Facing multiple allegations, director resigns from 'Cabaret' right before it opens
by Chris Peterson, OnStage Blog
A local theatre community in Wisconsin was rocked last week when the director of their upcoming production of Cabaret abruptly resigned from the production just days before it opened. The resignation was apparently in response to multiple allegations of bullying, homophobia, and casting a minor in the adult production.
On August 8, performer Gray O’Leary posted the following statement on Facebook:
Jim Tropp is an emotionally manipulative bully and a malignant presence in Janesville musical theater.
This is not new knowledge and I should have known better than to audition for a show directed by a man who made much of my highschool life hellish.
The way I have been treated during this show has made me sick with anxiety and worry. I felt I was less important than my cast members due to my supporting role in the show. I received harsher treatment for being unable to dedicate my entire life to meet the needs of production despite my role of seemingly lesser importance.
Doing this production while working full time was difficult enough by itself, but was not made easier by a social climate that sought to shame me for missing out on practice time. They were unable to conceive that my work may take precedence over an unpaid theater gig. Production seemed to want me to leave the show itself by not providing any information that I may need to succeed in the time I could spend with them in practice.
I do not recommend that anyone go see this production of Cabaret (a show that I normally adore and promote to the fullest extent) due to the things I have heard and seen in rehearsals. First of all, Jim has cast a minor to perform in scenes of an adult/sexual nature, making myself and other cast members uncomfortable in our performances. Secondly, I have heard Jim give notes to play characters “straight” or say “you can be gay, but not that gay.” This is deeply upsetting, but what was even more hurtful to myself was Jim’s incredulity at the suggestion of changing my character’s gender expression, which he saw as harmful to the “integrity of the show.”
Beyond this treatment of queerness in a historically proud, queer show, Jim also attempted to isolate me socially from my closest friend in the production. Jim gave my friend the opportunity to shine with a line that was originally intended for my character (which I totally approved of as I want my friend to succeed!!). Unfortunately, Jim thought himself to be more powerful than our bond of friendship, and tried to spread the false information that I was furious about this change. Fortunately, my friend disclosed this to me and we were able to communicate truthfully and maintain peace within our relationship.
To all of my friends and family who care about myself, my queerness, or my life as a performer, I implore you: PLEASE do not support this show or this man any longer. I have a lot of love for my fellow performers, and if you wish to see them, I do not blame you. They are fantastic actors who are able to succeed despite these circumstances, but I cannot join them. Please make your decision carefully.
To protect myself and to protect my peace, I walked out of rehearsal at approximately 9:45 pm on August 7th and have not spoken a word to anyone in production since.
After O’Leary posted this, multiple people also came forward sharing that they had similar experiences with Tropp. The next day, he resigned from his position as Artistic Director of the Rock River Repertory Theater in Janesville, WI, effective immediately.
The Board of Directors as the theatre posted the following statement:
“Rock River Repertory Theatre Company Artistic Director Jim Tropp has made the decision to turn over the remaining production process of Cabaret to production staff, cast, and crew, effective immediately.”
Cabaret opened two days later.
In the days since his resignation, there seems to be a divide in the community. Many have spoken out against Tropp and the allegations, with multiple people saying that experienced the same treatment at other places Tropp directed such as Parker High School. Others are also posting words of support and going as far as to try to discredit those who are speaking out. One former performer, Addison Schuh, who has worked with Tropp on multiple productions posted on Facebook, “ I am absolutely appalled by the lies that are being spread about Jim. To see and hear the claims that Jim is homophobic, racist, fat-phobic, etc. is completely false and heartbreaking.”
She continues, “Many of the students I have seen sharing these stories of “abuse” are students who have completely disrespected Jim’s time, as well as other students’ time, during the rehearsal process and have simply been reprimanded for it. Hurt feelings doesn’t equal abuse.”
As more and more statements about the situation are being posted daily on social media, discussions surrounding this issue seem to be far from over.
I do have some thoughts on all of this. First of all, if a minor had been cast in an adult production of Cabaret and had to perform highly sexually suggestive scenes with adults, that absolutely shouldn’t have happened. We’ve seen other theatres do this in the past, and it’s never justified. So I’m a bit shocked that apparently happened with this production.
As for the other allegations, if they’re true, that’s incredibly disturbing but not surprising considering abusive power structures that exist in community and school theatres. I’ve seen countless directors display the same behaviors Tropp is being accused of.
Also, I do find it interesting that Tropp was so quick to resign from the production as opposed to denying the allegations and seeing the show to the end of its run this weekend.
Either way, Cabaret ends its run this weekend and I hope the actors in the show are doing alright.
This is a developing story and will be updated with new information as it becomes available.