Are audience participation/interactive shows in peril? February 11, 2008
Posted by Gordon Firemark in : Theatre law, entertainment law , 2 comments
A Chicago man has filed a lawsuit against the producers of the Blue Man Group theatrical act. His suit claims that he was chosen by the performers to participate in their “esophagus video” gag. The actors held the man in place, and allegedly “forced the esophagus cam into his mouth, and while he struggled to free himself, an image of his mouth and throat was projected on a video screen before the other audience members (including the man’s grandson). The man claims that this amounted to “offensive touching” caused injury to his throat, mouth and dental work, and his lawsuit includes claims for Battery, negligence, and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
The lesson for producers of live entertainment featuring interactions with the audience is that care must be taken to select audience participants who indicate their willingness to join in the show, and to be alert to signs that the audience participant may be embarrassed, upset or angered by the events as they unfold.
Audience members should be asked whether they consent to participate, and given a meaningful opportunity to decline. Ultimately, the performers should take “no” for an answer.
Photo courtesy of Flickr user “Stelb”, used by permission under Creative Commons License
Tags: noneRandy Quaid Fined and Banned from Actor’s Equity February 7, 2008
Posted by Gordon Firemark in : Theatre law , add a comment
Actor Randy Quaid has been fined in the amount of $81,572, and banned from the stage actors’ union, Actor’s Equity Association for life, following the union’s investigation and a hearing to examine his alleged bad behavior during the unsuccessful Seattle run of “Lone Star Love”, a country musical based on Shakespeare’s “The Merry Wives of Windsor”, in which the actor played Falstaff.
According to allegations made by his fellow cast members (all of whom filed grievances with the union), Quaid physically and verbally abused them, and engaged in “oddball” behavior during the rehearsals and run of the musical.
Quaid’s lawyer reportedly blames the show’s producers for the action, which, he says stems from their attempts to avoid paying Quaid’s contractually guaranteed financial participations, nor to afford him the creative approvals to which he is entitled.
Producers ended up canceling the show’s planned move to Broadway.
Source: Backstage
Tags: Equity, union, actors, quaid, randy, seattle, broadway, shakespeare, merry wives, windsor, lone star love
