Producer Scott Rudin has resigned from the Broadway League, a League spokesperson confirmed Saturday.
The decision to resign comes after many of Rudin’s assistants have come forward with reports of workplace harassment, as well as moments in which physical objects were thrown at them. In response, Rudin has said he will “step back” from active producing on his Broadway shows — a move underscored by his decision to leave the League.
Rudin’s resignation is effective immediately, according to the spokesperson.
In resigning from the League, Rudin will no longer be included in the trade organization’s collective bargaining agreements with the theatrical unions. These agreements are gaining more importance, as the League and unions meet to determine terms for Broadway’s reopening.
However, Rudin told the New York Times, which first reported news of the resignation, that other producers will take over his responsibilities on his existing shows. Before the Broadway shutdown, Rudin was a producer on “The Book of Mormon,” “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “West Side Story” and was preparing to open “The Music Man” and “The Lehman Trilogy.”
Rudin did not immediately responded to a request for comment.
Rudin was not on the League’s Board of Governors, which has voting power over the decisions of the League, nor was he listed as a leader of any of the League’s 40-plus task forces — a number which has grown to address the numerous issues included in reopening Broadway.
This marks Rudin’s latest step back from shaping the decisions made on Broadway. As confirmed Friday, Rudin is no longer leading the NYPopsUp festival, which was promoted as a means to shape safety protocols for reopening Broadway and other live events.
Groups of actors, as well as their union, have been calling on the Broadway League to take action on Rudin. In response to demands to put Rudin on Actors’ Equity’s “Do Not Work” list — which would bar any Equity members from working on Rudin’s shows — the union had previously said it was unable to take that step due to the collective bargaining agreement it has with League members.
“Unless or until Scott Rudin’s status as a Broadway League producer changes, our path is to make sure his productions follow the language in our collective bargaining agreements – which require a safe workplace and prohibit bullying and discrimination,” Equity said Thursday.
A spokesperson for Equity did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether the union would now take any further steps.
