Dancer Sues, Claiming Large Breasts Got Her Fired

Alice Alyce of Miami Sues Musicians Union Over Firing
Alyce Claims The Union Ignored Her Complaints
Dancer Says She Was Forced Out Of Billy Joel's 'Movin Out'

First, she complained because her large breasts got her fired from a a traveling musical company. Now, a Miami dancer and actress is suing a stage actors' union for more than $100 million, saying it was responsible for not taking her issues seriously after she was allegedly forced out of the Billy Joel musical “Movin’ Out”.

Alice Alyse 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 in that lawsuit were a number of the show's owners and managers, including famed choreographer Twyla Tharp.

The new lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Miami, adds federal claims of sexual harassment and discrimination on basis of sex and national origin against those defendants. Alyse's mother is Nicaraguan.

Singer Billy Joel, whose songs are the basis of "Movin' Out," is not named in either lawsuit.

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.

"It's a sad day when an actress cannot count on her own union to protect not only her rights but also the rights of all entertainers," said Alyse's attorney, Larry Klayman.

Alyse claims she was repeatedly humiliated and intimidated before other cast members by the show's production 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.