These articles dramatize, sadly, who was listened to and who wasn’t when sexual allegations were made against playwright Israel Horovitz in the early ’90s.

Note: Below are posted the Boston Globe and Gloucester Daily Times responses to my August 6 and 13 1993 Boston Phoenix reports on Israel Horovitz and accusations of sexual harassment at the Gloucester Theater Company. They dramatize, sadly, who was listened to and who wasn’t in the sexual allegations against the playwright, whose credentials and awards are repeated (often) in each article.

To my knowledge, no substantial investigative work was done on these charges by the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, or Gloucester Daily Times after Horovitz’s public statement and the GSC Board announced it was issuing a written sexual harassment policy. I have included, after the second Gloucester Daily Times piece, Horovitz’s full statement to the GSC board. The Boston Globe edited his text, removing, for example, that the dramatist stated that he and his wife were going to renew their marriage vows at a synagogue.

— Bill Marx

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The Boston Globe

August 6, 1993, Friday, City Edition

Sex harassment allegations jolt Gloucester Stage

BYLINE: By Barbara Carton, Globe Staff

SECTION: LIVING; Pg. 41

LENGTH: 842 words

The president of the board of the Gloucester Stage Company said yesterday that several female employees told him last year of unwanted sexual advances made against them by award-winning playwright and artistic director Israel Horovitz.

But Barry Y. Weiner, a lawyer, said the allegations from the actresses and other female staff members did not sound like sexual harassment to him, even though one woman complained that Horovitz had French-kissed her. Weiner said he did not formally notify the board of the complaints but that he planned to do so now following publication of the allegations yesterday in the weekly Boston Phoenix.

Horovitz, reached at his Gloucester home yesterday, refused to comment.

In telephone interviews this week, Weiner said he did ask business manager Ian McColl to keep an eye on Horovitz last year, and report back if he spotted any unusual behavior.

“Nothing,” said Weiner.

Weiner said that he had never informed Horovitz that he was being secretly observed by McColl, in part because he didn’t want to “alert” Horovitz, and because Horovitz, the winner of two Obies, an Emmy and other awards, traveled a lot and was out of town at the time.

Weiner also said he had never demanded a formal inquiry, since the women he spoke with – he thinks there were between three and six – had never asked for that. Also, he said none complained of fondling, only of inappropriate hugging and kissing, which Weiner said is endemic in the theater world.

“But I did not inquire, frankly,” he pointed out.

He said, however, that the women had had ample time to “really chat” with him, and to voice whatever concerns they may have had, and “the stuff I read in the Phoenix – I never heard any of that from those people or anywhere else.”

Looking back, Weiner said, he was further convinced that their case was weak after the women told him that they had never actually complained to Horovitz himself, and that all of the incidents had taken place in public view – “It wasn’t in a closet or anything.”

He also said that he viewed their complaints about the 54-year-old Horovitz, whose plays include “The Indian Wants the Bronx,” “Park Your Car in Harvard Yard” and “The Widow’s Blind Date,” as “an effort by some people to stick it to him.”

Weiner said earlier this week that he knew a story about Horovitz was about to be published in the Phoenix, and that the topic would probably come up at the routine monthly meeting of the stage company’s board.

Yesterday, he said the meeting was still on, though he would not say when it was scheduled. He also said that the Phoenix story would be discussed but he could not say what, if any, action would be taken.

“It’s very difficult to react to allegations like that, where you don’t know the sources. You’re sort of battling windmills, or ghosts. It’s quite difficult, but the entire subject will be brought up.”

Weiner said he did not call board members in advance of the Phoenix story because the sort of allegations he feared were “not the kind of thing I’m going to have 12 different discussions about” and because he felt the board, as a whole, “ought to talk.”

Several board members could not be reached for comment late yesterday.

Weiner also said that he had warned Horovitz earlier this week of a possible story, and that Horovitz “had an aneurysm – not literally, but figuratively.”

“First of all,” said Weiner, “he was very quiet when I spoke to him, and very disappointed. He wasn’t shouting or anything like this. And he said, ‘I can’t understand this. I’ve never done anything.’ ”

Weiner said he couldn’t understand it, either. He said he didn’t want to “push” the women into filing a complaint by ignoring their allegations. But, he added, “what I’ve got so far, and what I’ve heard so far, is a bunch of crap.”

