Tim Hughes dragging Jordan Donica

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 12:05am

Ummm

https://www.reddit.com/r/Broadway/comments/tim_hughes_dragging_jordan_donica_damn_yankees/

Updated On: 10/6/25 at 12:05 AM

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 1:11am

There was an earlier thread on this that was removed by the moderators. I expect that this one will be too. Like I said in that thread, this was a pathetic and sad post for Hughes to make. I’ve seen this production of Damn Yankees twice now and thoroughly enjoyed it both times. Donica may not be the greatest dancer on the planet, but he is competent with the choreography that he is given, and is absolutely wonderful in the role overall. The role really doesn’t require insane dance ability. 
 

I hope that Hughes does some real soul-searching and comes to his senses. More hate isn’t something that’s needed in the world, or in this industry. Shame on him.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 1:20am

The Playbill headline he was referring to is specifically about the dancing, though.

(Not that I condone what he says)

Updated On: 10/6/25 at 01:20 AM

[QueenTwinnied]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 1:46am

He is so tacky for that post

[WldKingdomHM]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 6:07am

Because Tim is such a prize to begin with …

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 7:48am

The moderators, removing the thread is one of the most ridiculous things they've done yet. He posted it for everybody to see so we should have every right to discuss it. And yet, they allow rampant racism, xenophobia, antisemitism, and transphobia to spread across the board for months unchecked.

[witchoftheeast2]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 8:36am

Such a bad look for TH. If there were better people, those people would have been cast. But also I love Jordan Donica as a performer. He stays in his lane and I haven't heard bad things about him, unlike TH who posted this...now I have a bad taste in my mouth about TH

[ACL2006]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 8:44am

iluvtheatertrash said: "The moderators, removing the thread is one of the most ridiculous things they've done yet. He posted it for everybody to see so we should have every right to discuss it. And yet, they allow rampant racism, xenophobia, antisemitism, and transphobia to spread across the board for months unchecked."

The moderators literally pick and choose what they moderate around here is what's really ridiculous.

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 8:46am

I haven't seen this production, so I can't in any way critique Donica's performance. However, I will say that typically Damn Yankees is in fact a very dance heavy production (I mean, it's a Fosse show after all) and that does extend to Joe Hardy. So, I think it's fair to say "I wish the actor playing Joe could dance better".

Now, framing it as some form of sexism or whatever TH was trying to say here does seem a little over the top. But I really don't have a problem with someone seeing a show and critiquing it. And also have no problem with someone saying "I disagree with that critique and think it's fine that he's not a strong dancer". Theatre should always be open to critique, both good and bad.

[theatreguy12]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 8:59am

This doesn’t happen too often, does it?

i know critics will comment on all the elements of a show, including performances. As will audience members.

But you don’t hear fellow performers do it all that often. Or do you?

 I looked up JD when I saw he was cast as Joe. DY is one of my favorite shows after seeing it with Bebe and Victor years ago. A YouTube video of JD singing from My Fair Lady popped up. What a voice. And darn is he handsome. 

[GottaGetAGimmick420]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 9:01am

More insane that the mods would delete that thread in the middle of the night instead of moderating actual threads with actual hate speech... 

[Flowerlovestage5]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 9:34am

Joe Hardy was transformed into a younger, high talent athlete. Not a Broadway choreographer. 
 

whatever Danica’s strengths/weaknesses may be, as we all have them, I trust he’s executing the material as it suits the sequence. 
 

One can share their perspective about casting specifics but do NOT drag a FELLOW PERFORMER through your mud. 
 

Really tacky. 

[AC126748]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 9:37am

Joe Hardy has always been a singing role first, dancing role second. Lola has always been the opposite. This seems like such a weird thing to create public beef over, especially as an attempt to earn some feminist cred. This reminds me of when Morgan James (remember her?) tweeted about how bad the singing was in the INTO THE WOODS park revival and the theater community essentially put her out on an ice floe. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 9:59am

However, I will say that typically Damn Yankees is in fact a very dance heavy production (I mean, it's a Fosse show after all) and that does extend to Joe Hardy. So, I think it's fair to say "I wish the actor playing Joe could dance better".

