UPTOWN — Profiles Theatre, under fire in the wake of a published report alleging years of psychological and physical abuse of actors there, has announced that it is closing indefinitely in order to "further the healing process within our community."
The theater at 4147 N. Broadway will close "effective immediately" after 28 years and 81 productions, according to its Facebook page and website.
"We want to thank all of the artists who have worked with us during the past three decades. We are very proud of the many successes we have achieved together. We care about all of you tremendously and wish you only the very best," the post reads.
"We also want to thank our patrons. We will be forever grateful to you for your devoted and enthusiastic support of our work. We hope this decision will further the healing process within our community. May Chicago theatre thrive and its future be bright."
An investigation by the Chicago Reader quoted a number of actors who said they were abused by Darrell W. Cox, an artistic director ands driving force on and off the state at the Uptown theater for years. The authors of the Reader piece, Aimee Levitt and Christopher Piatt, were told by Profiles employees that the drama and physical violence that has been a keystone of the theater's critically-acclaimed productions were indeed real and traumatic for its performers.
Cox, who has been a regular at Profiles since the early 1990s, responded on Facebook, "The article’s overarching message of zero tolerance for workplace abuse is powerful and right. Unfortunately, I am the villain in the Reader’s approximately 12,700-word article."
"For the record, Joe Jahraus and I (Profiles artistic directors) have never and will never condone workplace abuse at Profiles Theatre. Abuse has no place in any work environment, especially one as emotionally exposed as the theatre," Cox wrote.
He also complained that since the article was published he has been harassed on social media, the theater "has been defaced and vandalized," and friends and family "have been harassed and attacked with grotesque messages and threats."
Cox's IMDB.com profile says that he has won four Jeff Awards for principal actor for his performances in "Killer Joe" (2010), "Blackbird" (2004), "Some Voices" (2002), and "Eye of God" (1998) — all at Profiles Theatre. The awards honor the best in Chicago stage work.
Cox has also appeared in two episodes of NBC's Chicago Fire, IMBD says.
Since the story was published June 8, actors have protested in front of the theater. Also, the city's Department of Buildings posted a note on the theater's front window stating that it had tried to inspect the building but was unable to enter, the Reader said.
Some actors plastered @ProfilesTheatre with copies of @Chicago_Reader last night in protest of Darrell Cox. pic.twitter.com/eUIv74Nk9f
— Beth Elderkin (@BethElderkin) June 10, 2016
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