The women, speaking only on the condition that their names would not be used, alleged in the Phoenix that Horovitz had used inappropriate language, had French-kissed them against their will and had fondled them. The situation was so fearful, they said, that they set up a buddy system for protection, so no woman would ever be alone with Horovitz in the theater.

All reportedly said they decided not to go public with their complaints because they were afraid of professional retribution and because they feared that nobody would believe them.

In talking to the Globe earlier this week, several alleged a pattern of sexual harassment during the 1991-’92 theater season. The alleged harassment consisted primarily of cornering women – mostly younger, attractive, vulnerable-seeming women – then grabbing and French-kissing them. Some claimed Horovitz did this repeatedly.

“There’s a real fear,” said one woman, when asked why she didn’t go public in print or go to court. “We’re just scared. We’ve talked about Anita Hill. What good did going public do her? No good at all. I don’t personally believe any woman would make this up. But that doesn’t mean any man is going to believe it.”

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The Boston Globe

August 19, 1993, Thursday, City Edition

A public statement by Israel Horovitz

SECTION: ARTS & FILM; Pg. 61

LENGTH: 474 words

There have been articles written about me in the Boston Phoenix containing anonymous allegations of sexual harassment. These articles are amorphous and filled with lies and malice.

I have been contacted by many people who were interviewed by the author of the Boston Phoenix articles, and who reported that they were present at Gloucester Stage during the time of the alleged harassment of women, yet never saw nor heard anything even vaguely approaching the nature of the allegations. None of these people were quoted in the Boston Phoenix articles, for reasons known only to the author of the articles.

Professional performers at Gloucester Stage are members of Actors Equity. Allegations of sexual harassment are taken very seriously by this union. Equity Stage Managers, who are present at every rehearsal and every performance at Gloucester Stage (or any other Equity-contract theatre), are instructed in great detail how to handle allegations of sexual harassment, or, for that matter, any charge made by any performer at any time. In Gloucester Stage Company’s 14-year history, there has never been a single allegation of sexual harassment reported to a stage manager or filed with Actors Equity. I should add that non-members who work at Gloucester Stage are considered to be union-candidates and share the same protection as any fully pledged union member.

I have been told that Actors Equity contacted the Boston Phoenix asserting the fact that in 14 years, not a single report of sexual harassment was registered. The first of the two Boston Phoenix articles did not contain a report of this information. The second article mentioned the information, but underplayed its importance.

I cannot go through each and every allegation made in the Phoenix articles, as they were made anonymously, thus, necessary specific details such as “who” and “where” are not available to me for refutation. In the end, the articles represent a character assassination. Needless to say, the articles and the ensuing scandal have brought indescribable pain to me, to Gillian, my beautiful wife, and to my innocent children. The allegations and the articles they have engendered are cruel beyond even a dramatist’s imagination . . . without the slightest regard for the pain brought needlessly into my life, or into the lives of my wife and children.

I now wish to make a statement, publicly, simply and clearly, I deny all of the allegations made against me in the Boston Phoenix articles. I have never, and will never, knowingly sexually harass any woman. If I have unknowingly offended any woman, I deeply and sincerely apologize.

Finally, I beg of both my dear friends and my committed enemies, alike: enough is enough. We must all somehow learn from this experience . . . and grow . . . and go on with our lives.

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The Boston Globe

August 19, 1993, Thursday, City Edition

Gloucester Stage issues harassment policy

BYLINE: By Barbara Carton, Globe Staff

SECTION: ARTS & FILM; Pg. 61

LENGTH: 513 words

After several female employees recently alleged that Gloucester Stage Company artistic director and award-winning playwright Israel Horovitz had made unwanted sexual advances, the company’s board yesterday responded by issuing a written sexual harassment policy.

Board President Barry Y. Weiner did not respond to telephone calls yesterday and so could not be asked to elaborate on the reasons for the policy. Nor was he available to comment on whether the anonymous charges, which Horovitz vehemently denied, were under investigation, or whether there would be further changes at the theater company.

In a brief, prepared statement accompanying the release of the new policy, Weiner said the board had voted to take steps to make employees aware of “firmer and more open” rules regarding harassment. “We want everyone to be able to work in an atmosphere of trust – an atmosphere that is open and sensitive and in which there is no need to act anonymously,” he wrote.

