfortable despite...saying they are uncomfortable. That would be gaslighting."

No one is saying their experience isn’t what their experience is, lol. Like, again, this is how we get *gestures towards everything* THIS. People were saying the story doesn’t make sense & they haven’t heard any reports of booing. Turns out, when you look at Kolton’s own statement, they didn’t say anyone was booing them.

 

Also, even if they did say they were booed, saying it’s weird that no one else has reported on it/that something seems to be missing from the story STILL isn’t gaslighting. It’s wondering what happened. Assuming that someone wondering what’s going on is emotional abuse is an insane leap to make. 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 3/18/25 at 6:49pm

BroadwayRox3588 said: "I want to make this very clear. I do not blame Kolton one little bit for wanting to forego bows for their safety. The fact that transphobia is so rampant in this country makes the fact that they feel they have to take this step (which I believe is a proactive one) is heartbreaking on multiple levels.

That being said, I do not believe that Kolton has been being booed during bows. This is not because of some sort of personal vendetta, or wanting to victim blame, or anything like that. I have heard not one single iota of reporting (outside of the claim from them) of any kind of boos at this show directed at one performer. And given that there are multiple places on the internet that basically serve as Broadway's version of the Ring App (most notably, Broadway sub-Reddit and The Sweaty Nutsack), I think the fact that there haven't been any reports of this is significant. Furthermore, as has been stated by other posters in this thread, Kolton does not reveal their pronouns in their bio – and not just for this show, but for any of their Broadway shows. So taking what I know about the situation, this is me using critical thinking to draw a conclusion based on known factors.

I think Kolton is trying to protect themselves, in the event that something DOES happen. What if someone DOES jump the stage during bows (when performers are most exposed)? What if someone DOES seek them out? That's what I think is happening here. For whatever reason (which, to be clear, is none of any of our business), I think they are disguising a proactive decision as a reactive decision. And it's very likely because this is, they feel, the safest way to go about it. Or at least one would hope that's the reason, as opposed to a Jussie Smollett type of situation (where he just wanted attention).Either way, regardless of the reasoning behind the decision, I think we can all agree that safety is the most important thing.

And obviously we all wish this discussion was not a necessary one to be had, in this context. But unfortunately that is not the world in which we currently live."

On the one hand, I do not walk in Kolton's shoes, and I absolutely believe they should do whatever feels right to them. 

On the other hand, the show is running in the middle of super-blue New York City, not Cheyenne, Wyoming.  Unless Colton has received threats, I really think they may want to speak with a counselor, to get to the bottom of this concern.  I would imagine participation in a curtain call must be an exhilarating way to end a performance's work, and that missing it must be frustrating.  

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/18/25 at 6:51pm

Dolly80 said: "Does this need to be endlessly discussed ? They are doing what they feel is best. It’s depressing, and worrying that some have caused this - but not sure it needs endless analysis at this point."

 

Just avoid the thread and you won't have to read the discussion. Not being snarky, but you do have that option.

 

[MsPiety&Rectitude]

Posted: 3/18/25 at 9:05pm

TotallyEffed said: "BroadwayGirl107 said: "I think you don’t know what gaslighting means. Wondering what happened is not gaslighting.

To be fair—Kolton doesn’t owe an explanation beyond what they posted either. But this is a discussion board so people will, well, discuss."

I know exactly what it means, thanks. I wasn't referring to people who are wondering what happened, I was referring to people who are trying to come up with reasons why Kolton shouldn't or doesn't feel uncomfortable despite...saying they are uncomfortable. That would be gaslighting."

Hmm... nope, still no, that's also not what gaslighting means. Questioning someone's reaction is not gaslighting. Disagreeing with the magnitude of someone's reaction is not gaslighting. No one is working to convince Kolton that their reality is invalid, they are questioning K's (publicly shared) response and wondering what the antecedent to this response was.

I will admit that I'm confused by the sequence of events here. Setting aside questions about what has happened so far (how audiences could know that the performer is non-binary, and what has led Kolton to feel unsafe, etc), here are the facts as I understand them: K feels unsafe during a solo bow in the DBH curtain call due to (very real!) prejudice against trans and nb people. The result is that K does not participate in curtain call and announces, via social media, their non-participation in curtain call due to feelings of unsafety.

To me there are a few steps skipped here... I understand that K has an individual bow. Could this be eliminated to increase their perceived safety? I also find myself confused at this point – if the concern is safety from unpredictable audiences, what's to stop an unhinged audience member from attacking mid-show? But actually, my greatest confusion comes from K's choice to announce their non-participation in curtain call via social media. I'm having trouble coming up with reasons that a performer who wants to evade negative attention would announce their abstention from the curtain call, knowing that such an announcement would garner press attention, other than knowing that liberal theatre-goers would uncritically take up their cause and champion them as a martyr of the Trump era.

Updated On: 3/18/25 at 09:05 PM

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 3/18/25 at 9:43pm

TotallyEffed said: "BroadwayGirl107 said: "I think you don’t know what gaslighting means. Wondering what happened is not gaslighting.


To be fair—Kolton doesn’t owe an explanation beyond what they posted either. But this is a discussion board so people will, well, discuss."



I know exactly what it means, thanks. I wasn't referring to people who are wondering what happened, I was referring to people who are trying to come up with reasons why Kolton shouldn't or doesn't feel uncomfortable despite...saying they are uncomfortable. That would be gaslighting."

Kolton issued a public statement about being uncomfortable due to audience behavior. Everyone is trying to be as respectful as possible re their right to feel as they wish, and participate in the curtain call as they wish, but its perfectly legitimate to question the public statement that was made--which does not make a whole lot of sense. No one in this thread has been able to articulate HOW these hoardes of transphobic trumpists are able to disrupt loud congratulatory bows (even accepting, which i do, that plenty of transphobes see lavish musicals like DBH). The story told doesnt make a whole lot of sense-- perhaps Kolton didnt tell the full story, perhaps they couldnt, or perhaps we are missing something.

but the way so many are just accepting what was said about these hostile audiences that no one else seems to have encountered-- its OK to question/probe accounts like this (and yes of course the usual suspects will again declare me to be a bigoted cis white man, on cue, but im talking about actual serious people worth listening to).