Broadway ensemblist Kim Moore has filed a suit against the Broadway producers of Hadestown, citing wrongful termination due to Moore's race, which Moore alleges was retaliation following complaints she made about the musical's "hostile" working conditions.
According to the complaint, filed June 8, Moore (then billed as Kim Steele) was hired on or about January 30, 2020. According to Playbill's archives of the production's programs, Steele officially joined the company as part of the Workers Chorus February 11, 2020. Taking the pandemic shutdown into account, Moore's stint in the production was about four months.
The suit alleges that Moore was "fired" following backstage reports of a desire to prevent an all-Black Workers Chorus, which make up the musical's ensemble. The complaint cites an email sent in November 2021 from choreographer David Neumann to the entire cast that "apologiz[ed] for the 'white savior story[.]'" This seems to reflect that the musical's creative team sought to avoid the optics of, within the show's story, having an all-Black ensemble of workers who is saved by Orpheus, played by Reeve Carney (who is white).
According to the suit, Moore complained to a production human resources representative about Neumann's email, "regarding discrimination against her and the 'Workers' Chorus' in the form of hostility and anti-[B]lack sentiment by management with respect to the members of the Workers Chorus." The complaint also alleges that "[o]ther [B]lack and African American members of the Workers Chorus in the Hadestown musical also complained of racial discrimination[.]" The filing does not provide any details about other cast members' complaints.
The filing alleges that soon thereafter, Moore learned the production planned to replace her with a "white woman," after which Moore made a second complaint to a representative of actors union Actors' Equity Association. Three days following the second complaint, Moore says she was informed her time with the production was coming to an end. Moore was offered an additional contract through December 19, 2021, according to the filing, though whether or not she accepted the additional weeks remains unclear. Moore's final performance with the production appears to have been December 7, 2021, according to an Instagram post made by the actor. The complaint says her track was taken over by Emily Afton, who is white. Afton is still in the musical's Broadway company as of the publication of this article.
As for Moore's allegations of "hostility and anti-[B]lack sentiment" while employed by the show, the complaint cites an email from Production Stage Manager Beverly Jenkins allegedly sent to production staff in December, 2021. The filing says that Jenkins, who is herself Black, wrote "there are too many Black people on stage." Playbill was unable to confirm the existence of this e-mail, nor the context of the alleged statement. Moore is seeking damages for "lost wages and benefits," "mental, emotional, and physical injury," and "punitive damages." The amount was not specified in the lawsuit.
Reached for comment, production representatives for Hadestown were not able to provide much clarification or response to Moore's claims, citing "pending litigation," while stating that the allegations "have no merit." The production does, however, specifically challenge Moore's description of having been fired. "In this particular case, a performer was hired as a temporary replacement, and she completed her contracted run in that capacity," reads a statement released June 27.
“Out of respect for members of our company, we don’t get into specific reasons around casting decisions," reads the June 27 statement. "These kinds of decisions are painstakingly considered, and are always based entirely on our goal to maintain the highest caliber of excellence on the stage of the Walter Kerr Theatre each night. In this particular case, a performer was hired as a temporary replacement, and she completed her contracted run in that capacity. The complaint that has been filed by this performer is completely without merit; and we will vigorously defend and stand by our company’s casting decisions.”
In response to requests for clarifications around Moore's contract and Jenkins' alleged December, 2021 e-mail, production representatives sent Playbill the following additional statement: "Due to pending litigation, we are not able to offer additional comment on the complaint filed by this performer. We take this opportunity only to reiterate that the claims have no merit. We look forward to all of the relevant facts coming to light as we vigorously defend the company’s casting decisions."
The Best Musical winner at the 2019 Tony Awards, Hadestown continues its run at the Walter Kerr Theatre.
