"La Cage Aux Folles" Banned at School

[gossipguy215]

Hello, My school, Marin School of the Arts, (at public school Novato High) has been losing auditions to decide our fall musical. It was between PIRATES OF PENZANCE and LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, but it was decided La Cage would be better since we didn't have enough sopranos. However, as we waited for the rights to come in, the school informed us that La Cage was "inappropriate" for high school. I was, obviously, furious. What do you think?

[CapnHook]

It's a public school, so the only thing you can do is protest, OR seek out a different off-campus venue for the production and unaffiiate it from the school.

[dramamama611]

Hard to say. I can see where they'd have concerns. And that the might have many in the community that take issue. Ultimately, the school has the right to ban whatever they think is inappropriate.

You said the reason is you have no sopranos....but have you no girls? I can't imagine THEY'D be very happy with that choice.

[JoeKv99]

I think La Cage aux Folles is inappropriate for a high school.

[Liza's Headband]

I think it doesn't really matter why it was banned. It was banned. That's all that matters. You could protest and try to fight it, but is it really worth it?

[JoeKv99]

Of all the things you will learn in high school here is the most valuable: PICK YOUR BATTLES.

[Sutton Ross]

If it means a lot to you and you connect with the production, then question the decision and fight for it.

[Jordan Catalano]

Besides it being completely inappropriate for a high school, kids ages 14-18 putting on a show dealing with those themes is something I honestly can live my whole life never seeing and be perfectly happy.

[kurt.perry41]

It really isn't a show that A high school could do well.

[JoeKv99]

A high school is not a democracy.

[whatever2]

I agree that La Cage is not a show high school students are likely to be able to present well. I also agree that a high school is not a democracy. However, La Cage's themes of self-acceptance and tolerance are most assuredly not inappropriate for a high school, especially in this day and age. (It Gets Better, anybody?)

My hunch is the OP is reacting to a fear that the decision is based in part on factors that may be inappropriate themselves.

My suggestion: find a teacher you trust ... talk to him or her about your concerns. Tell him or her that you understand there could be legitimate reasons for the decision, but that you're also concerned about the message it may be sending to students who are questioning OR to students who think hostility toward the groups represented in the show is acceptable. The conversation may do a world of good for you and your school. Good luck!

[TheatreFan4]

I'm gonna have to echo what's been said. Nobody wants a high school production of La Cage. It'd just come off incredibly weird.

[gossipguy215]

It angers me to no end that high schools can do (and have done) CABARET, SWEENEY TODD, and CHICAGO, all with theme bout the glorification of murder and abortion , yet this is what they choose to say is "inappropriate". Last year we did LITTLE ME, with our leading lady making her costume changes in font if the audience while doing her numerous monologues, most of which were sexual puns about which guys he was sleeping with. And this is a school of the ARTS!

Also, our productions are critically acclaimed and we have won humorous competitions (we're not BROADWAY good, but we're normally a step up from community or stock).

[Jordan Catalano]

High schoolers have no idea about the emotions these characters are feeling in songs like I AM WHAT I AM, SONG ON THE SAND, LOOK OVER THERE, etc.

[whatever2]

Right ... so talk to a TEACHER -- someone with actual knowledge of the decision, who might be able to put the decision in a context that makes sense for you ... help you channel your righteous anger ... or just let you vent.

[whatever2]

Jordan, are you being facetious? High school students at a performing arts magnet school have no idea what characters are feeling when they sing I Am What I Am?

[dramamama611]

Different schools and communities have different standards.

However, while you bring up Cabaret, Sweeney Todd and Chicago and I'm sure there are communities that have "banned" all of these shows. MY school would (likely) allow me to produce La Cage, but I have no desire to do so. Just because you CAN do something, doesn't mean you should. I would not put my boys in that position, it's just too hard for too many of them.

[whatever2]

dramamama: if one of your boys were upset to learn you thought La Cage would be too hard for them, would you be up for talking them through your decision?

[Jordan Catalano]

" Jordan, are you being facetious? High school students at a performing arts magnet school have no idea what characters are feeling when they sing I Am What I Am?"

