Magic and Monsters: Child Sexual Abuse and Institutional Betrayal

In this episode of One in Ten, host Teresa Huizar interviews filmmaker Norah Shapiro and actor and executive producer Anthony Edwards about their award-winning documentary Magic and Monsters, which follows survivors of the Children’s Theatre Company abuse scandal in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They describe charismatic artistic director John Clark Donahue as a serial child abuser who fostered a culture with multiple perpetrators, the 2010s Minnesota statute-of-limitations lookback that enabled 17 civil lawsuits, and survivors’ ongoing sense that accountability and acknowledgment remain lacking. The conversation highlights institutional betrayal, brand protection, and the need for boundaries in youth-serving organizations, alongside the healing power of being believed and connecting with other survivors.

Time Stamps

00:00 Welcome And Premise

00:36 Why This Film Matters

01:30 Host Reaction And Setup

02:51 Case Recap And Timeline

06:05 Anthony Edwards Connection

09:53 Ethics Of Survivor Storytelling

11:45 Trauma Informed Filmmaking

16:22 Healing Through Community

18:07 Institutional Grooming Dynamics

21:59 Prevention Lessons For Parents

23:20 Culture Of Trust And Othering

25:40 Magic And Monsters Duality

26:35 Institutional Betrayal

27:22 Protecting the Brand

31:06 Seeking Acknowledgement

33:19 Trauma and Self Care

35:09 Unresolved Justice

36:50 Recovery Through Connection

41:54 Being Believed Matters

43:32 Film Impact and Next Steps

47:47 Closing Thanks and Resources

Resources

Magic & Monsters

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