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 ResourcesMagic & MonstersSupport the showDid you like this episode? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.