“Rent”: The Show Mustn’t Go On?
There’s a “Rent” dispute raging through some unlikely places—Rowlett, Texas…Newport Beach, California…Bridgeport, West Virginia. It’s not about housing rights, but about a rite of passage—the high school musical—and what constitutes a responsible show for teens to stage.
After the producers of the Broadway musical “Rent” spun off a modified version of the Pulitzer and Tony Award winning play, high schools across the country showed interest in staging it. “Rent: School Edition” was intended to replace aging school performances like “The Music Man” with an edgier production that doubles as a teaching tool about discrimination and tolerance.
The school version omits some profane language and same-sex contact. But the story, centered on a group of New York City artists—gay, straight, drug addicted, and HIV-positive among them—remains the same. And that has rankled school officials, who have in turn enraged drama teachers, leaving students caught in the middle.
“I know drugs are out there, I know children are having babies at twelve…But I don’t know if we need ‘Rent,’” said a West Virginia schools superintendent who forbade a local high school to stage the show, explaining that West Virginia families wouldn’t find the content of “Rent” appealing.
But broadening perspectives is the point, say supporters of the show. “ My responsibility as a drama teacher is to expose my students to a variety of different types of plays,” explained a California high school teacher who said his school principal told him to cancel the show after disapproving of its gay characters. The principal denies it, and flabbergasted students were told they might stage “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” instead.
The controversy over “Rent” got so intense in Rowlett, Texas that Rowlett High’s theater director cancelled the production himself, to spare his students the pressure of local residents who called the subject matter immoral, anti-family, and inappropriate for a high school audience. “Everyone is pretty upset,” said a student with a leading role.
All of which prompted one of the original Broadway cast members from “Rent” to remark, “You’re going to be upset in 2009 about a show because it has a man onstage in women’s clothing? You’ve gotta be kidding me.”
Tell us what you think: When teens are shielded from reality, is it a help or a disservice? When it comes to responsibility in the arts, who should decide what’s appropriate?
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Spring Awakening any one?
Anyone seen Spring Awakening? I think the consequences of failing to discuss matters addressed in plays like Rent are dire. Clearly it didn’t turn out well in Spring Awakening and that was set two centuries ago. Have we not changed in 200 years? Maybe if we did discuss taboo things, we wouldn’t be in the state we are now…
Somewhat sad.
HK Star | 11 months, 2 weeks ago
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Opinion
I am a high school choir teacher in Oklahoma and teach a Music Appreciation course as well. We study musicals – in particular “Rent.” Our required textbook for Music App. in OK discusses “Rent” in detail even! I give my students permission slips for them to take home for their parents to sign when we watch the movie, and so far, everyone of my students has watched it and LOVED it.
Yes, Rent is controversial, includes everything immoral that I’m against as a conservative Christian – but the life lessons to be learned from Rent are priceless – and this is why I show the video.
As far as a musical – I do believe that it is too mature for teenagers to be portraying these characters. They HAVE heard of the subject matter – drugs, sex, the gay community, AIDS, etc. – yet they are too young to relate and fully act these parts.
Oklahoma teacher | 11 months, 2 weeks ago
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Rent
The study, memorization and acting of roles takes SIGNIFICANT time, intellectual and emotional involvement.
Considering the findings that the viewing of violence begets increased violence in society………consider the possibility that the acting of roles of questionable moral character and influence…….beget similar consequences….especially when such an investment is made during the years crucial to the formation of moral, conscience and social norms.
Susan Davison, B.S.,R.N.,M.S. | 11 months, 1 week ago
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Inappropriate
I have been involved in theatre for most of my life, but this kind of production is not appropriate for high school students. That is too adult; I would not want my child to take part.
L. Hayes | 11 months, 1 week ago
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Seriously?
“They HAVE heard of the subject matter – drugs, sex, the gay community, AIDS, etc. – yet they are too young to relate and fully act these parts.”
You think none of your kids have had sex? You think none of them have done drugs, are gay, or have experienced the death of a loved one? I got out of high school two years ago – went to a “good” conservative moral religious high school – and I can tell you that it’s not the case, both from statistics that exist everywhere and from my own personal experience.
“Something I rarely hear mentioned is the fact that high school musicals should be for the whole community.”
That doesn’t mean catering to the prejudices of the rest of the world. Just because we associate heterosexual relationships with G-ratings doesn’t mean that it’s right. I would take out some parts of Rent for the sexual context, but the only reason to chuck the whole play is homophobia.
Piper | 11 months, 1 week ago
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USA
Excellent site this www.responsibilityproject.com. Great to see you have what I am actually looking for here and this this post is exactly what I am interested in. I shall be pleased to become a regular visitor.
Duerway | 11 months, 1 week ago
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wake up america
Your children, if in high school have already been exposed to: homosexuality, blatant heterosexuality, sex before marriage, drugs, HIV/other STD’s, and many, many other seemingly “immoral” subject matters. Don’t let them watch TV? They don’t live in bubbles. You can’t be there all of the time. Give them credit. Talk to them yourself about these things. Tell them people are born gay. Tell them that everyone has urges, but they should wait until marriage and if they can’t, they should use protection. Tell them not to do drugs and why. Tell them ALL of this, and if you do, your child won’t have to be “educated” by a play about things you are scared of. Trust me, your child will learn about all of these things, whether or not, you love them enough to tell them all they need to know.
celeste | 11 months, 1 week ago
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HSM2
I think HSM2 is awesome I’m a big fan of Zac Efron.
Brittany Ann Roberts | 11 months, 1 week ago
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Intolerence
“Forced” ? If you don’t like the school system…home school. I am a parent of a high school child who loves to participate in school plays. I would love for them to do a production of Rent…and I live in Arkansas, belt-buckle of the Bible belt…get over it, your kids are aware of all those life situations that you find offensive…and by the way, in the end, it is just a play…all the moral police masquerading as parents, please leave the rest of us (the actual majority) alone. We want our kids to have a better understanding of the world in which we live….it will make for a better world. I think I’ll suggest Rent for next years production…they did Bye, Bye, Birdie this year…
JoAnn | 11 months, 1 week ago
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United Kingdom
Art, they say, mirrors the society as it is. But artists, including playwrights, don’t just write plays for plays’ sake. More often than not they send a message- through heroes and heroines or through the plot- which show, clearly or subtly ,where their sympathies or dislike for the theme of play lies. If, as some parents or authorities think, ‘Rent’ seem to glorify gay lifestyles or drug taking, then there is some genuine concerns out there.
But, the flip-side of the coin is also important; does the play draw the attention of the society to the plight of gays, drug addicts among others? These are really important concerns. Sometimes staging plays like these can be tricky, because the audience is free to draw their own conclusions. Parents and school authorities have no control over what the youth might come out with from such plays.
Daniel Onyango | 11 months, 1 week ago
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