Scott Eckern Repents: Casts John C. Reilly, Jack Black, Margaret Cho, Neil Patrick Harris in Marc Shaiman's "Prop 8: The Musical"

All true but for the Scott Eckern part, who is too busy apparently directing a campaign of personal hate against me. Nice and Christian, I suppose.

Well, watch the video. All else is true.

The full credits are:

Conceived and Written (six weeks later than he shoulda) by Marc Shaiman; Directed and Staged by Adam Shankman; Produced by Adam Shankman, Marc Shaiman and Mike Farah; Edited by Bradly Schulz and Drew Antzis; Cast (in order of appearance):

California Gays and The People That Love Them
Jordan Ballard, Margaret Cho, Barrett Foa, J.B. Ghuman, John Hill, Andy Richter, Maya Rudolph, Rashad Naylor, Nicole Parker

Proposition 8'ers and The People That Follow Them:
Prop 8 Leader: John C. Reilly; Prop 8 Leader's #1 Wife: Allison Janney: Prop 8 Leader's #2 Wife: Kathy Najimy; Riffing Prop 8'er: Jenifer Lewis; A Preacher: Craig Robinson; Scary Catholic School Girls From Hell: Rashida Jones, Lake Bell, Sarah Chalke; The Frightened Villagers: Katharine "Kooks" Leonard, Seth Morris, Denise "Esi!" Piane, Lucian Piane, Richard Read, Seth Redford, Quinton Strack, Tate Taylor, Brunson Green;

Jesus Christ: Jack Black

A Very Smart Fellow: Neil Patrick Harris

Piano Player: Marc "Marc" Shaiman
Co-Choreographer: Anne "Mama" Fletcher

Recorded and Mixed by Frank Wolfe & Greg Hayes
Director of Photography: Michael Barrett
Camera Operators: Jake Szymanski, Bradly Schulz and Drew Antzis; Production designer: Nelson Coates; Costume designer: Shanna Knecht; Costume assistants: Leslie Schilling, Annalisa Adams, Elizabeth Abate; Hair: Laura Sanchez; Make-up: Shauna O'Toole, Atticuss Sharp; Production sound: Bradford Craig; Music editor: Lisa Jaime; Music assistant: Brian Naguit; Snacky: "Snacky"

Special Thanks to Adam McKay for the nudge

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The Scott Eckern Aftermath; or, Thank You for the Buzz, Sacramento Bee

It seems there's no let-up in the hate email I'm receiving from the goosestepping wingnuts who believe fighting for gay rights is a matter of hatred -- neatly deflecting the real hatred that oozes from their pores.

And again, just to be clear: If you send me anonymous comments, I will reject them. Each and everey single bloody one of them. You're cowards for not putting your name on what you write. I'd rather -- to quote your favorite American, George W. Bush -- smoke you out of your caves and your holes and have you identified by name. But no, you sit, over your computer, probably porn surfing, railing against all that fails to comport with your faith-based jihad.

One person civil enough to put her name out there is Kellie Randle, who I understand is in public relations. She has created a blog devoted to defending Scott Eckern's right to spend his money in defense of mortally wounding gay rights, or something like that. Actually, I'm glad Scott Eckern has his defenders. And I'm glad there are people out there deluded enough to rise in gales of unalloyed ecstasy in celebration of what he did. Oh--

Let's just be clear, once and for all, about what Eckern did and what exactly is so abhorrent here. Eckern spent $1,000 in support of Proposition 8. Then, when public records brought that fact to light, he said he didn't understand what the proposition was all about. So I, very simply, posted the text of the proposition, which is written in such plain, simple, basic English that if Eckern did not understand it, of what use is he to the musical theatre? Then the right-wing fanatics started railing against the fact that I called him a slime for supporting the proposition. Now, I didn't say Eckern didn't have a right to support the proposition, and I didn't say he didn't have a right to spend his money on it. Of course he had those rights. But why, though, do I not have the right to articulate what I think about it, or what I think of him for doing so? Why is it that the zealots of the right think that any kind of rights at all belong wholly to them?

