A transgender and non-binary actor who played both lead and ensemble roles in several productions of “Hamilton” recently filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint against the show.
Suni Reid — who portrayed characters including Aaron Burr, George Washington, Hercules Mulligan/James Madison and Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson in the Lin-Manuel Miranda musical — claimed that their contract was not renewed after they requested a gender-neutral dressing room during the Los Angeles leg of the show.
Reid played roles across the Broadway, L.A. and Chicago productions of the acclaimed play. Reid alleged that they were misgendered on several occasions and threatened physically by the other actors.
In the complaint, they asked for production to place a gender-neutral dressing room at NYC’s Pantages Theater. Reid’s contract was not renewed for another year starting last month.
A spokesperson for “Hamilton” denied the allegations in a statement to The Post.
“Suni Reid was a valued cast member for more than three years,” the rep said. “We offered them a contract to return to ‘Hamilton’ with terms responsive to their requests. We deny the allegations in the Charge.”
“We have not discriminated or retaliated against Suni. Since the shutdown, our organization has taken care of our community. We have treated Suni with the same respect and consideration as all the company members of ‘Hamilton,'” the rep added. “Specifically, we have given Suni direct financial support, paid for their health insurance, and paid for their housing. We wish Suni well in their future endeavors.”
According to Deadline, Reid’s lawyers Lawrence M. Pearson and Lindsay M. Goldbrum addressed the issue, saying, “Publicly, ‘Hamilton’ is a beacon of diversity and appears committed to causes seeking social justice and harmony.”
“Behind the curtain, however, the Company’s management will force out a Black, transgender cast member simply because they stood up for themselves and advocated for a more equitable workplace, and therefore called that public image into question,” they continued. “We look forward to upholding Mx. Reid’s rights and hope this is a wake-up call for the theater industry about the systemic inequities that persist even at its greatest heights.”
The complaint said that the famed musical provided a gender-neutral dressing room at some point after another cast member, Rory O’Malley “generously offered to give up his dressing room, but the Company still would not drop its retaliatory animus toward Mx. Reid and rescinded their contract renewal offer altogether.”
