RI Actor and Director Removed From Actors’ Equity Association After Sexual Harassment Accusations
GoLocalProv News Team
RI Actor and Director Removed From Actors’ Equity Association After Sexual Harassment Accusations
As GoLocal first reported, Tom Gleadow was accused in September 2020 by a former student of sexual misconduct — before dozens of more women came forward with their stories — and Gleadow was removed from the Salve theater department.
As Kat Witschen, the first woman to come forward about Gleadow described, "He asked to bind and gag me because I was playing an FBI agent who was captured by the enemy. And even then, I was very uncomfortable but I swallowed it and continued so I could show I was easy to work with. My character removed herself from the restraints, escaped, and finally the photoshoot was over. My professor paid me and I left his house feeling gross but happy that he seemed happy with the final product.”
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Witschen led the effort to have Gleadow’s membership rescinded.
“Finally after months of this, today I testified against my former professor and sexual harasser,” said Witschen on Friday. “As of today Tom Gleadow is no longer a member of Actors' Equity Association. I hope this will allow me to close this chapter and never print his name next to mine ever again. I'm so relieved with this outcome. It was a brutal process but it was vital to me and the other survivors to strip him of the power to cause this much harm.”
She thanked other survivors for speaking out during what she called “incredibly difficult months” — and the Actors’ Equity Association for believing her and seeing her through.
Witschen told GoLocal she first started the process by sending the reaching out to the Association last fall.
“I do feel there is some justice being served. Because there were no criminal charges, I needed to do something to make sure he wasn't allowed to hurt any more people,” said Witschen.
Following an investigation into Gleadow, the Newport Police Department announced there were no criminal charges in September 2020.
“I hope this will at least make sure he isn't in a position of power again,” she added. “What I would like to see is more statements from theatre companies he's worked with showing their support and believing the survivors.”
Another Woman’s Story
As GoLocal reported in September 2020, “More Women Allege Harassment by RI Actor & Former College Prof Gleadow - State Police Investigating:”
“In 1987, I did Music Man at Pawtucket Community Players,” Jennifer Plante Gillis, a graduate of Shea High School in Pawtucket, told GoLocal.
“I was 16 or 17. I’m 49 now,” Gillis said. “I looked up to Gleadow. He was the lead playing Harold Hill. It was probably the second or third show I’d done with [the Players]. I thought he was amazing. The show ended, and I did a few more shows, and I started auditioning elsewhere.”
“I remember [Gleadow] calling me after and saying he had a ‘project’ going on. I thought, wow, what an opportunity,” said Gillis. “I asked my mom if I go could go, and she said yes.”
Gillis said she thinks she was around 18 or 19 at the time.
“So I met him at Rhode Island College, in a parking lot. He took me into one of the buildings. I remember him having to unlock the door. It was dark and I thought god, there’s no one in the building,” said Gillis. “He asked me to bring a leotard — he showed me to a small closet where I could change. I believe he had a camera, I can’t remember if it was a camera or video.”
“He had me stand near a chair. Then he sat me in the chair, and he tied my hands behind the chair, blindfolded me, and put a gag in my mouth.
He said it was for an ‘extra’ character being held hostage/. I assumed it was something he was doing at RIC,” said Gillis. “I feel embarrassed I didn’t question it more.”
“Then he said, now I’m going to lean you on your side, and he tipped the chair over I was in, in that same exact position,” said Gillis. “That’s all I remember. He said OK thank you. I changed again. I asked when is this going to be done, he said, I’ll let you know. I thought it was weird.”
“Years later, I was out to dinner with my husband and a woman who was friends with [Gleadow] at RIC,” said Gillis. “I told them the story, and the faces on them were like, what? They were shocked, and I was embarrassed at that moment. They were horrified. My friend said sorry, that was no ‘project.’”
Gillis said she managed to avoid Gleadow for “years” following — and it was her husband who saw Witschen’s post.
“My husband saw Kat’s post and he called me immediately,” said Gillis. “I could not believe it. I was shocked to think all these years went by and maybe if I had questioned [Gleadow’s behavior], I could have stopped some of this.”