CT Theater Cancels Production Of Woody Allen Musical

EAST HADDAM, CT — The Goodspeed Opera House announced Thursday afternoon it would be cancelling it's upcoming production of "Bullets Over Broadway," based on the 1994 Woody Allen film. Theater officials said the decision came in light of allegations that have resurfaced regarding the Oscar-winning filmmaker.

The historic East Haddam opera house will now present a production of "The Drowsy Chaperone" in place of the planned show, set to be performed from Sept. 21 to Nov. 25 of this year, according to the nonprofit theater's website.

Deadline reports the decision to cancel the show comes after allegations that Allen had inappropriate sexual contact with his and actress Mia Farrow's adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow, have had a resurgence. Allen has denied these allegations.

“After careful consideration and conversations with community members, trustees, staff and artists, we have decided to cancel our production of Bullets Over Broadway,” Goodspeed Executive Director Michael Gennaro said in a statement. “In light of the current dialogue on sexual harassment and misconduct, the author of "Bullets Over Broadway," Woody Allen, has come under increasing scrutiny. Ongoing reports in the media have made this situation even more difficult and complicated and this led us to reconsider the appropriateness of producing the show. I believe this is the right decision for Goodspeed to make as an organization and we are pleased to be able to produce "The Drowsy Chaperone" as a welcome addition to our season."

The Associated Press reports that Dylan Farrow claimed Allen touched her inappropriately in her mother's Connecticut home in 1992 when she was 7-years-old. She recounted the alleged incident during a taped interview with "CBS This Morning," and also asked in an opinion piece for the Los Angles Times why Allen had been spared from the recent #MeToo movement.

The AP also reports Allen has long denied the allegations. The situation was previously investigated over a period of seven months by experts at Yale-New Haven Hospital, who concluded Farrow had not been molested.

Winner of five Tony Awards, including Best Book and Best Original Score, "The Drowsy Chaperone" is a sentimental spoof of the Jazz Age musical comedy. It features a book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar and music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison.

Photo Credit: Julia Balfour LLC