Actor Fired From “A Christmas Carol” After Injury Forces Missed Rehearsal

by Clara Tan & Chris Peterson

Reports are emerging from Buffalo, NY, that an actor was fired from a production of A Christmas Carol after missing the final dress rehearsal due to an injury. The injury was reportedly sustained during a rehearsal for the show the previous day. The incident has prompted questions about workplace expectations in local theatre.

This is one of seven productions of A Christmas Carol that have been performed concurrently in Buffalo this year. This particular production is advertised as Neal Radice’s Christmas Carol, currently in its forty-third season. It was previously produced by Alleyway Theatre, but was moved to Imagine Theatre. There were only two performances scheduled, both to show on December 20th.

Mr. Radice not only directed the productions but also adapted the script.

Madeline Allard-Dugan, who was cast in the show at the Imagine Theatre, was injured due to falling through a trap door that was allegedly improperly installed. It should be noted that Mr. Radice also apparently designed and built the set. As a result of that fall, the actor missed the final dress rehearsal. The next day, they were informed they were being fired from the production and replaced with a put-in.

This particular actor had also played the same roles(Shopkeeper, Ghost of Christmas Past, Mrs. Crachit) on the same track of this play for a minimum of three years running before tonight. The actor had informed both cast and crew that they would be taking the day off to recover from the shock and injury caused by the alleged improper trapdoor installation.

Before the opening of the first performance, Mr. Radice informed the actor that they would not be going on for the two shows, but would be replaced with a put-in who had joined the company for the final dress rehearsal of the day before.

Mr. Radice fired an actor who took a sick day due to suffering an injury caused on the job. According to sources connected with the show, several of the other members of the company threatened to walk off the job, to protest the unjust termination of their colleague. Mr. Radice proceeded to scream at them, insulting them and reportedly said, “I’ll make sure you never work in this town again.”

One performer in the show, Andrew Brown, posted on Facebook that he quit the production due to Mr. Radice’s actions.

OnStage Blog has reached out to Imagine Theatre for comment and will update this piece with new information as it becomes available.

Ms. Allard-Dugan told us, “I hope, going forward, this conversation sparks change to ensure safer working environments in which artists feel physically safe and respected. I want to commend my husband, Andrew, and Kaylie for their support and genuineness.”

While this was not an Equity production, the performers were being paid, and it is illegal to fire a worker for injury sustained on the job, under both Federal and New York State law. While worker protections have been eroded, there are still instances where a clear example of retaliatory termination would be sufficient grounds for a lawsuit.

Threatening to blackball and humiliate other performers standing with their colleague in solidarity is unacceptable. It is astonishing that Mr. Radice did not even stop to consider that he might be in the wrong.

There is a distinct irony here, given that the play in question is A Christmas Carol. Ebezener Scrooge had to be tortured by supernatural forces beyond his ken so that he would consider treating his workers like human beings. Mr. Radice would do well to learn from his own adaptation.