A debate of ethic proportions has emerged amongst Broadway producers recently.

The question . . . would you hire this man?

The entertainment industry has always had a “we’ll hire you no matter what” attitude towards anyone with box office potential when it has come to drug use, DUIs, and even domestic violence.

Does this crime warrant more concern?  Less?

Will there be protests at the theater?  What if there are underage cast members in the show?

If we continue to hire individuals with bad track records, never mind criminal records, are we just teaching them that they are not accountable for their actions?

And are we teaching future artists that they don’t have to be accountable as well?  Or is the only thing we are accountable for the actual accounting.

Is it strange that companies across the world have drug tests for the simplest of tasks, yet there is no drug testing for Broadway employees, whether they are lifting fellow dancers above their heads or whether they are lifting heavy scenery above a dancer’s head?

And do we not have drug testing because we all know that a huge majority of actors, etc., would fail?

I don’t have an answer to whether or not I’d hire Mr. Barbour, but I do know this:

I’ve been trying to get this guy to do a musical for a long time.  God help me if it ever happens.

What would you do?