Not sure you’re familiar with DAMN YANKEES but the role of Joe was not at any time a dancing role, same as Applegate. Yes, the musical is a dance show and includes a few iconic Bob Fosse numbers, but aside from Gwen Verdon’s numbers the only other dancing roles were/are the baseball players and the female ensemble (in the original Bob Fosse version of “Two Lost Souls”  - the 1994 Broadway revival made it a duet with Lola and Applegate). Tim’s critique of Donica’s dancing is like criticizing Julie Andrews’ dancing in THE SOUND OF MUSIC. 

[Huss417]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 10:01am

iluvtheatertrash said: "The moderators, removing the thread is one of the most ridiculous things they've done yet. He posted it for everybody to see so we should have every right to discuss it. And yet, they allow rampant racism, xenophobia, antisemitism, and transphobia to spread across the board for months unchecked."

And all of the above is usually done by one person for the most part.

With a couple of Maga posters added to the mix.

Updated On: 10/6/25 at 10:01 AM

[gibsons2]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 10:10am

AC126748 said: "This seems like such a weird thing to create public beef over, especially as an attempt to earn some feminist cred."

​​Thank you. That really rubbed me the wrong way. Exploiting the "I stand with women" trope to drag someone down because you didn't get the role is all far too convenient and tasteless. 

Timmy, if you're reading this, leave us out of it. Nobody asked for this. Thanks.

 

Updated On: 10/6/25 at 10:10 AM

[quizking101]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 10:24am

Gotta admire Tim here though. So tall and yet flexible enough to put his head up his own a$$

Updated On: 10/6/25 at 10:24 AM

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 10:30am

I agree he shouldn't have posted this publicly, but I'm not sure why people are so quick to trot out the old, "He's just jellluzzzz!" line. I have a hard time believing he would have ever expected to be cast in this role, since they obviously would go for someone who is somewhat of a name (or a hot new discovery) while I don't believe he's ever played a lead role on Broadway. Plus in this production the Hardys seem to have been cast as specifically Black, so...yeah, a white guy wasn't going to get the part and he has to know that.

Maybe this was covered in the original thread, but Jay Lerner-Z's point seems to be the most correct one. The article he was responding to said Donica was dancing. Regardless of what the actual role on stage calls for, Hughes, who's never been a lead but is...a dancer (?), objected to that. People being snobs about their professions and taking offense is a story old as time.

Updated On: 10/6/25 at 10:30 AM

[Kad]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 10:39am

iluvtheatertrash said: "The moderators, removing the thread is one of the most ridiculous things they've done yet. He posted it for everybody to see so we should have every right to discuss it. And yet, they allow rampant racism, xenophobia, antisemitism, and transphobia to spread across the board for months unchecked."

This sort of thing is the only thing the moderators act on with any semblance of consistency, ostensibly under the "Discussions of off-stage events, rumors or hearsay are not permitted, and would fall under our personal attacks rule. To further clarify, allegations of alleged crimes are not permitted." 

Technically this is an "off-stage event" but considering Hughes made these comments publicly on a large platform, and the tenor of many of the posts in the deleted thread, I suspect it was deleted due to "personal attacks," and personal attacks against performers are something the moderators act on far more than anything else.  

Updated On: 10/6/25 at 10:39 AM

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 10:58am

The moderators have single-handedly turned this board into an arbitrarily-sanitized mess. 

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 11:03am

 This is not a new thing for him to be rude and condescending to people in the business (while doing the opposite to their face).  this one presented publicly. Regardless, he's waving the mean girl “true colors' flag out loud now which is wild

Updated On: 10/6/25 at 11:03 AM

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 11:05am

WiCkEDrOcKS said: "The moderators have single-handedly turnedthisboard into an arbitrarily-sanitized mess."


In fairness, this whole place should probably be leveled to the ground and forgotten. 😂 

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 11:32am

Are we allowed mention Muringate?

I think it dates back to that.

[Kad]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 11:33am

CoffeeBreak said: "It's a 'true colors' moment for Hughes. This is not a new thing for him to be rude and condescending to people in the business (while doing the opposite to their face)- it's his way. It's usually done in small groups but this one presented publicly. Regardless, he's waving his mean girls 'true colors' flag out loud now."

I think this was a boneheaded thing for him to say but jeez you come off like he turned you down at a bar.

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 11:49am

No.  Just encounters with mutual friends.  It’s a known reputation.,

he’d have to like women to ‘turn me down’ that way.  

Updated On: 10/6/25 at 11:49 AM