Censorship in Theatre Education: Navigating the Tightrope of Artistic Expression

Plus, your weekly round-up of theatre news you may have missed!

Welcome to The Scene, your weekly round-up of theatre news you may have missed. In this week's email, we discuss censorship in theatre education and how to navigate the tightrope that is artistic expression. In addition, we ask you to vote on your favorite theatre-themed t-shirt, plus we catch you up on the week's most important theatre news and stories, including:

• The Roundabout Theatre Announces its 2024-2025 Season;

• Meet the EGOT Winner Behind Sondheim’s Signature Sound and

• How the Jimmy Awards Catapulted the career of “Mean Girls” Reneé Rapp!

All that and more in this week’s edition of The Scene.

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Cast your vote today on which of the T-shirts above should be available for sale from The Scene. Please cast your vote below, and one lucky voter will be selected at random to receive the winning t-shirt sent to them for free! Voting ends Thursday, January 18th!

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• Roundabout’s 2024-2025 season to include “Yellow Face,” “English,” and “Pirates of Penzance” by Andy Lefkowitz, Broadway News | Daniel Dae Kim, David Hyde Pierce, and Ramin Karimloo are among the initial performers set to appear onstage during Roundabout’s new season. Read on...

• This Wig Designer Is Trying to Fix Broadway’s Hair Inclusivity Problem by Houreidja Tall, Allure | Nikiya Mathis made Broadway history as the wig and hair designer for “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding.” Now, she’s on a mission to make all Black actors feel more cared for behind the scenes. Read...

• Broadway’s “Lempicka” will perform at Sotheby’s by Michael Abourizk, Broadway News | The one-night-only event is part of a special collaboration with the auction house. Read more...

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• Star of the new film “Mean Girls” Reneé Rapp On How The Jimmy Awards Catapulted Her Career by Leigh Scheps, Broadway Direct | Reneé Rapp rests on trusting her instincts. If ‘Hadestown’s’ Eva Noblezada could book the lead in Miss Saigon after competing in the coveted Jimmy Awards for high school musical theater superstars, so could she. Read more...

• The EGOT Winner Behind Sondheim’s Signature Sound by Darryn King, The New York Times | For Jonathan Tunick, an early love of “Tubby the Tuba” led to a career as an orchestrator. He talks about his Sondheim partnership and creating a sound that “can hint at unspoken secrets.” Read...

• Anna Strasberg, Widow of Lee Strasberg and Inheritor of Marilyn Monroe Estate, Dies at 84 by Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter | “Her lifelong commitment to The Method and unwavering devotion to The Institute have left an indelible mark on the world of acting and the countless talented people she inspired.” Read on...

• 2024 Junior Theater Festival Atlanta Kicks Off January 12 by Logan Culwell-Block, Playbill | Taylor Iman Jones, Brittney Mack, Arielle Jacobs, and more will appear at the weekend-long festival of all things youth theatre. Read...

• The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center is now accepting applications for the 2024 Young Playwrights Festival.  The 2024 festival will be held on its campus from May 17-19, 2024. The application will remain open until Thursday, February 1, 2024. Learn more here...

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The Big Idea

Censorship in Theatre Education: Navigating the Tightrope of Artistic Expression

by Zach Dulli, The Scene

In the vibrant world of theatre education, where creativity and expression should reign supreme, a shadow looms large: the challenge of censorship. It's a tightrope walk for educators, balancing the need for artistic freedom with the constraints imposed by various stakeholders. The question, "Who decides what teachers can teach?" opens a Pandora's box of debates, policies, and ethical considerations.

Unpacking the Players in the Drama of Censorship

• Educational Institutions: Often, the first line of decision-making lies with the schools themselves. School b ards and administrators, wary of a backlash from parents or the community, may preemptively limit material deemed controversial. The dilemma? Defining 'controversial' One person's 'edgy' is another's 'inappropriate.' This leads to a cautious, sometimes overly conservative approach to show selection. This conservative stance can, unfortunately, sideline important artistic works that provoke important thought and discussion.

• Parents and Community: The voices of parents and the broader community are powerful in shaping the landscape of theatre education. Parents concer ed about the content their children are exposed to can exert significant pressure on schools to conform to their personal values and beliefs. This situation is particularly pronounced in smaller communities where schools are closely integrated into the community fabric, making theatre productions a focal point of community identity and values.

