Director Scott Eckern's resignation over his support of Prop. 8: A game-changer in theater history?

This week's revelation that Sacramento theater director Scott Eckern had made a $1,000 donation in support of California's Proposition 8 ban on same-sex marriage -- and his subsequent resignation Wednesday from the California Musical Theatre to "protect" the organization from controversy -- obviously pushed buttons for Culture Monster readers, who have weighed in with more than 100 comments in reaction to Mike Boehm's posts about the executive leaving his job.

Eckern remained unavailable for comment Thursday. Members of the theater community interviewed in the wake of Eckern's resignation overwhelmingly disagreed with his position on Proposition 8. But they said they hoped the furor over his contribution -- in light of the fact that he owes his livelihood to the musical theater community, which includes many gays and lesbians -- will be a catalyst for continued community dialogue on the subject of same-sex marriage.

And dialogue, they maintain, is what theater should be all about.

Bill Rauch, director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland and former artistic director of Los Angeles' Cornerstone Theater Company, said Thursday that he felt "heartsick" for everyone involved in the controversy, including Eckern. He added that he hoped the situation would open a longterm dialogue in the theater community, in the same way the controversy over white actor Jonathan Pryce playing the role of a Eurasian pimp on Broadway in "Miss Saigon" opened a conversation about race and casting.

The details on that fracas:

Pryce (left, in a 1997 photo) played the role in the musical in London.  When it was announced that "Miss Saigon" was going to Broadway in 1991 with Pryce as the star, Asian theater professionals protested.  Actors Equity officials initially barred Pryce from performing on Broadway but reversed the decision when producer Cameron Mackintosh said he would cancel the show. Pryce went on to win a Tony for his performance.

"I think the dialog deepened about authenticity and artistic responsibility. It was not about a decision that got made, thumbs up or thumbs down, but the dialog shifted permanently,"  Rauch said. "This could really be an important moment."

L.A. writer-performance artist Luis Alfaro, who once described himself to the Times as an "out gay Latino," said that, although he is actively protesting Proposition 8, he believes that Eckern's resignation "upped the dialogue" on same-sex marriage. "Isn't that what we're doing as theater artists? How do we support many different points of view?" Alfaro said.

And while he is "saddened" by Eckern's viewpoint, Alfaro added, "maybe what he has done is throw the first volley."

Danielle Brazell, director of the Arts for LA arts advocacy organization, posted a comment saying those who felt that Eckern should be fired or the theater boycotted because of Eckern's donation set a "very, very dangerous precedent as it could happen to anyone in the arts."

In an interview Thursday, Brazell said: "The pendulum is swinging in very interesting ways. This was an historic election: [Barack] Obama ... has put together a cultural transition team and sees culture as a way to address some of our really deep-rooted issues in this country. We have opportunities to create deeper levels of dialogue."

While agreeing that the arts provide a forum for examining controversial subjects, Laura Zucker, executive director of the the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, cautioned that those in leadership positions, such as Eckern, must be aware that they have to use their voices with care.

"The bottom line is I would always defend the individual's right to become involved in a political process in a way that they feel is important to them," Zucker said. "But if you head an organization, you do need to be aware of the fact that there are larger ramifications to everything you do.

"There is no escaping that reality."

--Diane Haithman

Photo: Jonathan Pryce. Credit: Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Bram Ritchie]

Eckern may have quit his job and left the theater community prompting 'heartsick' feelings in some, but I think the true sadness here is for the thousands of CA citizens that have had their rights curtailed and hate written into their constitution. Follow Melissa Etheridge's example, don't pay CA tax.

[science_based]

A democratic socicety must balance competing interests of diverse groups, in this case, those advocating for gay marriage, and those who believe marriage should be between a man and a woman. Just like the abortion debate, these two sides will never agree.
Unfortunately, the way the same-sex marriage law that was temporarily put in place was written, the rights of freedom of speech and of religion were subjugated to the rights of same-sex couples. This means that the door would have been open to make the act of expressing ones opinion that same-sex marriage is wrong a hate crime - when in reality, that speech is a legitimate expression that holds no ill-will to those who engage in homosexual behavior and is consistent with thousands of years of belief by world religions. Freedom of religion is compromised when an individual must perform an act contrary to thier belief, or when the government begins to designate which belief systems are allowed and which are not by removing the religious tax exemption (the US Supreme Court has equated this with eliminating with free speech for a group of people).
I personally believe there is a middle ground that can be crafted in the law that will fully respect the desires of same-sex couples, while protecting the freedom of speech and freedom of religion that America was founded on, and for which my pilgrim ancestors fled England.
This can only be achieved if extremists in the GLBT community stop harassing those who hold other points of view, and begin working on collaborative solutions. The events of the past few days communicate to the public which side of the debate is truly bigoted and hateful. Targeting people of faith for expressing a different opinion is too appalling for dialog and progress to take place.

[ms]

I see so much self-righteousness on the part of SSM supporters that I doubt the possiblilitiy of any sort of constructive dialogue called for in the article above. My sense is that those calling for "dialogue" mean "see it my way or else." The treatment of Mr. Eckert certainly supports this reading of the purported call for dialogue. It is necessary to recognize that there are two legitimate sides to an issue to HAVE a dialogue. I encourage everyone genuinely interested in the issues surrounding this debate to buy the book 'Same Sex Marriage and Religious Freedom" by three respected legal scholars and read it. Words like "rights" and "equality" are not really arguments. These concepts are complicated and need to be defined in order to carry any analytical weight. Unfortunately on this issue they have become stones with which to bully and intimidate.
The problem with self-righteousness is that self-righteous people are unable to see that there are two sides to a question and they consequently think that any means they use to accomplish their ends is justified.

