Parents of Rowlett High School students don’t like Rent

Pavel Lishin, verified:

""I don't think it's the school's place to teach my child diversity or tolerance of a lifestyle that I don't accept," said Gallop."

Because you're gonna do a great job of it yourself, right?

Travis Bush, verified:

LOLZ @ Rowlett...I'm sure The Ballad of Ricky Bobby would have been a smash hit.

Travis Bush, verified:

quixote, it simply doesn't work that way in Texas and never has. It is the responsibility of every blowhard religious nutbag in Texas to insert their faith into anything and everything. Tools using religion to suit their own agendas is the simplest way to put it.

Jason Rice, verified:

Hey, any attempt to reduce the impact of musical theater on my day gets my full support. ;o)

Montgomery Sutton, verified:

See, I think when Obama gets everybody out of Guantanamo, we should through these idiots in there instead. And subject them to The Birdcage and Darwin documentaries 24/7.

Jason Rice, verified:

Ya know Montgomery, I've noticed the most intolerant people I ever meet are "open minded" - and inflexibly so. ;o)

If it was a production of Cabaret and the MC was in a white hood, we'd hear you screaming pretty loudly - but it would be a very valid interpretation - and probably a better American setting for the social statement it really is. But bad for a high school.

They don't live in your neighborhood for a reason. Lord! if people leave their kids for the system to raise we moan and scream. If they show the slightest interest in them, we moan and scream.

I just feel sorry for this poor high school teacher who thought... "here's a musical" (shudder) "that has moved my entire generation for reasons X,Y, and Z and a nice reduced version that I can reach these kids with to show the power of live performance." Next year, they'll probably be looking for a job, probably alongside the well-meaning principal that doubtless ok'ed it.

For the record, I'd let my 6 year old watch the sterilized version.... but you explain "The Tango Maureen" to a 15-16 year old, 'kay. And everyone knows not to pop in the soundtrack at a set build. Me holding a power tool with "525600 verses" going on and on and on in the background? Not pretty.

Travis Bush, verified:

The amusing part of this story is that teens have access to music that makes Rent sound like Sunday school. Just another case of adults making themselves look naive and stupid.

Jason Rice, verified:

::have access to music

Yeah, but it's not piped over the intercom system at taxpayer expense. Seriously, I can understand the response. If you even look at the cinema version, it's not small-town fare. The sanitized version often done for conservative colleges and high schools is probably fine, BUT the name selling it is not a super-safe product.

Think how happy you'd be with a musical of Texas Chainsaw Massacre at that school.

Travis Bush, verified:

Hey now! Leatherface is good people..

Travis Bush, verified:

Saw would make a great musical...Jason?

Jason Rice, verified:

Trav - "Saw" was actually my first thought, but for the metaphor to hold the generational backlash would not be there.

Quixote - go ahead, throw down on patriotism this one. I'll take your "It won a Tony, it should be allowed to play in Dimebox, Texas" and serve it up as sushi. If people have no right to affect their local social norms, it's Fascism. Right wing or left wing; same rules, same name.

If you just mailed "Angels in America" tickets to your grandmother, - or even "Rent" - as a Christmas gift, you win. Otherwise - tilt away.

Jason Rice, verified:

k, Clay. Why do you or don't you think the musical about a group of East Village (New York) artists promised free rent for life by a college chum and all their freeloading, artsy (arguably promiscuous) cohabitants variously dying of AIDS is appropriate and relevant for a town that has a cell phone school ban, graffiti cameras, a median age of 32 (young) and a median household income of ~$89K (in a county averaging ~$53K) ?

If ya want focus... ;o)

Travis Bush, verified:

At least some of the parents there are standing behind their kids and supporting the play. I know there's nothing more discouraging than a parent saying "no" because of religious or supposed "moral" objections. I grew up with that and I know how pervasive it can be. It is enough to break a kid's spirit, especially if they are motivated to be involved in the theater to begin with.

Jason Rice, verified:

Frankly, the demographics I cite above confuse and surprise me. That indicates enough college degrees to stave off this kind of kneejerk reaction and justify the teacher's selection.

Travis Bush, verified:

I could recount numerous times where my parents pulled the "no part of the world" business on me. It is frustrating and heartbreaking, lemme tell ya. Kids have only accelerated their awareness and level of independence since I was a teenager, but one thing remains a constant. Say "no" once too often and watch rebellion manifest itself in a myriad of ways.

Jason Rice, verified:

::I really think they should just stick to the play I posted

Team America? Didn't know there was a stage version.

Travis Bush, verified:

SHOW CANCELED

I wonder if the students got on their desks and declared "Oh Captain, My Captain & Tennille.."

Jason Rice, verified:

::artistic expression is controlled by the ones holding the purse strings

When people complain about compromising art, art IS compromise.

Sad for the teacher and kids. Gonna be a long spring. Maybe they can do Spring Awakening, eh? <DUCK!>

Jason Rice, verified:

Hair? Mine or the musical?

Everybody that would protest or produce it have retired.

Travis Bush, verified:

Yes, just wait till Jason's new production comes out entitled Hairwig and the Angry Imp...