Legal Battle: White Man Sues Theater for Alleged Discrimination on 'BIPOC Night
A lawsuit has been filed against a nonprofit off-Broadway theater by a white man who alleges discrimination for paying full price for a ticket on a "BIPOC night." Composer Kevin Lynch from New Jersey filed the class action complaint against Playwrights Horizons in New York, claiming that the theater violated city and state laws by offering discounted tickets to black, indigenous, or people of color patrons. The incident occurred during a showing of the play Practice on November 6, where Lynch paid $90 for a full-price ticket while BIPOC patrons could purchase seats for $39 each.
The play Practice at Playwrights Horizons follows a group of dedicated actors, dancers, and performance artists as they immerse themselves in the visionary's will. The lawsuit alleges that attendees who did not qualify as black, indigenous, or people of color were also overcharged based on their race. The filing accuses the theater of violating the 1866 Civil Rights Act's prohibition on racial discrimination in contracts and laws that prohibit setting prices based on the buyer's race. Lynch's legal team is seeking unspecified damages for the alleged discrimination.
The lawsuit was filed by the conservative law firm Consovoy McCarthy, known for winning a Supreme Court case in 2023 that overturned college admissions policies based on race. Edward Blum, a prominent lawyer who has opposed affirmative action, facilitated the lawsuit. Playwrights Horizons has not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter.