"Times are gritty."- Page 2

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/5/08 at 2:29pm

PATASH, The organization I was chair of for 8 years here in Denver at the Denver Center had a program called TKO (Take a Kid Out). We made sure that students saw the shows you mentioned at the Center for free. The program had them study the show before they saw it and then discuss it with us during intermission, after the show and then when they got back to class. Unfortunately, the program stopped in 2006. I was very proud to be a part of that. These kids came from schools where they would not be exposed to these shows.

A bit off topic but I wanted to share that.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/5/08 at 2:33pm

I am a high school director. I do a lot of stuff that receives a fair bit of controversy. We've done Laramie, plays about "coming out"; school shooting as well as plays about Alzheimers and many other themes and topics that HS kids don't "live" or experience. I like pushing the envelope. We are mounting Sweeney Todd...and while most of the kids are thrilled....a few parents are not...but will NOT officially quesstion me on it, because of my program's integrity.

That being said: I do NOT think Rent is appropriate for HS students to perform. It has nothing to do with thier understanding of the material, but the appropriateness of, frankly, the sexuality.

Most communities are not comfortable with seeing teenagers in sexual situations. Understandably. When I approached my principal about ST...that was the only question she had...any sex in it. So, I had her blessing. A week later she made it a point to see the movie and while she was suprised by the bloodiness of the show...she had no qualms.

I'm thinking I didn't explain myself very well in trying to say WHY I think Rent is inappropriate for HS kids to perform. (I don't think it's innappropriate for them to SEE it, however.)

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 12/5/08 at 2:56pm

I don't think it's inappropriate for teens to see, but it still deals with topics that they don't necessarily understand completely. and that's lucky for them, that something is so far removed that they have no personal emotional ties to it.

anyway, I still think it's ridiculous to pick a show that has to be edited.

oh, and someone mentioned Hair without nudity; not everyone in the Broadway run got naked (Diane Keaton never went in the buff). the actors got a bonus if they did, though.

[Winston3]

Posted: 12/5/08 at 5:11pm

givesmevoice, I think that there is more to Rent then just the AIDS breakout and there are other things in the show that aren't AIDS related that people can relate to and have for its entire run on Broadway. I only used the actors as an example of people doing a show that they have had no real life experience with themselves.

I do think that high schoolers should be able to do Rent. I think that if they are bothered by the sexuality then they are too close minded and that's what theatre is about pushing the envelope. I still don't understand why in our society showing violence and showing things that involving death are okay. But, when it comes to sexual things or how life is created then it is a no no. It doesn't make much sense to me.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 12/5/08 at 10:19pm

If I were going to assume anything, it would be that people are actually kind and caring, and that maybe people realize that no one, regardless of what they've done, deserves to suffer from AIDS. how naive of me, really.

Thank you, that was my point.

High schoolers say stupid things, but if it were posted here, they'd still be called on it.

[stagescreen]

Posted: 12/6/08 at 3:10am

I think High Schoolers should be able to perform RENT. It's educational and certainly has artistic merit. It is no different than being allowed to watch the show. In fact, if students involved with the show don't manage to learn more about AIDS and become more responsible young adults after having performed the show, then they are none the wiser for doing RENT and certainly miss the point.

It *is* for a more mature audience; it does have serious subject matter - but other than the oblique sex acts (Contact) and a few questionable words that some schools object to...AIDS is not something we can whitewash away. It affects many people worldwide, including in our own communities. RENT also has a lot of heart and several uplifting, universal messages. Can it be toned down for HS? Mimi is a drug-addicted stripper. Awww...but Shakespeare has whores. Does she need to grind as much during Out Tonight? Probably not. Will it kill the show if she does something else? Nope.

One reason to license this specifically for a high school market is RENT is somewhat ideally suited for high school performers...they are familiar with the show, it utilizes a small band/unit set/supes easy costumes, and it is easy to sing - especially for a show with so much sung-through structure (give or take Mark's few descriptive monologues). And RENT is unabashedly a musical show - kids can wear their hearts on their sleeves and portray contemporary characters (!!) all while singing upbeat, rocking harmonious show tunes. If kids are all about performing Disney's HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL these days, let's be thankful that a Pulitzer Prize winning musical is available to them, virtually intact without too much pruning/sanitizing.

Mounting a HS production can also be paired with a school's volunteer efforts to help raise awareness to AIDS issues and AIDS related charities in their areas. As a teaching tool, it can be incorporated into many disciplines: health, history, scientific, literature.

I don't agree with any productions changing the text or making editorial/creative decisions that go against the presentation of the show as-is. If it's too racy for your school - it's not for you, don't do it. Do HSM and any number of HS appropriate shows.

Can anyone elaborate on the specific terms regarding producing RENT: High School Edition? Especially in regards to casting, what's permissible/not, what's different lyric/book/music?

Updated On: 12/6/08 at 03:10 AM

[lotterymaster]

Posted: 12/6/08 at 11:51am

Last year our high school did Laramie for the fall play and this year for the musical were doing Rent: School Edition. We live in a really liberal area so most people are totally fine about doing shows exploding homosexually, aids, drugs etc. For Laramie we sold out every show. I do think there is a BIG difference though from doing Laramie vs. Rent. Even though Laramie talks and discusses the topics of homosexuality it really doesn't show gay people or drag queens. Since I live only 45 minutes from the city almost every person has seen the show or at least the movie. Its always hard for our school to pick a show b/c since we live within 100 miles of the city we can't do any show on broadway even if the rights are out. Our high school is known for putting on full blown productions especially for the musical. Last year for the musical we did BATB and some how we got the money and spent 50,000 and we sold out and it was an amazing experience. We were also the first high school on Long Island to do Cats and was featured in the Richard Rogers' Magazine. There are only one or two students who won't do it because they feel uncomfortable and I think thats fine. Its actually really funny because after Rent was announced we got so many people who usually don't so the show come and audition because they wanna be a part of Rent. I think the show is great for teens because it truly does deal with real life issues. Homosexually, Aids, drugs aren't thing just in the musical it is major problems facing teens of today. The director of the show said in the script it says "Maureen shows a sign of affection." He said if the people who play the parts kissing they can kiss if not they will show another sign of affection. He said he will not make us do things we aren't conferrable doing. My Choir teacher is angry that we are doing Rent because since its a rock type musical he is worried that we will lose our voices or get nodules. I think if certain students and parents are uncomfortable doing Rent then don't do it. There are so many opportunities besides High School Productions that students can get involved with for free.

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 12/6/08 at 12:03pm

Paragraph breaks are your friend.

I'm glad your high school is brave enough to stage it, despite a few objections. I hate when schools cater to the tiny vocal minority and miss out on a great opportunity.

[Josh Freilich]

Posted: 12/6/08 at 12:07pm

I would like the line better if it were "Times ain't pretty."

[Gobstopper]

Posted: 12/6/08 at 12:28pm

"Times ain't pretty" would be much much better, Josh. Good suggestion!

I think it's amusing what dramamama said about how her administrator only cared if the graphically violent Sweeney Todd "had any sex" in it.



Why is it that Americans are so terrified of sex, but they are totally cool with the sight of people being sliced up?




P.S. I'm not questioning your decision by any means, dramamama, and I love Sweeney Todd and Rent. I just think it's amusing that America has such high rates of violent crimes, and they rate violence in movies much more lenient than Europe. Similarly, America has far less comprehensive sex education course (yay rah abstinence) and rates sexuality in films very harshly. Incidentally, we have by far the highest rates of teen sexuality of virtually any industrialized country... Because the country is terrified of talking about sexuality for whatever reason, but doesn't bat an eyelash at graphic violence.