Chicago Art Director allegedly abused the actors and crew at a popular theater company.
A new report from the Chicago Reader is revealing the dark side behind acting. Aimee Levitt and Christopher Piatt chronicle abuse allegedly perpetrated over the course of decades by the artistic director at one of the most popular and highly respected theater company, Profiles Theatre Company.
According to reports, Artistic Director Darrell W. Cox allegedly suffered physical and psychological abuse. Over 30 members of the Profile Theatre company were interviewed and “described in disturbingly similar terms what they suffered or witnessed while working at the theater.”
From Chicago Reader:
Others in key roles in the theater, they say, did little if anything to stop it or turned a blind eye altogether. Although the source material Profiles favored was often violent and misogynistic, the quality of its shows and the critical acclaim they garnered—coupled with a culture of fear and silence that developed inside the theater—allowed bad behavior to flourish behind the scenes, unbeknownst to audiences or the media.
Chicago Reader also interviewed former girlfriends of Cox’s who say he was abusive. In addition, co-stars say he went too far in performing the often violent scenes in order to push the boundaries of art and reality. The actors claim that the company lied about having women on their artistic directing teams to make themselves look better, and had its employees work hours that were too long.
Profile Theatre Company responded by saying, “We take personnel issues very seriously, but we will not comment on groundless allegations.”
Chicago’s acting and theater scene is a major attraction. Many TV networks have decided to move their TV shows to the Windy City, which has given aspiring Chicago actors more opportunities to succeed in the growing film industry. However, if these allegations are true, it’s scary to think that actors are victims of physical and psychological abuse at the hands of someone who was interested in pushing the boundaries of art and reality.
You can read the full story here.
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