Scott Rudin is returning to Broadway- Page 5

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 3/28/25 at 5:07pm

Call_me_jorge said: "David Geffen and Barry Diller basically bankrolled all of his projects and they were forced to pick up the pieces when he pulled out of producing. I wonder if they’ll still back him or if they’ve moved on."

Diller and Geffen only “bankrolled” Rudin’s final four shows (two of which recouped).

Diller employs Rudin at Little Island and has retained a close relationship with him. I’d be shocked if he wasn’t an investor/co-producer in future SR projects. But he didn’t “bankroll” shows until those final four; Rudin raised money from the usual suspect of broadway investors/co-producers.  

Geffen is a different, unknown story.

[raddersons]

Posted: 3/28/25 at 5:22pm

BroadwayGirl107 said: "But has Rudin done anything to show he’s changed?"

He wears sweaters now.

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 3/28/25 at 6:04pm

Rudin's presence is a net positive for the theatre industry, but a net negative for those around him.

[mrshowbiz90210]

Posted: 3/28/25 at 6:44pm

My favorite comments are those that say Scott will change. Just like Harvey

[Luminaire2]

Posted: 3/28/25 at 6:50pm

BroadwayGirl107 said: "I admit I’m finding some of these responses concerning.



Is Rudin alone in his behavior? Maybe, maybe not. I’ve seen/heard/experienced some lousy people and some wonderful ones, but I personally haven’t seen anyone get items thrown at their head or glass shattered out of anger. Doesn’t mean it’s not happening though!



But—why does this lighten our feelings on Rudin? Shouldn’t we just hold him as accountable as ever AND seek the truth about the others?


It’s kind of disturbing to see so many go “well others act like it and we don’t know about it so 🤷🏻‍♀️ and at least he makes good theater.”



Btw those other people who are toxic will only feel enabled by Rudin—it shows you truly can get away with it.



I do believe people can change, and that sometimes the even deserve second chances. But has Rudin done anything to show he’s changed? Does *he* even know if he has, or is his behavior triggered by the exact addiction to power he has specifically when at the helm of major entertainment? What mechanisms are in place to protect people?



I don’t know. I’m suprised to see how willingly some people are to shrug off his past just because he’s very good at his job."

Very much agree. Kinda shocked at the butt kissing in here, all because people liked his productions, and he was successful. 


Gross.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 3/28/25 at 7:01pm

Yeah, it's absolutely disgusting. I guess if they were abused and assaulted by him like a friend of mine years ago, they'd be singing a different tune. 

Humans have such short memories!

 

[mrshowbiz90210]

Posted: 3/28/25 at 7:03pm

Abuse is abuse. Mental, physical or whatever. There is no room for Rudin , Drabinsky or Weinstein 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 3/28/25 at 7:06pm

Thank you. That's the first smart thing you've said here. 

[mrshowbiz90210]

Posted: 3/28/25 at 7:20pm

Sutton Ross said: "Thank you. That's the first smart thing you've said here."


beyond my assessment of Boop! , I would agree! Booya! 

[raddersons]

Posted: 3/28/25 at 8:15pm

I really am floored by the pick-me energy of some people in this thread. What do you get out of supporting someone who has has 40+ assistants over 20 years because they all end their days in tears and can’t put up with his abuse?

[Bwaygurl2]

Posted: 3/28/25 at 8:40pm

raddersons said: "I really am floored by the pick-me energy of some people in this thread. What do you getout of supporting someone who has has 40+ assistants over 20years because they all end their days in tears and can’t put up with his abuse?"

They hope to get some good theater if he comes back. That's it. 

[verywellthensigh]

Posted: 3/28/25 at 8:40pm

Um...a good show?  A lift in culture?  Someone who isn't championing dreck?

What goes on in his business is his business.  It's not like he's denying people their health insurance claims.  Banning him from Broadway is boring, online incarceration thinking.  There are much, much worse things to be cancelled for.  

[TommyWho99]

Posted: 3/28/25 at 9:05pm

It's not like he was just an a**hole to the people who worked for him, he straight up assaulted some of them. Is it possible he's changed? Maybe, but I'm highly doubtful since in this article he and the author kind of minimize what he was accused of. It really felt like "Yeah, that stuff happened, but it only happened a couple of times.  Let's just move on". Just because the guy has good tastes in plays and is good at marketing shouldn't mean he doesn't have to face actual consequences for his actions.  I know, the poor millionaire had to sell his Upper West Side apartment and art...to play musical chairs with luxury homes for four years. For what he was accused of, a couple of apologizes and therapy sessions doesn't mean he should be greeted with open arms like nothing happened.  I think if he was truly willing to face the music, he would free everyone who worked for him of those NDAs and let people openly discuss what it was like to work for him. But, he's not going to do that, because he doesn't want to face real accountability for what he did. 

