Composer Claims Discrimination in “Wicked” Apprenticeship
A composer based in New York is claiming that he was denied a chance to join “Wicked” on Broadway due to his race. Kevin Lynch has filed a lawsuit in Manhattan federal court, asserting that he was ineligible for a three-week paid apprenticeship because the nonprofit managing the show prioritizes hiring racial minorities, women, and non-binary individuals, which he argues is unlawful.
In court filings, Lynch pointed out that while Broadway often blurs the lines of reality, it shouldn’t ignore legal obligations. “What Broadway cannot defy are laws, including many that prohibit discrimination based on status,” he stated.
The 35-year-old composer and producer recalled feeling excited when he saw a Facebook post from Maestra and the Musicians Union for Social Equity (MUSE) in June 2023. These nonprofits were promoting an opportunity for aspiring directors in their “Musical Director Experience,” a position Lynch believed suited him well.
However, the post included criteria that limited the experience to “MUSE and Maestra Directory Members,” focusing specifically on people of color, as well as women and non-binary individuals.
Despite being a Juilliard graduate with a solid background as an accompanist, Lynch attempted to apply but was turned away. About a month later, it was revealed that the chosen candidate for the Music Director Experience would be a non-binary person of color.
While Lynch hasn’t publicly identified the winning candidate, Maestra member PJ Ju announced on LinkedIn that they had secured the role.
Lynch, supported by the anti-discrimination group American Alliance for Equal Rights, claims that “Wicked” and the associated nonprofit violated civil rights laws at both state and federal levels. He is requesting that they stop considering race in the application process and is pursuing unspecified damages.
Neither Lynch nor his legal representatives have provided comments on the situation, and the parties involved have not responded to inquiries. Lynch’s previous legal battle dates back to December, when he sued Playwrights Horizons over alleged discriminatory ticket pricing during “BIPOC Nights,” which was resolved outside of court.