• Legal and Political Frameworks: State laws and district policies can set boundaries that cannot be ignored. These roles can sometimes strangle creativity and limit exposure to diverse perspectives and challenging themes crucial for a well-rounded education. While most of these frameworks are intended to provide guidance, they can sometimes become restrictive handcuffs that limit creative freedom. The challenge lies in interpreting these guidelines in a way that balances legal compliance with artistic integrity.

• Teachers Themselves: Finally, teachers, the directors of the educational stage, have to make daily choices about what to teach. Balancing personal ethics, professional responsibilities, and the potential for controversy, teachers must tread carefully, often erring on the side of caution to avoid professional repercussions. The ever-present question in the mind of many theatre educators is, "Will this get me into trouble?"

The Impact of Censorship on Theatre Education

The impact of censorship in theatre education extends far beyond the mere exclusion of certain plays or musicals. It strikes at the very heart of education, stifling opportunities for students to engage with diverse narratives and complex social issues. Censorship can inadvertently promote a culture of fear and conformity rather than encouraging critical thinking, empathy, and creative expression.

Strategies for Effectively Navigating Censorship

• Promoting Open Dialogue: Fostering open communication channels with all stakeholders – administrators, parents, students, and even the community at large – is crucial. This dialogue can not only help to understand the varying perspectives, but it also provides an opportunity to clear up any misconceptions about the show or its cont nt long before rehearsal begins.

• Highlighting Educational Value: When selecting shows, it's essential to foreground their educational merits. Plays and musicals should be chosen not just for their entertainment value but for their potential to enrich students' understanding of literature, culture, history, human psychology, and more. Make sure you are clear about the educational value of the show before you begin to speak about it with various stakeholders. This will allow you to maintain some level of control over how the show is perceived in your school and community.

• Alternativ Options: Have a Plan B. If a particular play is deemed unsuitable, be ready with alternatives that still offer rich educational experiences. Flexibility is key, and having alternatives ready can be an effective strategy in navigating censorship hurdles.

• Advocacy and Professional Development: Educators should actively seek out and participate in professional development opportunities focused on dealing with censorship. Additionally, advocating for artistic freedom within the educational system is crucial for fostering a more open environment for theatre education.

In Conclusion, The Show Must Go On

In the final act, dealing with censorship in theatre education is about finding balance. It’s about respecting diverse views while championing the intrinsic value of artistic expression. It's a journey of negotiation, compromise, and sometimes, creative reinvention. The goal remains clear – to ensure that theatre continues to serve as a dynamic and powerful medium for education, one that challenges, entertains, and inspires the next generation of thinkers, artists, and citizens.

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• U.K. Premiere of “Kim’s Convenience,” Starring Ins Choi, Officially Opens January 12 by Margaret Hall, Playbill | The 2011 stage play spawned a Netflix sitcom adaptation of the same name. Read more...

• Christina Aguilera's “Burlesque the Musical” Will Play Manchester and Glasgow Before the West End Premiere by Andrew Gans, Playbill | Aguilera will also Executive Produce the new musical, featuring a book by Steven Antin and Kate Wetherhead. Read on...

• Edinburgh Fringe Festival Applications Have Opened for 2024 by Margaret Hall, Leah Putnam, Playbill | The world's largest arts festival, which fills the Scottish city every August, featured 3,535 shows in 2023. Read...

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• Two River Announces Cast and Creative Team for Kate Hamill’s “The Scarlet Letter” by Linda Buchwald, Theatre Mania | The cast includes Mary Bacon, Nikki Calonge, Kevin Isola, Keshav Moodliar, Amelia Pedlow, and Triney Sandoval. Read...

• Steppenwolf Theatre Presenting World Premiere of “A Home What Howls” by Meg Masseron, Playbill | Laura Alcalá Baker will direct Matthew Paul Olmos' play centering on youth activism. Read on...

• “Fat Ham” Broadway Stars Will Reprise Performances in Geffen Playhouse Run by David Gordon, Theatre Mania | Marcel Spears, and more will return to their roles for the West Coast engagement. Read more...

• Cast Announced for Mary Zimmerman-Directed Magic Flute Adaptation by Meg Masseron, Playbill | The opera-in-miniature adaptation at Chicago's Goodman will feature a cast of 16 actors and five musicians. Read...

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