MIAMI – A dancer and actress who claimed she was harassed for having large breasts and a serious toe injury while performing for the touring version of Broadway's "Movin' Out" musical is suing a stage actors' union for more than $100 million.
Alice Alyse, of Miami, says in the lawsuit that the New York-based Actors Equity Association failed to address her complaints of sexual harassment and sexual and ethnic discrimination, violated union grievance procedures and conspired with the show's owners and managers to damage her financially, emotionally and physically.
She also alleges that she was wrongly fired from the Tony Award-winning show in February in retaliation "for having spoken up about the pervasive hostile work place environment at `Movin' Out."'
Alyse, 29, sued the owners and managers of the musical's touring version of in March for more than $100 million. Named as defendants were a number of the show's owners and managers, including famed choreographer Twyla Tharp. Singer Billy Joel, whose songs are the basis of "Movin' Out," is not named in either lawsuit.
The new lawsuit, filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Miami, adds federal claims of sexual harassment and discrimination on basis of sex and national origin — Alyse's mother is Nicaraguan.
An attorney for the stage actors' union said in an e-mail late Wednesday he could not comment because he had not seen the lawsuit.
Alyse claims she was repeatedly humiliated and intimidated before other cast members by the show's stage manager about an increase in the size of her breasts, which necessitated alterations to her costumes.
She also contends that the show's managers falsely told fellow cast members that she was "faking her injury and had lied" about the need to take a leave of absence to let the toe heal. Alyse said her right big toe was seriously injured in a fall during a Sept. 23, 2004, performance in Los Angeles.
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