Nevada High School Parents Sue to Stop Students From Performing 'Rent'

by Brett Singer (Subscribe to Brett Singer's posts) Nov 3rd 2009 8:00AM

Categories: Teens & tweens, In The News, Weird But True, Alcohol & Drugs, Media

Parents at a Nevada high school are suing the school to stop productions of "The Laramie Project" and "Rent," the smash Broadway hit which had a standing ovation on its closing night, pictured above. Credit: Getty Images

Four parents at Green Valley High School in Henderson, Nev. are suing the school to stop students from performing "Rent" and "The Laramie Project." Both plays feature gay characters and the parents say that the subject matter is "not suitable for students."

On the surface the argument isn't a bad one. According to Courthouse News Service, "Parents Dalene Hicks, Jenny Calderon, James Perkins and Tiffany Turpin complain that Green Valley High School's plans to stage the shows violates the Clark County School District's policies that forbid 'R' rated material from being presented to students."

Here is a trailer for the film version of "Rent," which was based on the Broadway hit:

Clearly something no teenager should see, right? Now, to be fair, the show does include characters such as the HIV-positive former drug addict Roger; Mimi, a drug addict with AIDS; Tom Collins, a gay activist with AIDS, and other interesting folks. Most troubling is Mark, who does not have AIDS, but is a documentary filmmaker. Ahh! Children who see this show might become inspired to be the next Michael Moore!

Interestingly, the issue of potentially inappropriate content in "Rent" has been addressed. According to a Wikipedia entry, "Rent: School Edition" is a modified version of the Broadway musical that "eliminates some of the coarse language and tones down some public displays of affection of the original." That last part means guys kissing guys, in case you were curious. (Or bi-curious. Ba-dum-bum.)

Even that version, however, was not warmly received by some parents, and was only tested at a few schools. News reports do not say whether or not the Green Valley High School production is the "School Edition" or the regular one.

The other play is "The Laramie Project", which tells the story of Matthew Shepard, a gay young man who was brutally murdered near Laramie, Wyo. The script consists of interviews that the director did with residents of the town.

Here is a trailer from the HBO version of the play:

Serious topic. But not exactly pornographic.

None of these subjects is unknown to teenagers. According to its Wikipedia entry, Green Valley High School has some budding artists -- here is an episode of "GatorReels," an Internet video series produced by students at the school.

Notice the drug addict who turns out to be "mentally retarded?" Without judging the quality of the writing, it's pretty clear that the kids know what drugs are. They probably know what gay people are as well. Keeping these plays out of the school won't keep them from learning about these subjects.

Related: Photo of Girl in Tux Banned From Yearbook

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Comments (4)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Elizabeth 11-03-2009 @ 11:43AM

I agree that keeping these plays out of schools won't keep kids from learning about these topics, and RENT is one of the most beautiful musicals out there--much more fun to perform than say, Oklahoma, and for high school theatre departments, who always have a limited budget anyway than say football (you can see where my bias is), the costumes and set can be made at a very reasonable cost. While I understand the schools and parents have some concerns about the subject matter, I've never thought RENT inappropriate for high school aged children. The thing about performing shows like My Fair Lady or Camelot, the old standards is just that--they are old and they are standard. On any given weekend there is someone performing those shows--be it in community theatre or a school. They've been done, and if you want to see them again, it's not that hard to find tickets. But kids want to perform material that's close to them and challenges them, and let's face it, no one writes good parts for high schoolers. That's why when these plays come up they only get to be in the chorus. In school they have a chance to really explore these meatier rolls, and they shouldn't have that taken away from them. I say if the parents don't like the show, don't have your kid be in it and don't come, but don't make that decision for the entire school.

Elizabeth 11-03-2009 @ 12:49PM

I also want to add that good art is controversial. It's not supposed to be pretty, it's supposed to reflect life in ways that make people think and talk about the issue it's representing, which this is obviously doing. People who know nothing about art shouldn't be making the decisions for artists.

Katty 11-03-2009 @ 3:18PM

Art is not about making people comfortable but about making people think. Rent is a beautiful musical which really touches the kids of today...we may not like AIDS and the "behavior" that is related to it, but this the reality of kids today, and don't forget, kids are learning to be more tolerant to Homosexuallity which I think is a good thing. My first two bosses out of college was gay and so was my thesis advisor in my University, it is out there and kids should learn to be comfortable with it because they will encounter it more and more.

misha 11-04-2009 @ 3:04PM

i agree with both of the above. I mean its out there and its going to be for along time and i think the parents need to except that. These are high school students were talking about not children, i pretty sure they know about sex, drugs, strangers, and to protect them selfs but about H.I.V, STD'S. I mean its out there they need to know about it and they prob. have alot of it going on in their school, if you want to believe or not. And homosexuallity is just another part of whats in this world. And if they dont know about it by now thats only going to have them confused when they get older not knowing how to handle it, commiting hate crimes (not saying everyone) but i think you get what im saying. DO THE DAMN PLAY LEARN SOMETHING !!!!