But there's more here, too. The issue is that Eckern spent the $1,000 and represented himself in doing so as artistic director of California Music Theatre. So, for all appearance's sake as well as in practice, Eckern chose to present that California Music Theatre endorsed Proposition 8. Are any of the right-wing wackos out there unfamiliar with the laws against nonprofits getting involved in political advocacy? No, of course they wouldn't -- these are the same twerps who believe it's all right and well and good for churches to get involved in partisan politics.

It's SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE, PEOPLE!

And if you want that changed, oh, baby, you just go forth and fight for it. We'll fight you and fight you to preserve the separation of church and state in my America forever. You'll never stop us from fighting for that -- and winning. For that's America. That's the real America. That's sacred.

Meanwhile, please allow me to give a shout-out to the Sacramento Bee for mentioning The Clyde Fitch Report in its coverage of this mess. But one nitpick: Marcus Crowder, who wrote the piece, never contacted me. What's up with that?

Finally, let me please thank Scott Eckern. My blog traffic has absolutely gone through the roof since all this began. I couldn't have asked for more attention, quite frankly. I just wish it hadn't been generated by something so personal and inscrutable as faith -- faith that, yes, hurt other people tremendously. How sad, too, how it ended for you, as I didn't recommend that you resign and didn't recommended that your theatre be boycotted. However, rest assured that the LGBT community, far from engaging in McCarthy witchhunt, is giving the religious right a taste of its own bitter, divisive medicine. How much nicer would our nation be if we could all be a little more tolerant of our fellow man? Pity you people will never, ever know.

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Scott Eckern Resigns!

Our long national nightmare isn't over -- Bush is still president -- but according to the Sacramento Bee, antigay supporter Scott Eckern has resigned as artistic director of Sacramento Music Theatre.

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Responses to Comments on Scott Eckern, Lover of Bigotry Enshrouded in God

ADDENDUM: AS OF TODAY I WON'T BE PUBLISHING ANY FURTHER ANONYMOUS COMMENTS ON THE SCOTT ECKERN MATTER. Now, on with the post:

I love when people post anonymous comments on blogs, especially when they're commenting on something controversial and they haven't the balls to actually put their names beside their ideas. Case in point would be all the comments on my two previous Scott Eckern posts. So here, even though you don't deserve it and even though the policy on this blog is not to publish anonymous comments, are some responses:

In response to...

What's worse--that Eckern contributed money to this vile campaign or that he now purports not to have genuinely understood the implications of such an action? That's a troubling double-dose of ignorance, now isn't it?

He is absolutely entitled to his political point of view, and he must also live with the consequences of that. I live in Massachusetts, where marriage equality has been a matter of law for several years now, with no proof whatsoever that
traditional marriage has been damaged in any way whatsoever.

I agree completely. The fact is, heterosexuals, with their 50% divorce rate, are hardly good stewards of the institution of marriage. And when you factor in the cheating that goes on and all the "bi-curious" married men on networking sites and adam4adam and manhunt and whatever, it's all the more unseemly for Eckern and his ilk to do what they did or to issue non-apology apologies. For all I know, Eckern is one of those closeted guys himself. I don't know. And also, this is not about Eckern's right to a political point of view. It is about the right of everyone else to air what they think of it. Eckern can believe the world is flat for all I care. That's his right as an American. It's also my right to say that he supported with his $1,000 the hate-filled agenda of the ultra-far-right and he is, therefore, partly responsible for the evil that infects my nation.

In response to:

In the 1950's there were screenwriters, directors and producers blacklisted - it was called the McCarthy era. What you are supporting is no different. A man exercised his right to vote. What makes you any less despicable than those who blacklisted others before for having a different opinion. Everyone has the right to vote their own choice. 5.6 million people voted for Prop 8 but you joined hatemongers today who conducted a witch hunt. You, Mr. Fitch, are sponsoring un-American tactics no different than persecuting a man for his skin color or religious beliefs or his politics.The bottom line is whether you voted Yes or NO - everyone should have that privilege without persecution and harassment and fear of losing their job. Heil Fitch. Someone forgot to tell me you were made God.

