![]() ![]() About halfway through the event, Schaeffer approached him. ![]() Keegan was standing near the back of the venue watching his wife, the actor Alyssa Wilmoth Keegan, co-host the show. Keegan says the 2018 incident occurred at the Helen Hayes Awards, a professional theater awards show for the Washington region, at the Anthem in Southwest D.C. ![]() Theater professionals who spoke to WAMU say that despite these blurry lines, Schaeffer acted inappropriately. The allegations name employees of more than 20 theaters and university theater departments in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. More than 70 members of a private Facebook group for women and non-binary local theater professionals have posted about inappropriate workplace behavior, harassment, and, in some cases, rape. theater professionals have shared stories of sexual harassment and assault at theaters across the region. Signature has won a Tony and nearly 100 Helen Hayes awards under his leadership. theater community: He is one of the longest serving artistic directors in the region. Schaeffer is a prominent figure in the D.C. Schaeffer announced his retirement to the board Tuesday evening, after WAMU presented Signature with allegations from Keegan and other individuals about inappropriate behavior. Signature also disputed characterizations of the company culture as being overly sexualized. Signature's statement on Monday reiterating its support for Schaeffer led actors and theater professionals to share their own stories about a sexualized atmosphere they say Schaeffer fostered. To do so, it needs to pull together, dedicate itself to the work, and avoid the toxic polarization that damages not just the institutions, but the work itself, the art." His retirement is effective on June 30. In a statement, Schaeffer did not address the allegations, instead saying: "I hope that the next generation of leaders can weather the many storms our profession faces. Signature posted a statement Monday night calling the allegation "false, misleading and without merit." In a statement to WAMU, the company said it hired a law firm to investigate the claim in 2018 and found it to be not valid. Eric Schaeffer's resignation comes as dozens of theater professionals share stories of sexual harassment and assault at theaters around the region.Įric Schaeffer, the co-founder and artistic director of Signature Theatre in Arlington is leaving the company amid accusations of sexually inappropriate behavior.Īllegations about Schaeffer's behavior began to multiply after the actor Thomas Keegan wrote this week on his Facebook page about a May 2018 incident in which he alleges Schaeffer groped his genitals. ![]()
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