School administrators and school boards are canceling school plays that include LGBT characters. When this happened in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the students started a GoFundMe and raised the money to stage the play on their own. A professional stage director came back to Fort Wayne to help the students. This generation of young people is our hope for the future.
Students at an Indiana high school are moving ahead with an LGBTQ+ inclusive play after administrators canceled the production earlier this year.
Carroll High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana is just one of many schools across the country where student plays and musicals have been canceled or censored this year due to concerns over content. Howard Sherman, the managing director of the performing arts center at New York’s Baruch College, recently noted that the wave of opposition has been focused largely on productions with LGBTQ+ content.
As The Washington Post and other outlets have reported, students at Carroll High were informed two days into auditions for Marian, or the True Tale of Robin Hood that the play had been canceled due to complaints from parents about its LGBTQ+ characters. A re-telling of the Robin Hood story, the play features a nonbinary character and a same-sex couple.
“I know there were people who were upset that the play was being considered to be put on, I think there was worry about protests and things like that,” Northwest Allen County Schools superintendent Wayne Barker said at a school board meeting.
Almost immediately, students began talking about putting the play on themselves. They soon connected with Fort Wayne Pride, which organizes Pride events in the community, and launched a GoFundMe campaign on May 4.
As of this week, the campaign has raised over $79,000, well exceeding its $50,000 goal. The funds will go toward renting a venue, insurance, costumes, and set construction.
Fort Wayne native Blane Pressler, the artistic director of Ozark Actors Theatre, has returned to his hometown to help put on the play, which will run for one night only at the Foellinger Outdoor Theater on May 20.
The students are thrilled. The show is likely to be a huge success. The students demonstrated their independence and courage. Those who object to the play can stay home. The GoFundMe has already exceeded its goal and may produce enough money to fund future shows.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
A fine example of project based learning.
Bless. These. Kids.
The inclusive future confronts the benighted, narrow past.
Like Flor-uh-duh, another Hate State
Inspiring!
Does this mean the history of Alexander the Great will have to be revised or just eliminated as if he never existed, too?
All it takes is one person’s allegations — that’s what’s already happening in Red States where MAGA Fascism has taken hold.
“Some modern historians, such as James Davidson, see this as evidence of Alexander’s homosexuality. However, the ancient sources report Alexander as sexually active with women throughout his life and how in adulthood he brought concubines to bed every night.”
In an earlier post about “Drag Queens,” I mentioned that drama classes would soon be cancelled. All I know is my son along with many of his friends had the best times in the high school play productions. In the “Pajama Game,” many of his female friends played male characters. In fact, when they asked me (at an arts retreat) to play Cinderella, it was fun. I guess all that is going by the wayside. It’s called “acting” for a reason. Mrs. Doubtfire — gone. White Chicks? Gone. And the list goes on and on. Pretty soon we will all be like this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVwxyHGVppE The “Anthonys” will dictate what we think and watch.
I saw “La Cage Aux Folles” recently on TV. Allegedly takes place in South Beach, Miami. Gay couple, drag queens, a conservative Senator. A hilarious movie with Robin Williams and Nathan Lane. Has it been banned in Florida? I don’t think DeFascist has taken control of the Internet yet.
Diane, I just don’t get any of this any more. It doesn’t register with me as I have always looked for the good, to add value, not take away. All of this reminds me of a StarTrek movie where they appeared to live in “Utopia” until someone started a “power grab.” Egads.
Star Trek may be the best lens through which to understand events of the day.
“…one night only at the Foellinger Outdoor Theater on May 20….Those who object to the play can stay home.”
Have they considered the possibility (probability?) of right wingnut protestors who will NOT stat home, not just locals but from afar? And at an outdoor theater? Have they considered the frequent past criminal behavior by some in American law enforcement who looked the other way or even participated in assaults on peaceful, unarmed citizens?