Yes, a man exercised his right to vote. And to spend his money the way he sees fit. And I am exercising, along with countless millions of Americans, the right to declare Scott Eckern a twit and a hate-monger and an imbecile. This isn't blacklisting. This is everyone enjoying their First Amendment rights. As you would have it, such rights would apply to Eckern and to no one else. Thanks for the Hitler analogy, by the way. Nice thing to say to a Jew.

In response to:

As made clear in the above post, what irritates is NOT his vote but his financial support of the measure. His money went into ads that were misleading and FULL of fear-based tactics. Mr. Eckern admits that he was misinformed about the issue: a successful product of the Yes On 8 campaign.

Who the hell cares whether the ad were misleading or if the campaign was full of fear-based tactics. The actual text of Proposition 8, which you can read for yourself here if you weren't so busy defending Eckern's right to propogate hatred and intolerance, states it pretty bloody clearly:

ELIMINATES RIGHT OF SAME–SEX COUPLES TO MARRY. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

Changes the California Constitution to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry in California.

Provides that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.

What on earth is unclear about this? How can Eckern say he misunderstood? If he doesn't understand that, how can he program Avenue Q into his season? Give me a break, Mary.

In response to:

I applaud Mr. Eckern for his openness to working with, hiring, and accepting those with homosexual lifestyles while still holding true to his moral and political beliefs.

It is bigoted and hateful to target those Mormons. They were a small portion of the millions who voted in favor of proposition 8. How wrong of people to do that. You wouldn't dare target african-americans, or their churches even when 70% of those who voted were in favor of proposition 8.

Don't jump on the bandwagon.

There is nothing bigoted and hateful about rising up and speaking out and publicly shaming those who bathe themselves in the politics of bigotry and hatred. Meanwhile, you don't even have the courage to put your name in the comment. How about you show yourself, hm? Be open about who you are and what you believe? I'd have a lot more respect for you then. Coward.

In response to:

Support Scott Eckern's First Amendment Freedom said...

This whole campaign against Scott is the height of hypocrisy. For those who want to know the truth about Scott Eckern visit supportscotteckern.blogspot.com.

Just want God wants: another self-promoting pig.

In response to:

What is wrong with you people? Who are the ones filled with hate? Lobby your opinions fine. Lobby your beliefs fine. But to protest people who have expressed their right to believe something (even if it's wrong) and to destroy their livelihood and their homes?? This blog alone, with the animosity filled postings, makes me want to change my vote. I cannot believe that this blog and this community can breed such hate as you sometimes encounter in your own lives. You are actively condemning an entire religion because some of their members made donations and expressed their opinion. That is free speech. You are attempting to get this man fired for something he believes. Do you think that this man would have fought to get you fired from your job for donating money to gay rights actions or for being gay? I somehow doubt that. I think you seriously should reconsider your actions of "blacklisting" these people because they donated to a cause they thought was right. Gays in California have every right that spouses enjoy except 1; a word. A single word. And for it you are willing to condemn thousands of people for their beliefs because they stood up for something they believe in. I look in their eyes and I see conviction, In your eyes and I see hatred and anger. I don't believe as they do. But based on these actions, I'm almost willing to support them. Appalled in California

Actually, Appalled, if you'd bothered to read what I wrote in the very first place you'd know better than to accuse me of attacking a whole religion. Indeed, I wrote: "According to the same blog, by the way, Eckern is "obviously" Mormon. Here's his bio, for those who want to have a look. I'm not sure the best thing to do is to attack one religion in this case. It is a question of personal morality and responsibility -- unless we know for sure that the Mormon Church told Eckern personally to donate $1,000, we should focus on the facts. A couple of URLs that I checked do confirm, by the way, that Eckern made this donation. The question now is whether anyone in the industry is going to make something out of this."

But frankly, I don't expect you to read, you reflexively antigay idiot. You're appalled at me? Well, I'm appalled at you. I'm appalled that you can walk the same sacred earth I walk and desecrate it so thoroughly with your massive hurling of intolerance. There's a word for you but it's impolite to use it outside a kennel.

