Last week, I wrote about the importance of telling minority stories given our current political climate in the United States. Since then, the heat has definitely risen, and no, not just because half of California is on fire. I'm talking about Scott Eckern (pictured right), the director of California Musical Theatre based in Sacramento, giving $1000 in support of Proposition 8, and the uproar it's caused in the theatre community. Many of his colleagues have quickly spread word via email and facebook informing the community of his views on "hate legislation." Another colleague called for a boycott of the entire theatre. In the end, Eckern resigned from his position at CMT, because he clearly could not handle the heat that came along with his political leanings. While I do not agree with Scott Eckern on Proposition 8, I must admit that I loved seeing the very liberal theatre world get shaken out of its boots. Every group has their general beliefs, and while in the company of like-minded friends, it is easy to get comfortable and feel too safe. This whole Eckern situation, if anything, has the theatre circle back on its toes, which is right where they should be as artists. While assessing what Eckern did and what happened to him, I found two very interesting blogs on the topic and left comments, which I have included for you below. The first blog I commented on is called Culture Monster, written by Mike Boehm who is a writer for the LA Times. He gives an accurate retelling of the events that led up to Eckern's eventual demise. The second blog I comment on is called The Clyde Fitch Report, the personal blog of Leonard Jacobs who is a freelance writer and who has a theatre online pod-cast show. He offers opinion on the facts and agrees that Eckern should be pushed out of his job. I disagree. Eckern is entitled to have his own opinions and offer support to his chosen causes and whether anyone else agrees with him or not. Somehow Eckern has become the poster boy for hate in the theatre community, and I believe his right to free speech is not being honored, which contradicts Prop. 8 protester's "equal rights for all" platform. Comment:
I would like to thank you Mr. Boehm for writing such an informative blog on the surprising and recent commotion that is occurring at Sacramento's California Musical Theatre, due to the donation made by Scott Eckern in support of Proposition 8. It is a very touchy situation that has cost many people in the theatre community a lot of hurt and anger and consequently driven Eckern to resign from an executive position that he clearly loved. People often go see theatre to be informed, changed and entertained by politically driven stories, few realize that those same stories could easily be and actually are lurking behind the scenes. Behind the scenes of your blog is supporting information, offered through links, which I think is very helpful for readers to further understand the history and facts surrounding this event. Now, you mention a few prominent theatre names who chastised Eckern for his actions, but I wonder if there are any members of the theatre community who are supporting his right to free speech, even though they might oppose his particular point of view on the matter? And, while I'm playing devil's advocate here, I must ask, don't you think the pushing out of Eckern is contradictory to everything that Prop. 8 protesters stand for, in regard to equal rights? While you are in somewhat of a public position, it would have been interesting to hear your thoughts, the point of view of an outsider, on this matter. While I do not agree with Eckern on Proposition 8, I believe he has a right to his own opinion and that his theatre colleagues may have gone too far. It was wrong to call for a boycott against the entire theatre (which Eckern did not own), because it not only affects Eckern, but robs the existing employees of jobs and the surrounding community of their theatre.
Comment:
Thank you Mr. Jacobs for taking the time to offer your opinion on the hottest topic in the theatre blogosphere, which is Scott Eckern's donation in support of Proposition 8. Many of Eckern's colleagues have taken major offense to his actions, but it is always helpful to have an outside perspective from a party who is not directly involved and your blog offers just that. While a bit harsh, I most definitely appreciate your candor when you write, "Scott Eckern, you are an enemy of all that is good in America," but I wonder if he really deserves to lose his job? While I do not agree with Mr. Eckern on Proposition 8, I must question whether or not the pushing out of Eckern contradicts everything that Prop. 8 protesters stand for (protester pictured left). As an American, Scott Eckern has the right to his own political leanings. Sure, he probably should have picked a different industry other than theatre as home to his career, but it is unconstitutional to push him out. As far as him being Mormon, I appreciate you bringing that up, because as most are well aware, the donations of the Mormon Church are a large part of why Prop. 8 was able to pass. Even though there is no fact to back it up, I am sure that the Church, directly or indirectly, asked its followers to donate to the cause. Scott Eckern did and he got caught, but where is the Church now? How sad that Eckern has to be the poster boy for hate and his spiritual leaders are not there to back him up. Well, after all is said and done, Eckern is jobless now, so maybe some LDS branch will offer him a job overseeing the Christmas musical. Wait, do they even have Christmas? Let's hope so, because after such a violent response from the mainstream theatre world, Baby Jesus is really Eckern's only hope at this point.
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