The former artistic director of the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood dropped the lawsuit he filed against the theater after his 2017 dismissal, alleging age and disability discrimination, court papers obtained Wednesday show.
Sana Swe, an attorney for Randall Arney, filed papers in Los Angeles Superior Court on Feb. 14 asking that her client’s case be dismissed. Swe could not be immediately reached for comment Wednesday on whether a settlement was reached or if Arney was not pursuing the case for other reasons.
Arney was the Westwood theater’s artistic director for 17 of the 21 years of its existence and was 61 years old when his contract was not renewed in February 2017, according to his suit.
“He has an exemplary, unblemished record of service at the Geffen, having created an exciting, innovative, successful regional theater and received glowing performance assessments and accolades for his work,” the lawsuit stated.
A Geffen spokeswoman said previously that the theater does not comment on pending litigation.
According to Arney’s court papers, the Geffen presented him with a new contract in 2015 for two years, just as with his previous agreement, but without the option for the Geffen to extend the agreement for another year as had been past practice.
Arney “continued to perform exceptionally during the 2016-17 season, which was a triumph with critics and audiences,” but in a February 2017 meeting with the Geffen’s two board co-chairs that lasted less than 10 minutes, he was told they were concerned about “succession” and that his contract would not be renewed, the suit stated.
Arney “left stunned and shattered,” according to the lawsuit filed in August 2017.
After Arney’s departure, the Geffen announced the hiring of 41-year- old Matt Shakman — who had less experience and fewer qualifications than Arney — as artistic director, according to his suit, which also alleged that that the Geffen perceived Arney to be disabled because he suffered from Bell’s palsy.
–City News Service