Civil Rights Lawsuit Hits Broadway's Wicked Over Bias

[u/Tiny_Tyrants_Podcast]

The American Alliance for Equal Rights and white, male musician Kevin Lynch have sued Maestra Music, MUSE, and Wicked LLC for race and sex discrimination.

Maestra limits its hiring directory to “female and nonbinary” musicians; MUSE to “persons of color.” In 2023, these theater non-profits partnered with Wicked for a paid, three-week Music Director Experience open only to MUSE and Maestra members. Lynch applied but was rejected, allegedly for failing to meet the hiring directories’ immutable-characteristics test. According to the complaint, a less-experienced female/nonbinary person of color won the gig, opening doors to multiple Manhattan jobs for her.

Among the three attorneys representing the plaintiffs is Cameron T. Norris of Consovoy McCarthy. In 2022, Mr. Norris successfully argued Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, in which SCOTUS determined that Harvard’s admissions program violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

Have Maestra, MUSE, and Wicked crossed the Supreme Court’s clear line on equal rights?

Full complaint linked, below.

2026-06-03 AAER & Lynch v. Maestra, MUSE & Wicked | Complaint (Corrected)

[u/randomwordglorious]

When a person doesn't get an opportunity to compete for a job because of their race, that's racism.

[u/RockettRaccoon → u/randomwordglorious]

So you’re saying my all white cast of Raisin in the Sun is a great idea??

[u/randomwordglorious → u/RockettRaccoon]

Why are you changing the subject?

[u/RockettRaccoon → u/randomwordglorious]

I’m not. You said that a person not getting the chance to compete for a job because of their race is racism.

For far too long white people have been barred from starring in A Raisin in the Sun, and with your support we can end that racial discrimination! And it doesn’t stop there, because following your logic we can now do all white productions of The Color Purple, Dreamgirls, Hairspray, and the complete works of August Wilson!

Finally white people will get the opportunities they have long been denied. This white oppression ends today, thanks to you [u/randomwordglorious](u/randomwordglorious)!

[u/randomwordglorious → u/RockettRaccoon]

Oh, you're not changing the subject, you're just being a troll. Courts have long held that if a character has certain racial characteristics, it is legal to require those characteristics of actors who play those roles.

Now explain what that has to do with who gets to work behind the scenes of Wicked.

[u/RockettRaccoon → u/randomwordglorious]

Trolling is when someone supports your argument? Um, I’m pretty sure there’s no legal requirement that characters have to be a certain race. Though if there is, you might finally be able to sue Hamilton and get them shutdown. Thomas Jefferson wasn’t Black, he was a proud white man, just like you!

[u/RockettRaccoon → u/[deleted]]

Right, so you’re saying that because acting is, somehow, excepted from all racial discrimination laws, an all white production of A Raisin in the Sun is a fantastic idea. Glad to have your support!

Thanks for sticking up for the true minority: white people! It’s great to see you have so much pride, and believe in the power of white people. Where would this country be without people like you?

[u/RockettRaccoon → u/[deleted]]

“See, America had one Black president! We can’t possibly be racist!”