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

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.

Reply

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.

Reply

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.

Reply

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 !!!!

Reply

seriously? its nevada!

Reply