MCC and LaBute

I have witnessed firsthand how LaBute can treat women. I am surprised there hasn't been more gossip about him in general, but MCC would not make such a drastic move if there wasn't something coming.

His misogyny has always been implicit in his writing, which, I confess, I have always found juvenile and amateurishly nihilistic, like something penned by an overly narcissistic, pseudo-jaded teenager. I support this decision by MCC 100%. It's just regrettable that they hitched their wagon to him for such a long time.

Given MCC's long partnership with LaBute, I doubt this is simply a matter of changing artistic vision. You don't cancel a prominent show in your season and sever all ties with the playwright because of an evolving producing philosophy.

Updated On: 2/15/18 at 01:00 PM

I will say the original production of BASH back in the day was thrilling. I will never forget Calista Flockhart's final scream.

They, legally, may not be able to disclose something.

*crosses fingers* please don't be bothering ladies please don't be bothering ladies please don't be bothering ladies

well, I mean, they've done quite a bit of odd stuff. LIke the African American Mean Girls.

Theater3232 said: "Many people posting here would be dismissed from a jury for being highly prejudicial. They'd have to recuse themselves since they couldn't be impartial. Now we have the female politician from California in hot water."

Good thing this is just a message board and not a jury.

sinister teashop said: "LaBute isan artist whose subject is thesexual sadism of white men and the three white men who are still the only three artistic directors of MCC thought he was a great playwright until yesterday. MCC needs to either make room for a female identified artistic director or to find amore serious sense of artistic purpose."

I agree that MCC has not had a good history of representation in its programming history, but I give them credit for course correction in the last season- which is seeing work by or focused on women, people of color, and trans people. Cutting ties with LaBute- whatever the reason may be- is another step in the right direction for them.

With the female politician from California now in hot water, this is starting to remind many people of a period in the 1950s (that also ruined many acting careers).

It's not that being a male in the theatre world puts you under suspicion- it's just that being a male whose recurring focus has been "men who hate women, and why, and how" now raises questions about where the art separates from the artist, and what that art says.

LaBute isn't as satirical about it as a lot of other writers- but I'm already wondering if Randy Newman, whose deliberately offensive but socially pointed satire traffics constantly in racism, sexism, homophobia, rape and petty prejudice, would be considered persona non grata today.