So I've searched the archives, but I haven't found anything that fits.
I'm a Resident Stage Manager for a pretty small company. All in all, there's about 5 of us "staff" members. We had received word that an actor from our previous show was interested in directing. We went along with it. It took him 2 months to cast a show of 5 people, when 2 had already been cast by the producer of the company. Then he over steps his boundaries by stepping on my toes by creating the schedule, contacting all the actors about the show, starting lighting and sound design (which are also my job. Long story, small staff) and just generally being rude and causing problems. I never signed a contract with this gentleman, and never had any verbal agreement. I tried my best to regain a bit of control of my job, and to earn a little bit of respect. He started saying that I was stepping out of line and to just do my job. I consulted with the owner of the company and he believed that this gentleman was overstepping.
He spoke to him about just directing the actors at this point and we would deal with everything else along the time line. He proceeded by going down to the location for the show (during that locations business and rehearsals for an in house drag show) and threw his weight around. He interrupted their rehearsals and started rambling about how his performance would need this and that. I got down to the location as soon as possible, apologized for his lack of respect for their project and let them know
that I would be their primary contact from then on. This is all before the actual rehearsals started. I attempted to speak with him, he just blew me off and went on about his business.I tried to contact all of the actors about schedule conflicts, general information about the show, and all of them had responded that the director had already done all this and why was I bothering them.
ALL of this is before rehearsals actually started. I tried to establish a level of respect with this gentleman and his cast (which included many actors that I've worked with before.) but he just wasn't having it. I've tried to conduct myself in a professional manner in the 2 weeks of rehearsal that I have attended. So, finally to the question, would I be behaving in an unprofessional manner to leave the show? I can't take anymore of this gentleman's sexist,rude, and obnoxious behavior. I never signed any contracts or had a verbal agreement with this gentleman. The owner of the company assigned me to the show. I understand that directors are different, but I am having a hard time working in this abusive atmosphere. Help!!!
K.Singleton
