As most in the theatre community, especially the California theatre community, may know by now, Scott Eckern the Artistic Director of the California Music Theatre Company has resigned under pressure from advocates of No on Prop 8.

The Backstage Blog (aka Lauren Horwitch and company) has more information about the specific details and players involved here.

Eckern’s response, resigning, and his public statment were certainly signs of his classiness and professionalism and definitely a sign of his respect for the institute he ran. Not sure how to feel about the whole situation. Every individual certainly has a right to their opinion in the political arena, and every OTHER individual certainly has a right to respond to that opinion in kind. Which in many instances – especially when you’re part of an organized, mobilized group – takes the shape of a potential boycott. Or in the Mormon Church’s instance – public protest.

I’m sure Eckern will land on his feet. And in many ways this is an example of the “free market” in action. What the market doesn’t like – it corrrects. Too bad those folks in DC don’t see it that way. They could take a page from the California Theatre Community.

But there is one troubling aspect to the whole affair: do we as a community want total agreement amongst ourselves on all social issues? I remember when Larry Summers at Harvard brought up the idea that possibly women weren’t “built” for the world of science and mathematics (I’m pulling this right out of my ass here and totally paraphrasing so cut me some slack) and he was literally ridden out of town on a rail. Part of me thought; aren’t universities the places where these types of debates should happen? What happened to the passionate exchange of ideas? I didn’t agree with the guy, but should he have been forced to resign because the majority of the community disagreed? I mean, it’s not like he PLAGIARIZED something!

So harkening back to Eckern at CMT – the guy didn’t seem like a homophobe or a demagogue or really a mean guy or anything – I don’t know him personally of course – so did CMT do themselves a disservice by basically showing him the door? I know that’s not exactly how it happened – Eckern resigned because he didn’t want to bring any more bad press to CMT and stave off a potential boycott – but CMT certainly could have stood beside him, yes? Or had he crossed a line that was just absolutely irredeemable?

Take a look at our new Commander-in-Chief. See how he’s dealing with that rogue Joe Lieberman. Better to keep your dissenters close and in the fold, especially when they have something postive to offer beyond what you disagree with? An interesting lesson perhaps. It’ll be fascinating to see how the Democratic party responds to their new leader’s request.

I voted against Prop 8, because Constitutionally it seems to be a no-brainer. Equal rights for all. But I also know that all those that supported or voted FOR Prop 8 are not evil, bigotted, homophobes. Some of them are my friends. Their arguments hold some validity. And I’m certainly not going to disown them because we disagree.