Response to High School Cancelation of RENT on Alleged Grounds of Gay Characters- Page 2

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 11:36am

"Society has a way of infantilizing youth to its detriment and "protecting" them from so-called "evils" of society. When in reality that does more damage than exposure to the so-called "evils." "

Sad and true. Case in point, Disney vs Grimm. It seems to be a more American mindset than anything. I have always believed it to be centered around the fact that this land was settled by religious whackjobs that were unwanted everywhere else they washed up. Other Western nations have much less of a taboo view on sex and drinking and a less 'confrontational' view in dealing with other people.. and they tend to be better off for it. Fewer teen pregnancies, gun deaths, alcohol related tragedies involving teens and twentysomethings...

Exposure doesn't encourage the act. Any wise person knows that the act will occur anyway. However, knowing safety measure increases the ability that it will be done more healthily, and the fact that it isn't stigmatized makes it less enticing to a rebelious individual.. they don't feel as though they are doing something 'forbidden', and let's face it, kpeople loving doing things that are forbidden..

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 1:14pm

Oh come on, be real, of course that's the reason it was pulled, the reason the principle gave was said to be untrue by the drama teacher since the scripts had not been ordered.

It amazes me that things like this happen in America

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 1:23pm

And I am also sure that the principal should know, since the school IS entering into a contract, that it is illegal to revise the script and doing so could result in action taken against her school.
I am certain that the real reason is that the pricipal doesn't want homosexuals depecited onstage. HOWEVER, I almost prefer the ecuse the prinipal gave.. OH the irony, she doesn't want homosexuals shon on stage, so the reason she gives is that she cancelled it because she didn't have enough time to break the law by violating the contract.. WONDERFUL lesson to teach the kids.. boys kissing boys (or not, since they apparently don't in the School Edition) is worse than violating a contract and breaking the law.

[RyanNewYork]

Posted: 2/20/09 at 3:31am

Looks like they may get to do the show after all:

http://ryanjdavis.blogspot.com/2009/02/rent-may-go-on-at-calif-school.html

Also, did you all read about how the principal has a history of tolerance of anti-gay language in the school? It's in the above article.
RENT May Go On...

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 2/20/09 at 3:36am

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/20/theater/20rent.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

[dramamama611]

Posted: 2/20/09 at 7:17am

IF the reason is actually the homosexuality then the principal's decision is apprehensible.

I think it's interesting that the director said he didn't yet HAVE a copy of the script but there would be no time to request changes. (which CAN be granted...so if they receive permission, changes can be made) That doesn't sit right. How did he decide to do Rent: the School Version without perusing it? (and when you decide to do it, you usually hold on to your copy) Who choses to DO a controversial show without FIRST approaching your admin? THAT should have been done before the show was ever announced to the students. I have never been turned down my admin for ANY show and there are two reasons for that: I don't have "an agenda" (the director admits he does) and two: I've never tried to backdoor the admin but always been forthright with my choices and plans. Additionally, (from what I've heard) the school version IS quite different than the original...why NOT arm yourself with that proof when talking to the admin. These things sound like the director was LOOKING for a problem.

There IS a difference between HS students seeing Rent and the school PRODUCING Rent. Each community is allowed to set their own standards. It's easy to say that the kids all know the story anyway or see a lot "worse" in R rated movies....but that is OUTSIDE of school. Again....we do not truly know if the homosexuality is THE reason for the cancellation...that's the easiest thing to dwell on.

Updated On: 2/20/09 at 07:17 AM