Playwrights Horizons sued over discount for POC

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 12/22/25 at 5:04pm

I unfortunately can't do a gift link or get this to open but seems to be picking up steam. Maybe someone else can? https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/22/theater/playwrights-horizons-lawsuit-race-based-discounts.html

[SteveSanders]

Posted: 12/22/25 at 5:20pm

https://archive.li/oM5nx

[quizking101]

Posted: 12/22/25 at 5:34pm

I can’t imagine this holding any water, but in this America, where white grievance is a cottage industry, who knows?

Fundamental question - what prevented him from going any other night?

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 12/22/25 at 5:41pm

Love someone with the money to file a frivolous lawsuit about discounts they don't need. 

[Kad]

Posted: 12/22/25 at 5:42pm

A frivolous and bad faith lawsuit. I hope it is thrown out immediately, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it were. As quizking pointed out, the plaintiff would have had the rest of the run to attend. Moreover, PH has no means or intention to enforce the BIPOC-only discount, which would likely have been illegal- it was on a self-identification honor system. Anyone of any background could’ve used the discount. 

Updated On: 12/22/25 at 05:42 PM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 12/22/25 at 5:50pm

So by this logic are student rush tickets also discriminatory? And discount codes sent via email are discriminatory towards those who don’t sign up for the email list?

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 12/22/25 at 5:57pm

Note this lawsuit is from Kevin Lynch who has a notable history of spewing vile and racist hate speech on his YouTube. He claims theatre “hates white men”

Updated On: 12/22/25 at 05:57 PM

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 12/22/25 at 5:59pm

Thanks for that archive link! I didn't know how to do that and do now. :)

[Kad]

Posted: 12/22/25 at 6:00pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "So by this logicare student rush tickets also discriminatory? And discount codes sent via email are discriminatory towards those who don’t sign up for the email list?"

I worked in the audience services phone room of theatre company right out of college. I did once have somebody call and demand they be given the company’s 30 under 30-type discount despite being decades older than the cutoff, saying the discount was discriminatory. I passed them off to my manager because I was 22 and absolutely not dealing with it- they didn’t get the discount.

But there are definitely people out there who see ticket initiatives like this as taking something away from them. 

 

[quizking101]

Posted: 12/22/25 at 6:07pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "So by this logicare student rush tickets also discriminatory? And discount codes sent via email are discriminatory towards those who don’t sign up for the email list?"

I *think* and don’t quote me, It's a discount program for a particular age/status group, not a restriction against others. Everyone else can still buy regular tickets, as this person did. Some shows or productions may have specific subscriptions or requirements to obtain tickets at a student price, which are advertised if you actually look or inquire.