Prop. 8 donation raises artists’ ire

The blowback from last week’s passage of Proposition 8, which prohibits same-sex marriage in California, has hit the California Musical Theatre, a major nonprofit stage company in Sacramento, following the revelation via the Web that its artistic director gave $1,000 to back the state constitutional amendment.

Among those weighing in with dismay over Scott Eckern’s donation are Tony winners Jeff Whitty (who wrote the book for “Avenue Q”) and Marc Shaiman (composer and co-lyricist of “Hairspray”). Shaiman said Tuesday that he phoned Eckern on Friday to protest, then e-mailed more than 1,000 contacts to alert them about the donation.

“Of course it’s his right to donate the money,” said Shaiman, who was dismayed that Eckern, artistic director since 2003, had benefited from last season’s touring production of “Hairspray,” then piped money to a cause the L.A.-based Shaiman deplores.

Whitty, whose “Avenue Q” is scheduled to play the Sacramento theater in March, was among those alerted by Shaiman’s e-mail. On Monday he wrote on his whitless.com blog that, “like Marc, I’ll work to prevent CMT from producing any of my future shows with Mr. Eckern at the helm. To me, he’s one of those hypocrites who profits from the contributions of gays . . . but thinks of us as ultimately damned.”

But Tuesday, Whitty reversed his stance on a boycott, blogging that, despite wanting to “make an example of somebody,” Eckern had given him a “convincing and sincere apology” and didn’t deserve to be targeted for more censure.

Whitty said he would “look forward to working with the California Musical Theatre in the future.”

Eckern released a statement Tuesday apologizing “for any harm or injury” caused by his donation. He said he would donate $1,000 -- commensurate to what he gave Proposition 8 backers -- to the Human Rights Campaign, which supports equal rights for gays and lesbians.

After talking with friends and colleagues, he said, “I have a better idea . . . 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.” He noted that his sister, a lesbian, is in a domestic partnership relationship.

Richard Lewis, the executive producer whose family founded California Musical Theatre decades ago, said Eckern’s views were his own, not the theater’s, and affirmed “appreciation . . . for the [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender] community who have played a crucial role in our success.”

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mike.boehm@latimes.com