COUNTERPUNCH LETTERS : Artistic Freedom

I know that Charlton Heston’s Sept. 24 Counterpunch commentary (“Casting--Equity Style--in the Year 1999”) was tongue-in-cheek, and his use of my name was intended as an “Orwellian” provocation rather than a real presentation of either the theater’s situation or my and the Mark Taper Forum’s viewpoints on non-traditional casting. But, just to make sure there are no misunderstandings, here’s how we stand:

We certainly don’t want and would not accept Actors Equity telling us who to cast; we don’t want anyone telling us who to cast. But Chuck Heston’s letter implies that the main enemy in our struggle for artistic freedom is a union, an organization of working artists. This is absolutely not true.

The major threat to our artistic freedom today is coming from an atmosphere created by attacks on the National Endowment for the Arts from members of Congress, the government bureaucracy and right-wing groups across the country. The actors union (along with artists and arts supporters) has been a steadfast supporter in this struggle to counteract this suppression.

And the major challenge concerning artists of color is not fighting off demands from too-powerful minority groups (a real oxymoron) but continuing to empower people of color in our still far too insufficiently integrated society.

The legacy of racism that blights the past and present of our great country demands that we continue to actively and aggressively find ways to overcome that legacy, on our stage and in our offices. Casting a union with a proud history of integrity in racial issues as our chief opponent will not move us forward in any way, even if it comes from Moses himself. We look forward instead to continuing positive and creative dialogue about the problem.

GORDON DAVIDSON

Artistic Director/Producer,

Mark Taper Forum

Producing Director,

Ahmanson at the Doolittle