Weiner, a trial attorney, also said the policy would provide Gloucester Stage with a formal mechanism for understanding and dealing with complaints if they arise. The policy stipulates that if an employee is found guilty of harassment, “prompt appropriate disciplinary action” will be taken, possibly including removal. In addition, the board named an ombudsman to receive complaints if they occur: Jean Cooney, a longtime Gloucester Stage board member and volunteer. She could not be reached yesterday afternoon.

No specific mention in the policy is made of the allegations against Horovitz printed by the Boston Phoenix, which consisted of anonymous complaints by actresses and other female staff members that Horovitz not only French-kissed and hugged them, but also fondled them against their will. The situation was so fearful, they charged, that they set up a buddy system for protection, so no woman would be alone with Horovitz in the theater.

Horovitz meanwhile declined public comment yesterday, preferring to stand behind the official two-page statement he released last week, in which he defends his innocence and claims he has never, “and will never, knowingly sexually harass any woman.” He also said the scandal has brought “indescribable pain to me, to Gillian, my beautiful wife, and to my innocent children.” Horovitz decried the Phoenix articles, calling them “amorphous and filled with lies and malice” and said they amounted to “character assassination.”

Horovitz did say yesterday, however, that he expects to remain in his job at Gloucester Stage and that the current theater season, which began this spring, would continue uninterrupted. Currently, his company is performing the New England premiere of Arthur Miller’s new play, “The Last Yankee,” and next week will begin the premiere of Horovitz’s new play, “Fighting over Beverley.”

The 54-year-old Horovitz’s other plays include “The Indian Wants the Bronx,” “Park Your Car in Harvard Yard” and “The Widow’s Blind Date.” A Gloucester resident, he is the winner of two Obies and an Emmy, among other awards.

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GLOUCESTER DAILY TIMES, August 6, 1993

Playwright target of harassment claims
By RICHARD SALIT
and DAVID OLSON
Times staff

Six young women associated with the Gloucester Stage Company have told a Boston alternative newspaper that playwright Israel Horovitz sexually harassed them between 1989 and 1992.

According to the Boston Phoenix, the women have accused the 54-year-old artistic director and award-winning playwright of using offensive language, kissing them inappropriately or sexually fondling them. The accusations were made anonymously.

Horovitz, who summers in Gloucester, told the Gloucester Daily Times this morning he had no immediate comment.

But Barry Weiner, president of the stage company board of directors, told the Times yesterday: “I talked to Israel (before the Phoenix story came out) and he has vehemently indicated that he has never harassed anyone. I’m sure that his position would not be any different now.”

In all, the Phoenix story, written by a regular free-lancer, said 13 women indicated they were either personally harassed or molested by Horovitz or knew of such behavior. The women asked not to be identified for fear of humiliation and jeopardizing their careers, but said they would come forward should the Boston weekly be sued. None of the women are apparently pursuing any legal action.

In a telephone interview, Weiner told the Times that he wasn’t sure what steps the theater board will take in the wake of the allegations.

“It’s a very serious allegation and you need to be very careful in looking at those things, not brushing them aside but not overreacting either,” he said.

The women interviewed by the Phoenix — mostly in their 20s or younger — said that Horovitz had used inappropriate language, fondled them and French-kissed them against their will. They also reported using a “buddy system” in which they would keep an eye out for Horovitz to watch out for each other when Horovitz was around.

Weiner acknowledged that last fall three or four women from the theater came forward to complain that the playwright had “hugged and kissed” them during the 1992-93 season. They said they had not confronted Horovitz personally.

Weiner downplayed the complaints, saying, “It’s common for movie and theater people. From my observations, they are a very ‘touchy-feely’ group. They’re very warm with each other. They hug each other and kiss each other.

“That’s the kind of conduct I was told about. It did not rise to the level of sexual harassment.”

Weiner is quoted in the Phoenix as saying that Horovitz “is huggy and kissy. He gives me a kiss, and I’m over 6 feet tall.”

In the Times interview, Weiner said the board “talked about it and we collectively felt the conduct described fell far short of being sexual harassment. Having been told what I was told, I felt that we had appropriately discharged our responsibility.”

