Ex-'Hadestown’ Actor Advances Retaliation Claims, Others Nixed

A Black woman who lost her chorus member role in the Broadway hit “Hadestown” to a White actor can pursue retaliation allegations, but the musical’s First Amendment rights block her race discrimination claims.

Hadestown Broadway LLC, the company that produces and stages the Greek myth-based musical, has a constitutional right to make creative decisions on casting, the US District Court for the Southern District of New York said. But that defense doesn’t require dismissal of Kim Moore’s allegations that Hadestown parted ways with her for complaining about discrimination, the Thursday opinion said.

“Hadestown,” which won eight Tony Awards in ...