Rent WIll Perform At Calif. High School!

[RyanNewYork]

Posted: 2/25/09 at 11:01pm

I haven't finished the entire story yet - but the first part is up:

http://ryanjdavis.blogspot.com/
Rent On

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 2/25/09 at 11:02pm

I have a feeling there gonna get a lot of ticket sales!

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 2/25/09 at 11:18pm

For the bazillionth time, we don't know that the production was cancelled because of homosexual themes. That quote is from the director who accused the principal of it, not something the principal actually said.

[TonyVincent]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 12:46am

I feel bad for the principal if he had legitimate reasons/concerns for blocking it (what they are, I don't know), but is now having words put into his mouth by the director, whom he can't discipline or fire for fear of it looking like a cover-up. (Again, IF this happened.)

This show is now getting attention for the wrong reasons, I'm afraid.

[antonijan]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 5:22am

Lizzie just posted on the SF Board that Encinal HS will also mount "RENT" school edition.

[RyanNewYork]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 9:38am

I have to say, that based on everything I've read and the interviews that I've had with students, parents, and others involved that the Principal is the real "villain" in this story.

Ryan
ryanjdavis.blogspot.com

[adamgreer]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 9:41am

Why couldn't the director provide a script for review?

They're very readily available.

[RyanNewYork]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 10:04am

He did provide, on Monday.

The Principal wasn't interested in reading the script until the media uproar. That really brought her around.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 10:30am

The Principal wasn't interested in reading the script until the media uproar. That really brought her around.

Is that verifiable? Or is that more of the "the princiapal said one thing but we really know she felt ______"?


Many students don't believe Principal Asrani and expect there is more to the story that she isn't telling. "Even with the victory of getting RENT approved, the next battle is bringing justice to the comments exchanged in the meeting," one student told me today. Several other students and parents suggested Asrani's troubles may not be over.

WTF does that mean?

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 10:43am

Phyllis,
I read that as a vague reference to other things that had, according to a wide array of sources, been going on within the school.
I have read many comments about how there had been an increasing level of homophobia within the school and that Principal Ansari, though approached and asked to do something, had refused to act on things, essentially saying the behaviors were 'okay' by not taking action. I am sure that now with press exposure, some people would like to take action on certain things.
I don't think the drama teacher's story is much of a stretch at all. I can easily see a principal saying that. Clearly, if indeed, an objection was the 'depiction of prostitution', the woman had no idea truly what Rent is about. Once again, not surprising.
It is also completely plausable that the director did not yet have a copy of the script to let the principal read, should she have truly wanted to, and when he said he would have to order one, she could have said "I want it tomorrow or it's a no go."...
We shall all see, I am certain.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 10:51am

Very little of what's written in that blog is verifiable. The "article" the poster linked is his blog, not a legitimate news source.
Updated On: 2/26/09 at 10:51 AM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 10:51am

But he writes for the Huffington Post and Queerty!

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 10:59am

*I*, personally, was speaking to things thatI had been reading via other news sources that it seems could be referenced in that paragraph.

[TheCharleston]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 11:08am

Who is this Ryan Davis quack?

Your story is completely inaccurate and you don't even have any legit sources.

If you were still in school, you'd get a big fat F for this hot mess.

[RyanNewYork]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 12:09pm

I don't claim to know everything - all I know is that I interviewed many students and parents for my piece - all who are "legit" sources.

New media = citizen journalism. Times are changing guys.

[TheCharleston]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 12:12pm

how are they "legit" sources if they are biased?

Did you speak with any rep from MTI who was in communication with the Director and/or Principal?

Did you even try to speak to anyone on the School Board or in the Theatre Department?

Parents and students opinions don't hold much to a problem like this.

[RyanNewYork]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 12:14pm

I spoke to Mr. Martin for this piece:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ryan-j-davis/atmosphere-of-hate-in-ren_b_168361.html

Which, I feel, brings the principal's motives into doubt.

[RyanNewYork]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 12:18pm

How is the School Board or the Principal not equally biased? You choose to side with the administration here, because you seem to really love authority. I choose to side with the students and teachers, because i know how horrible school administrations can be. Especially this one, that fails to punish students for threats of rape and murder.

Sorry, TheCharlston - you fail on this one.

Ryan
ryanjdavis.blogspot.com

[TheCharleston]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 12:19pm

Try writing a neutral subjective piece. You might get more of the FACTS that way, my friend.

[singtopher]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 12:20pm

You just said that your piece is biased. So its more of an editorial. If it was fair and balanced, you would have taken an effort to get the administrations side of the story, as well as the opinions expressed in your article.

Updated On: 2/26/09 at 12:20 PM

[TheCharleston]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 12:21pm

EXACTLY

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 12:44pm

And you called him the "hero drama teacher"? Come on.

Call it citizen journalism, sure -- but all I see is citizen.

[Craig]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 12:54pm

From the LA Times
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-gay-play26-2009feb26,0,7782633.story

"Martin said that Asrani questioned the portrayal of homosexuality and prostitution in the play -- although he said there is no prostitution in the toned-down school edition of the production -- and requested a copy of the script. He told Asrani that he did not have a script at the time and that there would not be enough time for her to review it and to obtain clearance from the licensing company. Asrani then opted to cancel the show, Martin said.

Asrani and the school district confirm that she asked for a script to review, a common practice, and that Martin told her he could not provide one. However, they and other school officials say the decision to shut down the show was Martin's. "

That pretty much sums up the event.

Updated On: 2/26/09 at 12:54 PM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 12:59pm

Well, they kind of contradict each other. And I'm still trying to figure out what the prostitution in the show is.

[TheCharleston]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 12:59pm

Thank you for something more legit and unbiased, with plenty of factual evidence, Craig.

This Ryan guy is a joke.