Orange County high school version of "Rent" cancelled because it features...gulp...gay characters

[marmar]

525,600 bigots.....


from the LA Times:


High school play canceled over possible objections to gay content
Drama teacher at a Newport Beach high school says the principal shut down his production of 'Rent' because of its gay characters. District officials say the principal only asked to read the script.

By Susannah Rosenblatt
February 18, 2009


Drama students at Corona del Mar High School were excited to push the envelope with a spring production of the Bohemian love story "Rent."

But the drama teacher at the Newport Beach school says the principal told him to cancel the show because she disapproved of the gay characters in the musical.

Fal Asrani, the school's principal, disputes that she pulled the plug on the production, saying that she only asked to review the script, according to district officials.

Now, amid growing backlash and consternation from some students and members of the gay community, the actors at Corona del Mar High are grudgingly preparing for a very different show: "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown." The drama teacher said it's a safer choice and one sure to pass muster with his boss.

Ron Martin said he chose "Rent," the story of artists struggling in New York City, for the spring musical because he hoped it would be a vehicle for teaching tolerance after overhearing students using homosexual slurs. ........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-gay-play18-2009feb18,0,438002.story

[gratuitous]

1. Oh noes! Not teh gay!

Everyone knows that live theater is strictly off limits to the sexual minority set! But throwing over "Rent" for "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown"??? Apparently the principal is totally ignorant of the Peppermint Patty/Marcie subtext. You gotta watch them ho mo secks shoe ulls all the time!

[SharonAnn]

15. What about the prostitutes and pimps? They're OK?

[Initech]

2. Fuckin' A. I hate this county sometimes.

We might as well be in fuckin' Georgia with all the Bible-thumping conservatives in this area, and to think I almost became one of them. :scared:

[FrenchieCat]

3. That was my daughters' favorite play when they were younger.

They saw it in SF and made us take them to Las Vegas to see it again!

They both heart Mimi, and learned all of the songs by heart.

I loved the songs as well and still listen to the CD in my car from time to time!

[MadBadger]

6. I feel safe saying that its the overwhelming favorite of teenage girls.

My sister, all her friends, all my friends LOVE Rent.

[babylonsister]

4. Newport Beach? Give me a break. Hard to believe.

But it is pretty close to - gasp - Warren's church, so what do I know?

[Control-Z]

13. I think you're confusing Newport Beach

with Laguna Beach. Two completely different worlds.

[babylonsister]

14. I'm just saying, they are really close - maybe an hour away?

And having visited both, they appear similar. At least to me.

[Control-Z]

17. About 15 - 20 minutes on Coast Hwy

I've lived here since I was a kid. Laguna is progressive. Newport, not so much. They both have beautiful beaches, and a lot of wealthy residents. Remember, though, we're talking about the OC. Laguna is the exception here, not the norm.

[FrenchieCat]

5. delete double post!

[Political Tiger]

7. Psssst. Nobody tell the principal, but Charlie Brown

is gay! Oh noes!

[Stevenmarc]

8. They should be more embarrassed with The Housewives of OC

than a HS production of Rent

[mitchum]

9. Well, Orange County is the birthplace of the modern wingnuttery we all know and love...

then they convinced gullible southern crackers to be their foot soldiers

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

16. uhh... wha?

The John Birch Society is the basis of modern conservatism?

[mitchum]

19. Read "Suburban Warriors"

[donco6]

10. I think everyone in my HS is gay.

At least, I hear "FAGGOT" screamed down the hallway several hundred times every day. It would be a shame to try to teach a little tolerance.

[zane25]

11. You have to be kidding me.

This is one of the better shows my family and I have ever seen, and they are keeping this from being shown because of gay characters? Do they have any idea how many members of their own community fit the bill, or are they afraid it will show the gay/lesbian members of the community as human beings. Is this not the 21st century?

[madrchsod]

12. i love the other choice

i think it`s a big fuck you to the principal. rent is a fantastic play and movie.

[Neurotica]

18. Due to a similar circumstance, we now have a "play policy" that restricts

theatrical presentations in county schools.

About 5 years ago, there was a theater night at a local high school that featured student-written productions. One student wrote a play about a high school football star who came to realize that he was gay. The play focused on the reactions of his friends.

There was a huge uproar about the play, manufactured in large part by certain people in the community associated with national right-wing groups.

The result -- a play policy passed by the school board. It says among many other things that drama sponsors have to "tak into consideration the sensibilities of the community." Make of that what you will. The policy is legal (but skirts the line). It definitely could have ended up worse.

However, the unintended consequences include the fact that drama sponsors are now committing self-censorship for fear of causing another "controversy." It hurts potential theater students who want to attend top programs in college by limiting their experience. Disney material is fine. More challenging works -- well, that's for students in other counties.