Weiner said he and the board had asked the new business director, Ian McColl, to “be vigilant” and “make sure no one was being put in an unwarranted situation.”

“If anything was going on,” Weiner said, “it would be immediately stopped.”

The business director, Weiner said, “assured me nothing was happening (during this season).”

Weiner said it was only when the Phoenix came out this week that he heard of more serious allegations against Horovitz. Weiner did, however, tell the Phoenix that one woman had complained of French-kissing.

Weiner said he first heard complaints about sexual harassment during a meeting to evaluate the performance of the former business director, Mary John Boylan, who was later dismissed from the job.

Weiner suggested to the Phoenix that the women’s allegations may be related to their unhappiness over the movement against Boylan, who wasn’t named in the story.

Phoenix Editor Peter Kadzis, reached at his office this morning, said, “We stand by our story 100 percent. This is a story about six women…six women who charge they were sexually harassed. None of those six women were ever fired by the Gloucester Stage Company.”

Boylan could not be reached for comment. In a message on her answering machine, she said she would be out of town for a few days.

Stage company publicist Heidi Dallin said this morning the Phoenix article caught her totally by surprise.

“I have known Israel since I was 17 and I’ve never had a problem,” said the 28-year-old Gloucester native. “Israel has treated me with the utmost respect. He has been a friend, mentor and father figure.”

When asked if she had ever heard of any incident of sexual harassment involving Horovitz, Dallin said, “There are always rumors going around.” But, she said, “I know what happens to me and that’s the only thing I can take as a fact.”

With the women making the allegations anonymously, said Weiner, “It’s a lot like fighting shadows.”

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GLOUCESTER DAILY TIMES, August 13, 1993

Playwright denies harassment claims
By RICHARD SALIT
Times staff

Gloucester playwright Israel Horovitz yesterday issued an emotional public statement denying recent allegations of sexual harassment reported in an alternative weekly newspaper.

The statement followed publication of an article in yesterday’s Boston Phoenix — the second in two weeks — in which four more women anonymously said the award-winning playwright had sexually harassed them.

“I deny all of the allegations made against me in the Boston Phoenix articles,” Horovitz said in the prepared statement (see text below). “I have never, and will never, knowingly sexually harass any woman. If I have unknowingly offended any woman, I deeply and sincerely apologize.”

While the first article last week contained accusations made by six women said to be involved with the Gloucester Stage Co., yesterday’s story included similar allegations by three of Horovitz’ past nannies. The Phoenix said the nannies had no connection to the theater.

Barry Weiner, president of the theater’s board of director[s], had initially suggested to the Phoenix that the sexual harassment allegations may be coming from women unhappy with the firing this past year of business director Mary John Boylan.

Horovitz himself made a similar suggestion yesterday but said he would not pursue it, according to a report in the Boston Herald this morning.

This morning, Boylan told the Times that “for reasons that I am unable to fathom, my name continues to surface in connection with this story. This has caused me a great deal of distress, especially since I have consistently declined to comment on the allegations (against Horovitz).”

“I still respectfully decline to comment on the substance of the allegations, but wish to state that I had nothing whatsoever to do with instigating the original article in the Phoenix, and that I have not at anytime urged Stage Company employees or former employees with grievances to seek redress in the press.”

Weiner this morning did not comment on or explain his previous suggestion that the allegations were connected to the firing. Horovitz did not comment to the Times beyond releasing the statement.

Weiner was contacted at his Gloucester home this morning and said he could not be interviewed until he arrived at his Boston law office. He could not be reached there and did not return calls; he had been told the nature of the questions he would be asked.

Weiner and other board members had a meeting last night during which they listened to Horovitz read his statement.

Board members reached this morning declined comment, referring all questions to Weiner.

None of the unidentified women interviewed by the Phoenix are apparently pursuing legal action. The newspaper reported they said Horovitz had — against their will — French-kissed them, fondled them and used inappropriate sexual language with them.

In his denial, Horovitz said sexual harassment allegations have never been filed against him with Actors Equity, the theatrical performers union.

“In Gloucester Stage Co.’s 14-year history, there has never been a single allegation of sexual harassment reported to a stage manager or filed with Actors Equity,” Horovitz said.

