Theatre programs in schools across the United States are facing increased scrutiny and censorship, as political and cultural divisions spill over into the realm of arts education. Teachers are being forced to reconsider their choice of plays and musicals, as objections are raised from both conservative and liberal parents and officials. The recent wave of objections has resulted in the cancellation of school productions, and in some cases, the elimination of theatre positions altogether.
Stevie Ray Dallimore, an actor and teacher who had been running the theatre program at a private boys’ school in Chattanooga for a decade, found himself at the center of this battle. A proposed production of “She Kills Monsters” at a nearby girls’ school was rejected due to its gay content, while a production of “Shakespeare in Love” at the same girls’ school was dismissed because of cross-dressing. Dallimore’s own school’s production of Chekhov’s “Three Sisters” was rejected due to concerns over adultery and the potential for boys to play women’s roles.
The elimination of Dallimore’s position, as well as that of his counterpart at the nearby Girls Preparatory School, was the final blow to his yearlong struggle. Both educators were invited to apply for a single new position overseeing theatre at both schools, but ultimately lost their jobs. Dallimore sees this as part of a larger movement that is rooted in politics and religion, seeking to erase history and marginalize difference. However, a spokesperson for McCallie School denied that content concerns played a role in the decision to eliminate the positions, stating that it was simply a matter of combining the theatre programs.
Drama teachers across the country are now finding it increasingly difficult to select plays and musicals that won’t attract controversy or result in the loss of their jobs. The Educational Theater Association conducted a survey that found 67 percent of teachers feel that censorship concerns are influencing their play selections. Both left-leaning and right-leaning parents and officials have raised objections to various productions, citing issues such as homosexuality, race, and gender. The polarized political climate and the power of social media have made these objections more influential than ever before.
As a result, drama teachers are engaging in self-censorship and seeking out titles that are both relevant to today’s teenagers and unlikely to cause controversy. The fear of losing their jobs or funding has led to a reluctance to stage certain plays or musicals. Stephen Gregg, a playwright who has been writing for high school students for three decades, received a request from a publishing house to make edits to his play, “Crush”, in order to remove gay characters. Gregg refused, understanding the harm it would cause to gay students in the theatre program.
School productions have been canceled across the country because of content concerns. Some have managed to overcome objections, while others have faced significant backlash. The constraints on play selections are having an impact on the education of future artists and audience members, limiting exposure to a wide variety of work. Advocates argue that students deserve the opportunity to engage with diverse material, rather than being limited to safe and family-friendly productions.
The censorship of school theatre programs is not limited to play selections. In Kansas, high school students were barred from reading “The Laramie Project,” a play about the murder of Matthew Shepard, due to objections from a parent. These actions are having a detrimental effect on the artistic and educational experiences of students, and teachers are left grappling with how to navigate the increasingly polarized climate in which they work.