In response to:

Or maybe the heart of the problem is that stereotyping and hatred have emerged within the LGBT movement and are reaching levels of hysteria toward the religiously inclined folks they have vilified.

Kitty is right, this does have more to do with general civil liberties than gay rights.

Remember the Methodist church in New Jersey that lost their non-profit status for withholding one of the their buildings, a sanctuary, from the gay wedding requested for their site.

Remember the father in Massachusetts that spent the night in jail demanding his promised "opt out" rights for his kindergartner.

This is about freedom of speech and freedom to follow your religious conscience within the confines of your own church, and home.

Multiple precedent setting cases have occurred removing rights from those that exercise their conscience. Tolerance now can only be expected if your sexual orientation is at stake, not your religious beliefs.

If only religion were still considered a civil right and private citizens could still voice their opinion without fear. Scott Eckern has experienced something that should never have happened in our country.

One can only hope that some day the LGBT population will learn to tolerate freedom of speech and the constitutionally designed civil right of religion. I have never infringed on others rights to live their lives as they see fit, but please don't ask any church to condone and perform gay marraiges that violate the foundation of their beliefs. Give me a bill expanding civil union benefits and I will be first in line to pass it, as long as it doesn't curtail the freedom of speech of others.

An old saying from the WWII era goes something like this, "Your right to move your fist ends where my nose begins." Please stop swinging your political fists. Religious folks didn't start this fight...we are defending our God-given right to worship.

Once again, you nitwit, no one's free speech has been curtailed. The real question is why you are so sinful as to hijack your religion, assuming that one of its basic precepts of tolerance. At the end of the day, you're intolerant. You're no better than the people who lynched African Americans during the 19th and 20th centuries, you're no better than the Nazis who gassed six million of my fellow Jews. You're no better than the Pol Pots of the world with your faith and piety and belief and religion because you use those qualities, those belief, those hatreds, to ruin people's lives, to hurt your fellow man. You're disgusting.

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Scott Eckern: I'm Sorry I Was Such An Ignorant, Thoughtless, Antigay Imbecile!

Ugh. Apparently, artistic director Scott Eckern of California Music Theatre has issued an apology for having donated $1,000 in support of Prop 8.

Quoting from the Broadwayworld.com link that contains the apology:

"I understand that my choice of supporting Proposition 8 has been the cause of many hurt feelings maybe even betrayal. It was not my intent. I honestly had no idea that this would be the reaction. I chose to act upon my belief that the traditional definition of marriage should be preserved. I support each individual to have rights and access and I understood that in California domestic partnerships come with the same rights that come with marriage."

As has been revealed to Mr. Eckern and others who at first supported Prop 8, the rights afforded people by domestic partnerships and civil unions are not equal to those of married couples. This is in sheer contradiction to the advertisements used by the "Yes on 8" campaign. It was made clear to Mr. Eckern that the anger and betrayal felt by the community was not over his vote, but by his contribution towards an organization trying to win, by not being truthful about the facts.

Mr. Eckern went on to say: "I definitely do not support any message or treatment of others that is hateful or instills fear. This is a highly emotional issue. I have now had many conversations with friends and colleagues and I now have a better idea of what the discrimination issues are, how deeply felt these issues are and I am deeply saddened that my acting upon my religious convictions has been devastating to those I love and admire...I am deeply sorry for any harm or injury I have caused."

In addition to his apology, Mr. Eckern has made a contribution of $1000 towards the fight for equal rights for all.

And all that jazz.

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Scott Eckern: Enemy of Freedom, Lover of Bigotry, Death and Hatred

It seems that many people are reporting and/or blogging about the fact that a fellow named Scott Eckern, who is artistic director of California Musical Theatre, which this blog says is "Sacramento’s oldest professional performing arts organization and California’s largest nonprofit musical theatre company, donated $1,000 in support of that state's Proposition 8.

Scott Eckern, you are an enemy of all that is good in America. You deserve not only to be fired, you should be viciously attacked using words and nothing but words by the men and women of the American theatre. And then you should go back to whatever rock you crawled out from under. Slime.

