Back to the BYU Cougars Newsfeed

Utah Shakespeare Festival cancels musical because of ‘culturally insensitive’ emails by creator/director

The Utah Shakespeare Festival abruptly canceled one of its summer productions on Friday, after learning of “insensitive communications” between the guest director/creator and “a potential member of the cast,” according to spokesman Tyler Morgan.

Morgan declined to give specifics about the content of emails exchanged between Art Manke, the writer/director of “Pearl’s In the House,” and the unnamed actor. But Shakespeare Festival executive producer Frank Mack issued a statement that said, “The offensive communications that led us to cancel this production are completely contrary to these values and the artistic objectives we are pursuing this season.”

It is unclear what role was being filled.