[verywellthensigh]

Posted: 3/28/25 at 9:25pm

While releasing the NDAs may be what works for you to clear his name, that's not going to be enough for other people, and what they want isn't going to do it for other people and what they want to happen is...do you see how this is bottomless and pointless?  It has no ending.  That's how cancel culture is a kind of incarceration.  

You are not cops, judges, or litigators.  If you don't like that someone you think is foul is doing something on Broadway, you as a non-toddler are entitled to not go and that is really the only thing you're entitled to.  Wagging your finger at those of us who are over it changes nothing and, frankly, seems like a luxurious thing to be focused on in the United States in this cursed year of 2025.  

 

[Wick3]

Posted: 3/28/25 at 9:33pm

If he wants to work on Broadway, let him. It's not against the law to do so.

Thing that's crucial is raising $$$ from investors. Will he able to get investors to work with him? Will he be able to get A-list actors to work on a show? Directors? etc. 

[blaxx]

Posted: 3/28/25 at 9:49pm

Sutton Ross said: "Yeah, it's absolutely disgusting. I guess if they were abused and assaulted by him like a friend of mine years ago, they'd be singing a different tune.

Humans have such short memories!

"

Yes, but according to this thread, if he abuses anyone again it's their own fault for agreeing to work with this theater deity.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 3/28/25 at 10:29pm

verywellthensigh said: "Um...a good show? A lift in culture? Someone who isn't championing dreck?

What goes on in his business is his business. It's not like he's denying people their health insurance claims. Banning him from Broadway is boring, online incarceration thinking. There are much, much worse things to be cancelled for."

This is a CRAZY take, lol.

I honestly can't believe the shamelessness of some people here right now. 

Scott Rudin is an abuser. He has done nothing to show that he's changed (has he had other business ventures since then? worked on small projects? make amends with the people he harmed? sought treatment?).

 

The people behind the scenes--assistants, associates, press people, advertising folks, stagehands, actors who AREN'T A listers (though if you look at his allegations, he was perfectly fine being a monster to some A listers as well) matter too. 
 

Scott Rudin was very good at his job. But I care about the well being of the many people who don't see who did the grunt work to make his productions happen. 

 

He is not missed. There has been a ton of great theater since he left the scene. Hell, there's so much talk about this being one of the strongest seasons in a while. 

We don't need him. But people will always bend over backwards to give some awful white man a second or third chance. I just didn't expect to see it so blatantly here. 

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 3/28/25 at 10:32pm

verywellthensigh said: "Um...a good show? A lift in culture? Someone who isn't championing dreck?

What goes on in his business is his business. It's not like he's denying people their health insurance claims. Banning him from Broadway is boring, online incarceration thinking. There are much, much worse things to be cancelled for."

um, ever since he "stepped back" four years ago, Broadway has done just fine. This season a bunch of productions are both critical and commercial successes. It's not as if Broadway is on its last legs and "needs" him.

Plus, I think most people who don't support his comeback are well aware that theater is a very tough business and most people in the business have a hard side. Even the "good" guys. But what Rudin was accused of was straight up assault and egregious abuse. It's very different from simply being harsh and demanding. 

 

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 3/28/25 at 11:09pm

I need the yearly Laurie Metcalf productions back. They were what I most looked forward to every season back in the days.

[Jonathan Cohen]

Posted: 3/29/25 at 12:13am

bear88 said: "Did Mandy Patinkin ever say he was uncomfortablewith how theGreat Cometproducers treated Okieriete Onaodowan or are you assuming? I had always assumed Patinkin didn’t want to get in the middle of a firestorm that he didn’t start, not that he was necessarily offended - although it’s possible he thought the departure was mutual. But Idon’t know."

Yes. (Source): 

“My understanding of the show’s request that I step into the show is not as it has been portrayed and I would never accept a role knowing it would harm another actor,” Mr. Patinkin said. “I hear what members of the community have said and I agree with them. I am a huge fan of Oak and I will, therefore, not be appearing in the show.”

[MezzoDiva47]

Posted: 3/29/25 at 12:54am

 

hey the comeback plan worked so well for garth drabinsky with paradise square

what could go wrong here

 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 3/29/25 at 12:55am

Paradise Square was a piece of sh*t. 
 

[MezzoDiva47]

Posted: 3/29/25 at 1:09am

 

TotallyEffed said: "Paradise Squarewas a piece of sh*t."

 

thank you for evidence proving my point

 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 3/29/25 at 1:10am

What does that have to do with Rudin, a man of impeccable taste?

[binau]

Posted: 3/29/25 at 8:11am

I do feel a bit icky admitting that Scott Rudin did indeed achieve great things and his presence is missed. I just hope that if he returns he does have a handler or something to help him keep control because I don't think he should create the kind of workplace he did either...