Are you saying that just because they're students at a performing arts high school, they understand what it's like to be a 50 something year old drag queen who's had to live his entire life under the glares of a disaproving society? Because yeah, that's exactly what I'm saying.

Just because kids CAN put on any show they want doesn't mean they should. Hell, just check out that "Bad High School Productions" thread for proof of that.

[dramamama611]

Of course, I would. However, they seldom know what shows were up for consideration and didn't get chosen. It is not a democracy. If and when I'm looking at questionable material, I get approval before ever mentioning it to them.

It's not that they aren't mature enough, but that dealing with the student body & community is too much to ask of them.

[gossipguy215]

At my school, this is unprecedented. We have done worse shows with little moral value. We always know what shows we are considering, we were considering THE DROWSY CHAPERONE (no Chaperone), SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE (no Georges), SOUTH PACIFIC (no Emile), DAMN YANKEES (no Lola), and PIRATES OF PENZANCE (With our best sopranos playing Mabel and Ruth, the chorus was lacking). I was so happy to do LA CAGE, as it is one of my favorite shows. It was to be smaller, 8 Cagelles (4 boys, 4 girls) and the named characters. However, I take it more as a civil rights issue with the school board trying to force their political views on others. This show would have helped a lot of people open their eyes, both people in the show and those who could see it, and, as it's structured as a traditional Musical Comedy, it would be great fun. Also, the kids at my school are so wonderfully gifted with pathos and command, it would have been stunning. We did a production of DEFYING GRAVITY, a play about the The Challenger, not a dry eye in the house. I don't expect you to know about our productions, so please don't judge them without seeing them. You have no idea what these students can do.

[whatever2]

I'm pretty sure you don't have to be a 50-year old drag queen to relate to those lyrics ... I wasn't. I've read too many insightful posts from you to believe you're unable to see that any member of a marginalized group couldn't relate.

As I've said, I reckon the decision's the right one -- for a bunch of reasons -- but decisions have consequences. IF the school is telegraphing a hurtful message to some of its students in the process, even unintentionally (which I suspect is the case here, given the other productions its mounted and given that Marin is just across the Bay from Headquarters) that needs to be addressed. Those kinds of cues get internalized ... they accumulate ... and once in a blue moon someone vulnerable does something awful.

I don't mean to sound like a drama queen (especially being an amateur amongst so many professionals), but the underlying issue -- silence being perceived as a tacit endorsement of hurtful attitudes -- is definitely part of the problem.

[whatever2]

dramamama: thanks. I was pretty confident you'd say yes. And I think the reasons you suggest are great, on every level (including that school is not a democracy).

It's unfortunate the school here made its process so public.

[jimmycurry01]

There are many reasons as to why a high school should not perform La Cage. In a student setting, it is a better match for a college than a high school.

I don't agree with a couple of reasons that Jordan has listed. An actor does not have to have identical life experiences to a character in order to pull it off. I believe there are a great deal of effeminate teenage gay boys who know exactly how Albin is feeling while singing "I am What I am." Does age add something to it? Sure, several decades of being told to tone yourself down, or to present yourself as something you aren't is going to add a punch to the number. I suspect a 17 year old being told the same thing is still going to get it. That being said, you would have to make sure that you have the right teen age boy, who can bring the right feelings to the role. Maybe this school has one, maybe not.

Still, that doesn't change the fact that this is not an appropriate show for a high school to do. Young teenage boys in pageant style drag is awkward, both for audiences, and likely a few of those teenage boys. It is already hard enough to fit in at that age, and it takes a lot of confidence for a high school student to rise to that challenge within the social structure of a high school.

It is true that not doing the show for these reasons could case a negative affect for one student, but going on with the show, and having a kid get bullied for playing a drag queen is also a problem. These are things that have to be considered when choosing a show like this. In this case, I think the responsible decision has been made.

[gossipguy215]

My school actually is wonderful. There is almost no bullying at all, and teachers actually pay attention and care enough to put a stop to it. Like I sad, the how would have been smaller, with people having to get a permission form signed by both them and their parents, and I'm sure those not comfortable would have had the sense to not audition.
We've been considering this show for 3 year, but we've never had the right Albin until now, and now that we have the perfect cast put together, it's devastating that this choice has been made for us when the show could have been both revolutionary and spectacular.