Sex charge actor used Broadway star’s technique
A Kiwi actor accused of sexually assaulting his acting students claims he was teaching them a particular methodology pioneered by a Broadway actress, court documents reveal.
The man, who has been in the industry for decades, had also been offered international acting work which he cited as a reason for wanting his name kept secret.
The man’s name, age and ethnicity has been suppressed until his trial, which is expected to be held later this year.
He faces two charges of sexual violation and four charges of indecent assault relating to four complainants between January 2010 and July 2013. He has pleaded not guilty and will defend the charges at the end of the year.
Affidavits provided to the Auckland District Court in relation to his name suppression application reveal the man preferred not to seek name suppression ‘‘as he has nothing to be ashamed of and intends to defend the allegations’’.
However his lawyer Ron Mansfield sought suppression based on hardship to the man’s family and career.
The man argues all of the alleged offending was consensual and in the context of acting classes.
The formal name suppression judgment outlined an acting technique the actor taught, derived from late Broadway actress Uta
I am currently involved in a number of productions that are at crucial stages and require both producers to come on board with the projects and significant financial backing. From the defendant’s affidavit
Hagen, which coached actors in specific character development techniques.
Hagen’s film career was stymied after she was blacklisted by the anti-Communist movement in the United States in the 1950s. She pursued a successful stage career in Broadway, and authored the book Respect for Acting. She died in 2004 aged 84.
The suppression application was accompanied with supporting affidavits by two members of the entertainment industry who both argued that publication of the actor’s name would spell the end of his career.
The defendant also provided his own affidavit to the court in which he wrote the entertainment industry was ‘‘very sensitive about any negative stigma attached to a performer’’.
He went on to say he was approached to audition for two ‘‘major international television programmes’’ in 2015.
‘‘These types of opportunities are rare in the industry and those roles (are) considered the opportunity of a lifetime for many actors/actresses.’’
The actor said casting directors would ‘‘overlook any performer with even so much as a blemish against their names’’.
‘‘I am currently involved in a number of productions that are at crucial stages and require both producers to come on board with the projects and significant financial backing from potential financiers.
Judge John Bergseng extended the name suppression until the man’s trial, due to begin in December.