GLOUCESTER, Mass. -- Award winning playwright Israel Horovitz is refusing to comment on anonymous allegations by six women that he sexually harassed them.
The allegations by the women, who were involved with Horovitz's Gloucester Stage Company in Massachusetts as actresses or staff between 1989 and 1992, were contained in the weekly Boston Phoenix newspaper.
The allegations range from offensive language to inappropriate kissing and repeated acts of sexual fondling.
Horovitz, 54, winner of two Obies and an Emmy, is founder and artistic director of the company. His best known plays include 'The Indian Wants the Bronx' and 'The Widow's Blind Date.'
Barry Y. Weiner, president of the company's board, said several female employees told him last year of the unwanted sexual advances, but that the stories did not sound like sexual harassment to him.
People throw sexual harassment charges around 'like manhole covers,' Weiner said.
Weiner said he did not tell the board about the allegations, but planned to do so now because they have bee published.
Weiner said he warned Horovitz that the Phoenix planned to do a story about the charges, and that Horovitz said, ''I've never done anything. ''
The women said they wanted to remain anonymous for now because they were afraid of professional retribution and because of the experience of Anita Hill, who complained she was sexually harassed by Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas.
'What good did going public do her,' one woman said. 'No good at all.'
