SPRINGFIELD — Local theatre supporters have threatened boycotts of The Springfield Muni while some cast members are leaving productions over its handling of a recent investigation involving a “Code of Conduct” complaint.
Now the theatre, which has been a staple of Springfield summers for over 75 years, said it was reviewing reporting procedures and processes.
The letter from the president of The Muni’s board of managers was sent to show volunteers and posted to its website June 2.
“Over the past several days, members of our theater community have shared concerns, personal experiences, criticisms, and recommendations regarding participant safety, organizational culture, and the effectiveness of our policies and processes,” the letter from Kevin Burke III read. “It is recognized that some individuals have experienced situations that caused them to feel unsafe, unsupported, or unheard, and understand that trust in the organization has been damaged.
“The Muni is sorry that it has failed you.”
Burke has offered few specifics about the investigation, but correspondence obtained independently by The State Journal-Register detailed that the investigation centered around Marc Wilson, who had been cast in an upcoming Muni production of “Disney’s Frozen.”
Audio of a recent “Frozen” cast meeting, also obtained by the SJ-R, suggested that Wilson was investigated for allegedly making inappropriate comments to cast members.
No violations of The Muni’s “Code of Conduct” were found during the month-long investigation, according to the correspondence, but some thought theatre administration was putting “policies over people” and essentially burying the allegations.
“I believe the only reason they are making statements now is because people were upset by their decisions and it’s because there was public outcry,” William Gregg Acton, one of the complainants in the case told the SJ-R May 31. “It’s only because they’re trying to sweep this under the rug that we’re actually having this conversation.”
Burke told the SJ-R June 2 that he understood that some members of the community were concerned that recent communications “did not specifically address (victimized) individuals or details. We recognize that situations such as this can have a profound impact on people, and we do not wish our silence on that point to be misinterpreted as indifference. To anyone who was harmed or adversely affected, we acknowledge the seriousness of those concerns and extend our compassion and support.”
John Baker, the producer for “Frozen” and a member of The Muni’s board of trustees, told the cast meeting, which also included some parents May 28, much of the information posted on social media about the case “was not true.”
None of the complaints against Wilson, Baker told the assembly, involved minors and there was “never an allegation that somebody was touched, adult or child.”
Baker also denied that there had been prior complaints made to The Muni about Wilson.
Burke said that initial complaints were emailed to him within a week of show casts being announced around the middle of March.
The board of managers, he added, “immediately named the investigators to reach out to the complainants,” although another complaint surfaced later.
On tape, Baker said the investigation was done by a police officer and by a human resources consultant, both of whom “had free rein” about who to interview.
In the letter outlining the investigation, Burke wrote that “an appropriate conversation” was had with Wilson “to help reinforce positive boundaries and interactions among volunteers.”
Wilson had been slotted to play the role of Pabbie in “Frozen.” The Muni now lists the role as “TBD.”
Acton said The Muni’s policies have “neglected the impact that the people have been having from this.
“(From official statements) there hasn’t been a single acknowledgement of how the victims have been hurt not only by the individual, but by the actions The Muni has been taking.”
“We need to eliminate terminology that silences survivors,” added Nate King, who appeared in two Muni productions in 2025. “Why do we protect the perpetrator more than the survivor?”
On a Facebook page and video, Reggie Guyton, another theatre veteran, called for sweeping changes, including the resignations of Burke and trustees’ chairman, Randy Ragan, and a boycott of The Muni’s concessions and merchandise.
Guyton, who is also on the Sangamon County Board, said he was “disheartened at fellow collaborators, artists and community members who say they can affect change from the inside, but failed to acknowledge there has been a repeated pattern of behavior that has become acceptable.”
Adam Power, who directed and vocal directed several youth musicals for the Springfield Theatre Center, the Jacksonville Theatre Guild and Theatre in the Park at Lincoln’s New Salem, pleaded guilty in 2024 to a slew of charges, including sexual exploitation of a child and distribution and possession of child pornography, and was sentenced in 60 years in federal prison.
Robert Crowe was arrested in April for disseminating and possessing child sexual abuse materials. Crowe was involved with the Springfield Theatre Center and theatre productions in Jacksonville.
William Bauser Jr., a former Muni board member, was fired from his position at Rochester High School for violating the district’s code of professional conduct.
“This isn’t just a theatre problem or only a Springfield problem,” Acton said. “We’ve seen…this push to believe victims, to make people feel safe and to essentially say we’re not going to accept this behavior from anybody, regardless of who they are or what their position is.”
Acton said he was stepping down from a role in The Muni’s “All Shook Up” later in June because “they’d rather promote the pattern of protecting predators and belittling the narratives of victims.
“While I initially believed that I could make change from the inside, I can no longer say in good conscience that I stand against The Muni’s actions while singing and dancing for them on stage.”
On Facebook, Sean Robb said he was leaving a principal role in The Muni’s “The Prince of Egypt.”
King said he wouldn’t be returning to The Muni until changes are made.
But he did praise Andrew Maynerich and Morgan Kaplan, directors of the current show at The Muni, “Mamma Mia!” who partnered with the Prairie Center Against Sexual Assault (PCASA) to make sure there are resources available for volunteers during their shows.
“Those are great steps towards building a better community,” he said.
The latest Muni letter, meanwhile, included a new reporting email (contact@themuni.org) for those who wanted to raise concerns or report potential violations of policies.
It also stated that training would be evaluated for board members, production leadership and others in positions of responsibility, including harassment prevention, appropriate boundaries, bias awareness, inclusion, reporting responsibilities, bystander intervention and creating safe environments for participants of all ages.
“Rebuilding trust will require transparency, accountability, sustained action, and a willingness to evaluate the progress and make further improvements, when necessary,” the letter continued. “The Muni is committed to doing that work and to ensuring that everyone who participates in Muni activities can do so in a safe, supportive, and respectful environment.”
Acton is taking a wait-and-see approach.
“They’re talking the talk, but I’d love to see these things be put into place before I’d feel safe going back,” he said. “It’s time to walk the walk.”
Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788: sspearie@sj-r.com: X, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Springfield Muni faces backlash over code of conduct controversy
Reporting by Steven Spearie, Springfield State Journal-Register / State Journal-Register
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