UPDATED 11:21 a.m.
Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – “The Muni” has permanently banned an actor who’s been the subject of allegations of sexual harassment of other actors over the past several years. But, the president of the organization’s Board of Managers says more is in the process of being done.
The actor — whom we are not identifying despite his own public statements because there has not been any sort of a criminal investigation — quit productions on his own after allegations came to light, which are believed to have occurred over the last several years. Since them, Kevin Burke, The Muni’s board president, tells the WTAX Morning Newswatch (click for our full interview) an investigation has been done.
“As far as I can tell, these allegations — while they were handled on a show level — they were never brought to the executive committee,” said Burke. “I’ve been on the executive committee last year and this time. The first time I heard about any of these allegations was after the casting in March of 2026.”
Burke says work is continuing to be done to do better, but nothing would have been done had it not been for one victim who came forward.
“I want to thank the first person that came forward. She went through a lot. She was very frustrated,” Burke. “If she had not stepped forward, and more importantly, if she hadn’t continued going through the process and appealing it, we would not have received the additional information we needed to be able to actually act on everything and try to resolve the situation.”
Burke apologized during the interview for any pain caused by the actor, and by the investigation process.
One of the problems, Burke says, is that as allegations first came to light, board members didn’t even know an investigation was being done. That, and other policies, he believes, need to be changed.
“Now we need to do an extensive review of our policies, our practices, to make sure that when there is an issue, that one, it is resolved immediately,” said Burke. “Two, that information is relayed to people that are able to make sure that doesn’t happen again. And, if it does happen again, there’s additional consequences to the person that’s committing those offenses.”
With The Muni in the midst of the second weekend of the production of its first show of the season — Mamma Mia! — Burke hopes that ticket sales are not negatively impacted by the controversy. As for the other productions were actors have quit, he says other performers have been substituted. The Muni’s season is currently in rehearsals.
Original story is below.
Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – An actor accused of having improper sexual contact with others at various productions of “The Muni” won’t be allowed to act there again.
As broken Friday on the WTAX Morning Newswatch, Kevin Burke, president of The Muni‘s Board of Managers, says the actor accused has now been permanently banned, after voluntarily quitting shows this season as allegations came out.
Burke says the board is figuring out how to best let other theatre groups know.
Burke says anyone else who may have been a victim of the actor should contact him so a further investigation can take place. Burke says revisions of organization’s policies are commencing.
This story will be updated. A podcast of the Morning Newswatch interview will be posted online later Friday.