According to the same blog, by the way, Eckern is "obviously" Mormon. Here's his bio, for those who want to have a look. I'm not sure the best thing to do is to attack one religion in this case. It is a question of personal morality and responsibility -- unless we know for sure that the Mormon Church told Eckern personally to donate $1,000, we should focus on the facts. A couple of URLs that I checked do confirm, by the way, that Eckern made this donation. The question now is whether anyone in the industry is going to make something out of this.

The list of the company's board is here. If we were collectively smart, we'd start lobbying those guys ASAP, too.

And here's a much more extensive list of those who contributed to the success of Prop 8.

And apparently the actor Susan Egan is putting out the following letter, which I received via Facebook:

Dear Friends --

I thought you might be interested to know that Scott Eckern, Artsitic Director of California Music Theatre (Sacramento Music Circus) contributed $1000 in support of California's divisive Proposition 8, which eliminates (not just bans) the right for same-sex couples to marry and receive all of the emotional, economic, and social benefits that married couples often take for granted. Mr. Eckern's affiliation with CMT, as well as his title and the amount donated to legislate the lives of others, is public information that can be found at

http://antigayblacklist.com

Marc Shaiman, composer (most notably of "Hairspray", which was produced at CMT last year) has already contacted Sacramento's CMT and expressed his disgust with the idea that a theatrical organization, employing and making money from gay artists and audience members, harbors an executive who uses a portion of his income to publicly support hate legislation (my term). I believe Mr. Shaiman may have told them they would no longer be allowed to produce his work, and has contacted the creators of "Avenue Q" (to be produced in March of '09) to enlighten them.

I am deeply troubled by the news about Scott, as I have worked for and known him since 1993. I find his behavior hypocritical at best and, more likely, distressingly prejudiced. Many of you friends who, like myself, have worked for Scott might be floored to know this news. I think at this point I shall do my best to "out" him and any others like him. Folks who show (and make money) playing one game, but with an inner intolerance that denies everything our industry represents.

I have personally been in contact with Marc Shaiman to confirm all the information. In his words:

"Yes, it's all true! Of course, there is nothing much I can do since they've already done HAIRSPRAY, but the AVE Q guys (at least one of them) may do something, perhaps picket his own show! But, as I hope people realize, it is not really up to a writer to cancel a production that has already been licensed.

What I could do I did, which was to call Mr. Eckern directly and say what I had to say. Reading this past week how people still actually think being gay is a choice (the only choice we make is not to lie about who we are) and that that one line from a beautiful book proves we are sinners (a book that also allows for the stoning of wives and of people who wear two different kinds of fabric at the same time), well, I am starting to feel that the only way to make people change is, I think, to now greet every person I meet and say "Hi, I'm Marc, God made me gay and I think that that He and I are both fabulous!" and leave the rest up to them."

Sacramento Music Circus holds a cherished place in my heart, primarily because of Leland Ball and the inspirational talents he would gather for his productions. I feel the spirit of Leland is lost under Scott's leadership. As a private citizen I choose not to support California Music Theatre while it operates under Mr. Eckern's tenure.

I support Marc Shaiman in his boycott of CMT, and hope others will follow -- as ticket-buyers, writers, musical directors, crew, designers and performers and more.

I feel compelled to write because I have heard from so many beloved friends the last few days. People who are in every way caring and generous citizens. Friends who are for the most part very quiet on the political front, who have had to awaken because of last Tuesday, due to their shock that their lifestyles are not "accepted" by so-called friends!! The irony of electing Obama and Prop 8 passing astounds me.

I am not ordinarily a political fighter, but I do believe in information for all, and let them decide. And more than anything I believe in "holding the space" for what is right.

In support of my gay and lesbian friends I find it a travesty that the entire arts community is not standing in solidarity for equal rights. Shame on Scott.

That our industry should be the first to raise money and awareness for AIDS to the result of awakening a country and world to the issue ... well then, marriage (and every other sort of) equality is a no-brainer ... and a duty and obligation.

I hope with this email to find others to "hold the space" with me .... full equality in marriage rights. If you should feel compelled to pass the information about Scott Eckern on to others .... by all means do.

Hoping for change .... still,

Susan Egan

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