[Angelena]

Yes Bram. That's a brilliant idea! I love depriving the public school system of their badly needed funds! I hate children so much, that the very idea just fills me with glee!

[Jay]

I am sorry that Scott Ekern resigned. He issued a heart-felt apology. I think his apology should have been accepted by his colleagues and patrons who were offended by his perfectly legal contributions to support Proposition 8. However, when I went to a website set up for him (supportscottekern.com ), I was appalled at the level of homophobic vitriol spouted by those "supporting him." Seeing this kind of hatred expressed certainly makes me reluctant to think that Proposition 8 was motivated by anything other than homophobia.

[Truth]

People's rights were taken away they have every reason to be angry. Stop complaining that you are being picked on after you took people's rights away.

[Shawn]

FYI: The Mormon church issued a press release about this:

http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/first-presidency-urges-respect-civility-in-public-discourse

[Jesse]

So I am really starting feel more and more against gay marriage. These protesting are just making me mad. So much for convincing me otherwise. If gays wanted people to like them, it is working for me.

[bill]

There is no tolerance for religious beliefs in the gay community. If you disagree with the gay community, you are a bigot and taking away rights. Will the gay community ever try to understand religious views that differ with their "religion"?

Mr. Eckern exercised his rights ... there was no "dialogue" that everyone speaks of. There was a lynch mob and the theatre hung him out to dry. It is a shame.

Gay agenda = no tolerance.

[scott]

Jay I read the comments at Scotts website (suportscottekern.com) and I did not see any hateful comments.

Why can't people understand that we can stand up for the sanctity of marriage without "hating" homosexuals?

Here is a riddle " How many legs does a pig have if you count the tail as a leg?"
answer; Four. calling the tail a leg doesn't make it one.

likewise, calling a gay union a marriage doesn't make it one. Marriage is defined as between one man and one woman. The family is important and I don't want you prosecuting my preacher for a hate crime for saying so.
Sorry, that's the way it is.

I think the aftermath of prop 8 has shown us who the truly hateful people are.
Face it you people are not happy people and I don't think you would be happy even if you did get your way.

[Jay Jonson]

The Mormon Chuch's press release calling for civility and respect in public discourse might be more convincing had they not engaged in extremely disrespectful lies about gay people in their Yes on Proposition 8 campaign. It seems they think respect is a one-way street.

[MaryJ]

Love that open-minded liberal "tolerance." Decent people losing their jobs because of their political convictions? It's only the beginning. Next step is show trials and then the gulag. Jay Jonson: the Mormon women in my community are the first to work like dogs to raise money for our schools, the first to volunteer to run the Girl Scout troops, the first to collect goods for soldiers in Afghanistan. They work like dogs for no pay on any number of fundraisers and causes that help my community. OTOH, I've never noticed gay groups do anything in my community except bitch and act in deliberately offensive ways. Sorry but I'm going with the Mormons here.

[Jay]

Bill, you must be blind if you did not see hate comments at supportscottekern.com. About a third of the comments (not the postings themselves) were respectful comments about the merits or demerits of supporting Scott Ekern. Two-thirds are comments spewing hate against gay people, threatening boycotts against gay businesses, referring to gay people as "deviants" and worse.

[Jay Jonson]

Martha, I don't doubt that some Mormons are nice people and do good works. That, however, does not excuse the Church's overwhelming support for eliminating the rights of others, and especially their use of lies and fear to motivate their members. I have known lots of Mormons, and as far as I can tell, they range the gamut of good and evil, just like everyone else. However, if they want to be treated with civility and respect, they should treat others that way.

[John]

Yes, people should be fired from their jobs for donating money and voting.

Track down everyone down who donated money to support Prop 8 into a "camp" perhaps concentrating them all in one area. That way, rights of gays will be upheld.

[bruce vilanch]

there is no room for religious bigotry in the creative community. there is no dialog to be had with religious bigots.

[R. E.]

As someone who actually lives in Sacramento and is involved in the theater community here. I feel I need to add some more food for thought here. Eckern is being made out to be a martyr here. He was not forced or pressured out of his job (a job that he could not have done without the hard work of homosexuals). His co-workers and employees felt betrayed and angered, and he resigned. It is also very possible that this "prop 8 fallout" gave Eckern a way out of a situation that was getting a bit sticky. He was having a great deal of conflict with his staff.. And while you have read all the statements of the people that are sad to see him go, there are as many, if not more, that are glad to see him go, regardless of his prop 8 stand. Among the complaints against him, are accusations that he behaved in inappropriately, "hitting on" other MALE employees at CMT. Something to think about before put this man on a pedestal.

Imagine you are being directly attacked - voted out of equality - and you respond in the way anyone who was being so profoundly attacked would - with very strong, appropriate anger.
Then, your attackers ask for "civility and respect" in your response to their full-frontal assault.
They do not show you civility and respect, but demand it in return.
Just food for thought...

Scott Eckert felt much pressure because of his actions and that led to his resignation. That is sad for him.
Millions of gay people have been told their right to marry has been taken away, and some legally wed Californian gay couples now see their marriage in limbo status.
Where should the sympathy lie here, in relative proportion? Whose lives have suffered most?

Wondering - what could the Mormon Church and the amount of money invested in supporting Prop 8 done that would have tangibly helped people rather than needlessly harm people? Feed the hungry? Provide medical care?