Hi GUYS,
Have any of you auditioned for Michael Horn and then went on to work with him in a theater production? I recently just auditioned and got cast but his vibe was a little abrasive and I wondering how legit he is. Or what his shows are like?
Thanks!

I have a post about the Michael Chekhov Theater Co in the Working Actor, I think... search it.

He is legit... Legit CRAZY, that is. I ran out of there like a bat out of hell and I have a high, high, HIGH tolerance for crazy. A good friend is part of the company and she is the first to tell you there is something clinically wrong with him. She's only there so she can have an in with the space and work some plays she's writing. He is abrasive, abusive (mentally and verbally... And I was only there for 2 hours!), and antagonistic. I would stay away at all costs. Plus, they make you pay to join. Seriously. Ew.

that's not a good space for any actor to be in. How can one perform under such pressure like that.

Frankly, I'm surprised there are not more warning posts about this guy.

He holds auditions for a show called "Happy Hour" as well as "Michael Chekov Theatre Co"
currently using the 45th Street Theatre.

Through actors access I was called into an audition. Sides were provided, but after reading a line of them he asked all the actresses to put them aside and fake an orgasm.
First red flag.

At the end of the audition he asked everyone if they wanted to be in Happy Hour, ranting "we work really quickly here- are you in?"

Two days later EVERYONE who auditioned got an acceptance email into the 12 person show, from his email but with a fake "producers" name, who ended up being a intern from another country. (90 people cast?). Hmmm

To shortly recap a long story

The first rehearsal consisted of Michael Horn ranting and raving about people who quit his show, including Constantine from Rock Of Ages.
He said he will take him out of the NY theatre circuit forever, and will do the same to us if we miss a show.

Then he made everyone say what ethnicity they are asking are you italian? russian? then "ok, you could do this role."
And "only a real black person can do this part, because only a black girl can tell someone to F off properly"

We were given no role just told to learn all 9 female monologues in the show because he doesn't assign roles until opening night.

He casts 100 people because everyone runs away after the first meeting! Then the remanding victims end up rehearsing at all different times
and maybe meeting each other before going onstage to perform the show.

He gave us two show dates and said if we don't bring people to fill the theatre the first one we won't be allowed to perform in the second show.

I also have a high tolerance for crazy, and know that many theatre people are a little bit!
With that in mind moved forward.

After 8 hours I still hadn't had any rehearsal (just more crazy ranting).
We were then told about having to do audience interaction based of racial profiling (looking at an African man and saying "hi, I bet you have a big anaconda" etc)

I will not be doing this show for those, and many other reasons. I recommend other actors stay far away from this guy!

This topic is also on Working Actor.

I wish Backstage and Actors Access would flag this guy and company from posting anymore auditions.

I had almost the same horrible experience.

Stay far away!

Anyone know how to contact Backstage regarding flagging him? Is there a specific email or number for that? I'm sure there would be enough former cast members or almost cast members to get a huge vote or petition.

I say if there isn't a direct way, we start a petition post on one of the forums and get actors to post support for flagging him.

I agree! I'm sure there are more than enough actors who have had first hand experiences with him to do this.

This was my first NYC audition, and I was mortified! I had a similar experience to the others -- we were all offered roles and weren't really given a chance to consider it or say no. And... he called me "big" (I'm a thin size 4).

Then when I asked about the time commitment so I could adjust my work schedule, we got a 20 minute lecture on how to not ask questions... "if Spielberg were to cast you, you wouldn't dare ask any questions, would you?"

I went home, realized I had been cast in a NYC show... and wanted to throw up. When I called to say that I would be unable to participate due to another offer (I got a paying gig the next day), he told me he was cancelling the production because of me and I was letting the rest of the cast down.

I'm sure I'm on a list somewhere...

Run. Run fast. Run far.

I'm intrigued to audition for Michael Horn.

I see his audition notices all the time on actorsaccess. Sounds like a freak to me. Why put yourself through that?

Lots of more reputable venues out there and better people in charge. Don't take a gig out of desperation.

In casting notices it's now listed as 'Sex, Relationships and Sometimes ... Love'

Just a head's up.

I really hope people would not be so desperate that they would still work with this man after all the bad things have been said about him.

His audition notices on actorsaccess alone raise HUGE red flags with me.

Get some friends together and read new plays and work on scenes. You'd get more out of the experience than working for this schmuck.

Stay clear of this man and the 45th Street Theater. He is capable of manipulation, sexual harassment, and verbal abuse.

I was cast in Happy Hour last year after recently moving to NYC. At the initial audition he asked me to be the 'lead' in the show. Of course I was excited! However, after finding out..there really is no 'lead' in the shitty script of Happy Hour.

Throughout the rehearsal process he consistently sexually harassed me and the other girls in the cast. One instance happened in the middle of a rehearsal when he asked me to come and talk to him privately in the box office area and I did. When I got there he took out a bottle of rum from behind the desk and offered me a swig. He began to tell me how stressed out he is because his girlfriend broke up with him. I sat in silence as my instincts were throwing up red flags everywhere. He gave me a sexual look and I immediatly said that I wanted to go back to rehearsal and he said "we can just keep this between us right?" I said, Of course. After rehearsal I immediately called Actor Equity (they said there was nothing they could do) and I told all of the cast members what had happened and to never go with him alone.

That is only one instance out of MANY!

He is disgusting, unprofessional, and has no idea what he is talking about. He is a disgrace to the NYC theater world and should be stopped.

Call actorsaccess here in NYC and tell them about this guy so he will be unable to post more audition notices on their website. Please.

I just emailed Actor's Access and I strongly suggest you all do the same. You can email:
info@showfax.com

I put a link to this page in the email.

If you know of anyone else who has had the terrible experience of working with him, please have them do the same.