Playwrights Horizons is being sued for racial discrimination.
A class action lawsuit was filed December 22 in New York Federal Court, claiming that the Off-Broadway venue engaged in unlawful racial discrimination by offering ticket discounts for BIPOC audience members for a November 6, 2025 performance of Practice by Nazareth Hassan.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York by plaintiff Kevin Lynch, a known agitator against diversity and equity initiatives in the American theatre. Lynch, who is a cis white man, previously filed a federal complaint with the NEA against Maestra Music, an advocacy group that elevates and supports female and nonbinary musicians, arguing that its training programs discriminate against male musicians. Lynch is an active member and essayist for the organization Fair For All, a non-profit dedicated to dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion programs across the United States.
In his newest lawsuit, Lynch notes that Playwrights Horizons offered $39 discounted tickets to BIPOC audience members for the November 6 performance of the play Practice, for an event that was marketed as a BIPOC Affinity Night. Audiences were encouraged to use the discount code BIPOCNIGHT. Lynch says he paid the full ticket price, which was $90.
Lynch's filing asserts that Playwrights Horizons violated federal civil rights law under 42 U.S.C. §1981, as well as the New York State Human Rights Law, New York Civil Rights Law, and the New York City Human Rights Law. He is seeking class certification on behalf of all white ticket buyers, declaratory relief, compensatory and punitive damages, statutory penalties, attorneys’ fees, and a jury trial. Playwrights Horizons has not yet filed a response to the complaint.
The case against Playwrights Horizons is facilitated by national lawyer Edward Blum, who has made his name challenging affirmative action and other race-based policies in higher education. Blum is the leader of his own anti-DEI organization, American Alliance for Equal Rights, that has filed 21 lawsuits in the last two years, successfully getting the Supreme Court to overturn affirmative action in college admissions in 2023.
In a statement to The New York Times, Playwrights Horizons stated "This is a meritless lawsuit, and Playwrights Horizons intends to defend itself in court."
Within the theatre industry, it has become standard practice to offer ticket discounts to different subgroups in order to attract new audiences. Student discounts, veterans discounts, senior discounts, and discounts for patrons with disabilities are common across Broadway and regional theatres.
Hayward Leach in Practice
Company of Practice
Alex Wyse in Practice
Mark Junek in Practice
Ronald Peet in Practice
Maya Margarita in Practice
Susannah Perkins in Practice
Amandla Jahava in Practice
Opa Adeyemo and Susannah Perkins in Practice
Company of Practice
