We Might Really Be Witnessing the Start of Woody Allen's Downfall

Plenty of people (especially men who have worked with him) have yet to cut ties with Woody Allen. But even so, it appears that the tide might finally be turning against his seemingly impenetrable status.

One example: On Thursday evening, Tony-winning non-profit theater organization Goodspeed Musicals announced that it had canceled its upcoming production of Bullets Over Broadway, a musical adaptation of Woody Allen’s 1994 film, in light of the continued controversy over allegations that Allen sexually abused his adopted daughter Dylan Farrow.

Bullets Over Broadway ran on Broadway just four years ago without any real problems. Now, the scandal around Allen is so intense that even a regional theater company isn’t risking an association with him.

The show was set to run at Goodspeed from September 21 to November 25. It will be replaced by The Drowsy Chaperone, which, like Bullets Over Broadway, is set in the 1920s and deals with theater. Michael Gennaro, the executive director of the Connecticut-based organization, addressed the decision 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.

A handful of actors have called out Allen’s behavior and expressed regret for working with him, and those sentiments are powerful. But if Allen is going to suffer any prolonged downfall, it will be because the broader entertainment industry, not just individuals, turns against him. Places like Goodspeed may be small, but they have a role to play in that too.