I Stand With The Rep

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/events/708146285915294/
From Jeff Johnson, a friend of the Repertory East Playhouse:

"Hi friends. I am contacting you because one of our local theatres needs us. As most, if not all of you, know the REP is taking a bit of a pummeling in the media and has had a difficult last week. They have been subjected to half truths, outright lies and spin partly by individuals who are looking to self-promote. This is OUR theatre, in OUR community and to quote the Dude, this aggression will not stand. In all seriousness we need to defend it and protect it.

There are many parts of this story that are just now coming out to combat the sensationalism that has taken place but suffice it to say that an actor took it upon themselves to leave the stage and assault an audience member who was using bigoted slurs. When the executive Director expressed his disappointment in how he reacted the actor blew up at him screaming expletives in his face on the sidewalk on Main Street to the point that both he and others who witnessed it thought it likely he was going to throw punches at Mike O. He did not but his reaction reinforced their concerns and, even though he had said he was quitting the show, O made it clear he was not welcome back.

This was not a decision that was taken lightly and it came at considerable cost to The REP. They anticipate losing close to $6,000 dollars from ending the run early, not to mention losing the opportunity to win future patrons who would have seen the show because by all accounts it was phenomenal. Additionally there is the concern of what the revenue impact will be from the negative publicity... frankly they need a few friends right now and I am asking you to be there for them in one or all of the following ways.

1) The REP needs money. I am not one to ask something that I won't do myself so I have made a donation to help them offset their revenues. But they need more help. If you can give $1,000, $500, $250, $100 great! If not can you skip your $5 coffee one day this next week or pack a lunch and skip the $10 meal??? It doesn't have to be a lot, if we all do it it WILL add it up. Here is the easiest way to donate, just use their 2000 $10's link on the bottom of this page and you're set! There is also a group of us who are involved in the local theatre community who have gotten together and are going to be putting some small fundraisers at the rep and we will post updates here, I hope you will join us for fun filled evenings that will also have a benefit to our theatre.

2) The REP needs positive PR and we can all help. It is time to change the tone of the discussion on this issue and remind people in our community what the REP has done over the last decade, do not let them be defined by this one isolated incident. We know that the REP does not condone homophobic or bullying behavior and they don't condone violence. What I am asking you to do here, if you're comfortable, is be some positive publicity for the REP. We all know different people and if we all do it we have the potential to reach many in our community and spread the word. I have given it a lot of thought and I think the best way to do this is with our facebook statuses. First, flood FB with ‪#‎IStandWithThe‬REP and then simply follow it by one of your favorite experiences or memories at the REP, easy as that. Share with people what you have experienced there. If you have multiple great memories great! Share them over a couple of days but PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE help us share the positive legacy of the REP with others.

3) On Sunday June 22nd at 6pm at the REP we will be hosting a town hall style meeting to discuss issues of discrimination in the LGBTQ community. There will be a panel discussion, a moderator and audience feedback and questions for local community leaders, REP alum etc. We will be discussing the role's that bullying take and the way that as a community we can best respond. Please join us for that, more information will follow here as we solidify details.