“I cannot go through each and every allegation made in the Phoenix articles, as they were made anonymously, thus, necessary specific details such as ‘who,’ ‘when’ and ‘where’ are not available to me for refutation.

“In the end the articles represent character assassination.”

The allegations have been repeated in reports in the Boston Globe and the trade publication Variety, based on the first Phoenix story.

Heidi Dallin, the stage company publicity director, said this morning that ticket sales have not been hurt by the adverse publicity.

In fact, she said, last night’s performance of Arthur Miller’s “The Last Yankee” was sold out. Advance ticket sales for Horovitz’s own “Fighting over Beverley” are doing well, she added.

“People seem to be showing support for the theater,” Dallin said.

Dallin said that Horovitz has addressed the allegations in his conversations with cast and crew members and in the remarks he often makes to the audience before plays begin.

Horovitz, who summers in East Gloucester, has written the screenplay “Author, Author” and the plays “Park Your Car in Harvard Yard” and “The Widow’s Blind Date.”

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GLOUCESTER DAILY TIMES, Friday, August 13, 1993

Horovitz responds * Statement issued by playwright

The following is the text, in its entirety, of playwright Israel Horovitz’s statement last night to the Gloucester Stage Company board of directors.

There have been articles written about me in the Boston Phoenix containing anonymous allegations of sexual harassment. These articles are amorphous and filled with lies and malice.

I have been contacted by many people who were interviewed by the author of the Boston Phoenix articles, and who reported that they were present at Gloucester Stage during the time of the alleged harassment of women, yet never saw nor heard anything even vaguely approaching the nature of the allegations. None of these people were quoted in the Boston Phoenix articles, for reasons known only to the author of the articles.

Professional performers at Gloucester Stage are members of Actors Equity. Allegations of sexual harassment are taken very seriously by this union. Equity Stage Managers, who are present at every rehearsal and every performance at Gloucester Stage (or any other Equity-contract theater), are instructed in great detail how to handle allegations of sexual harassment, or, for that matter, any charge made by any performer at any time. In Gloucester Stage company’s 14-year history, there has never been a single allegation of sexual harassment reported to a stage manager or filed with Actors Equity. I should add that non-members who work at Gloucester Stage are considered to be union-candidates and share the same protection as any fully-fledged union member.

I have been told that Actors Equity contacted the Boston Phoenix asserting the fact that in 14 years, not a single report of sexual harassment was registered. The first of the two Boston Phoenix articles did not contain a report of this information. The second article mentioned the information, but, underplayed its importance.

I cannot go through each and every allegation made in the Phoenix articles, as they were made anonymously, thus, necessary specific details such as “who,” “when” and “where” are not available to me for refutation. In the end, the articles represent a character assassination. Needless to say, the articles and the ensuing scandal have brought indescribable pain to me, to Gillian, my beautiful wife, and to my innocent children. The allegations and the articles they have engendered are cruel beyond even a dramatist’s imagination…without the slightest regard for the pain brought needlessly into my life, or into the lives of my wife and children.

I now wish to make a statement, publicly, simply and clearly. I deny all of the allegations made against me in the Boston Phoenix articles. I have never, and will never, knowingly sexually harass any woman. If I have unknowingly offended any woman, I deeply and sincerely apologize.

Lying back in an open car with Gillian and our seven-year-old son Oliver (Wednesday) night, watching the shooting stars in the meteor-storm…huddled together, lovingly…the enormity of the entire matter of the Phoenix articles and scandal fell into proportion. In the end, it is me and how I live my life. It is how Gillian and I deepen our love. It is between me and my beautiful children.

Gillian and I will go to the synagogue and reaffirm our marriage vows. In doing so, we will forgive anyone who has stepped forward and spoken against me in this sorrowful matter.

Finally, I beg of both my dear friends and my committed enemies, alike: enough is enough. We must all somehow learn from this experience…and grow…and go on with our lives.

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Bill Marx is the editor-in-chief of The Arts Fuse. For over three decades, he has written about arts and culture for print, broadcast, and online. He has regularly reviewed theater for National Public Radio Station WBUR and The Boston Globe. He created and edited WBUR Online Arts, a cultural webzine that in 2004 won an Online Journalism Award for Specialty Journalism. In 2007 he created The Arts Fuse, an online magazine dedicated to covering arts and culture in Boston and throughout New England.