Curtain Calls and Controversy: Navigating Censorship in Theatre Education
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,
In this issue, we explore how theatre educators can skillfully navigate censorship, turning potential conflicts into powerful learning moments that inspire students, reassure communities, and elevate the conversation around what it truly means to educate through theatre.
New recommendations from Justin Borak, host of The Scene: Podcast and viral theatre TikToker, are in “Shows You Should Know!"
The latest free read from Playscripts: Fire Exit by Stacie Lents.
So, raise the curtain and shine the spotlight as we dive into another thrilling week in the theatre world. Welcome to The Scene.
Good Night, and Good Luck opens on Broadway by Margaret Hall, Playbill | Co-written by George Clooney and Grant Heslov from the 2005 film, David Cromer directs the new play. Read... | Check out the Reviews.
LaChanze Wants Alice Childress to Be Produced as Much as August Wilson, That Is Why She's Directing Wine in the Wilderness by Diep Tran, Playbill | Says the Tony winner: "I want all of Alice Childress' work done in some form or fashion." Read...
Go Inside John Proctor is the Villain's April 2 Student Matinee by Margaret Hall, Playbill | Sadie Sink stars in Kimberly Belflower's reexamination of The Crucible at the Booth Theatre. Read...
In Just in Time, Jonathan Groff Wants to Get Up Close and Personal With Audiences by Diep Tran, Playbill | The Tony winner will dance with audience members and interact with them in his newest musical. Bobby Darin would be proud. Read...
Bonus Video: Check out this video of Jonathan Groff, on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, revealing the seven-year journey that was sparked by a deep dive into Bobby Darin videos on YouTube, ultimately leading to his performance in Just In Time.
Othello and Iago, a Marriage Made in Both Heaven and Hell by Ben Brantley, The New York Times | Because Shakespeare gave his hero and antihero equal weight, the contest between the actors playing them has never been that easy to call. Read...
My Friend’s Show Was Kind of Terrible. What Do I Say When I See Them? by Michael Paulson, The New York Times | You can always consider telling the truth, but it may not be advisable in this case. Read...
The Arts and the Battle for the Soul of Civilization by Dr. Indira Etwaroo, American Theatre | Now is the time for artists and institutions to step up in defense of the most fragile and vulnerable among us, including our arts organizations themselves. Read...
Dramatists Play Service Is Publishing Alex Edelman's Just for Us Script by Logan Culwell-Block, Playbill | The solo show, which played Broadway in 2023, joined the DPS licensing library earlier this year. Read...
Big Idea Story
Curtain Calls and Controversy: Navigating Censorship in Theatre Education
By Zach Dulli, The Scene
Here's the thing: theatre education isn't just about staging a show. It’s about lighting a match—starting conversations, challenging ideas, and creating spaces where voices can echo through auditoriums and hallways long after the final curtain. If you’re teaching theatre, you’re teaching courage, and courage inevitably invites controversy. So the question is, how do you keep artistic integrity alive when censorship walks through the door?
Know the Field You're Playing On
Censorship doesn't appear from nowhere. It grows from discomfort, anxiety, and sometimes genuine fear about the stories we tell and how we tell them. It happens when someone hears words or sees images they aren’t sure young people are ready for—topics like sexuality, politics, race, religion, or mental health. It’s not malicious; it’s cautious, and cautious doesn't always encourage growth.
Talk Early, Talk Often
If you remember nothing else, remember this: conversation beats controversy every time. Engage administrators and parents upfront and make your intentions clear. Show them your cards. If you choose a play like The Laramie Project, don’t just drop it on the community. Explain why. Explain that these stories aren't just important—they’re crucial. They're empathy builders, conversation starters, and civics lessons all rolled into one powerful package.
Education Is Your Best Argument
Tie your artistic decisions directly to your educational mission. Connect the dots between the curriculum, social-emotional learning goals, and historical context. When your choices clearly support educational outcomes, you’re no longer seen as just a theatre teacher pushing boundaries—you're an educator expanding minds.
Put Your Students Front and Center
Here's your secret weapon: your students. Give them ownership of the narrative. Let them lead discussions, perform research, and articulate why these stories matter. When young voices defend their work passionately and clearly, it becomes a lot harder to silence them. Authentic voices speaking genuine truths are your strongest defense against censorship.
You're Not Alone—Build Your Team
Theatre education can sometimes feel isolating, especially when facing challenges like censorship. Remember, you have allies. Groups like the Educational Theatre Association, the Dramatists Guild, or the American Alliance for Theatre & Education provide resources, advocacy strategies, and the support network you need. Lean on them.
When Censorship Arrives—Be Ready
Document Everything: Keep clear, detailed records: conversations, emails, decisions—everything.
Know the Rules: Understand your district’s policies thoroughly.
Always Have a Plan B: Offer alternative productions that meet the same educational objectives.
Stay Calm and Professional: Even in the heat of controversy, professionalism is your greatest strength.
Final Act
Theatre isn't meant to comfort—it’s meant to challenge. But within that challenge lies growth, empathy, and extraordinary learning opportunities. You're teaching more than theatre; you're teaching your students and community how to handle complexity, nuance, and the tough conversations that shape us all. This isn't just theatre education—it’s citizenship, courage, and, yes, even democracy, happening right there in your high school auditorium.
Shows You Should Know
Technical Difficulties: Plays for Online Theatre
By Leah Barker, Mashuq Mushtaq Deen, Steph Del Rosso, Arlene Hutton, John Cameron Mitchell, Craig Pospisil, CQ Quintana, Elaine Romero, Aurin Squire, and Ken Urban
About: I know we are relatively out of the world of online theatre, but hear me out, Technical Difficulties is a hidden gem. This collection of short plays is curated and edited by Leah Barker and, throughout the three-part series, contains titles from the likes of Steph Del Rosso, Ken Urban, Arlene Hutton, John Cameron Mitchell, Craig Pospisil, Crystal Skillman, Quiara Alegria Hudes, and Anna Ziegler. The plays all range from things perfectly made for Zoom, to things that would be great staged, and truly everything in between. One of the hardest things to find nowadays is good short plays, no matter what they are made for. It’s hard to find collections like this, where all the plays are so very different but all of such a high quality. If you need some shorter plays to work with your students, put up as a night of one-acts, or just read a bunch of wonderful playwrights, then you need to check out the entire Technical Difficulties series.
Rating: PG-13 | Casting: Flexible | Genre: Collection, One Acts
Click here to learn more about Technical Difficulties: Plays for Online Theatre. And don’t forget to check out The Scene Podcast!
Full cast set for Intimate Apparel at the Donmar Warehouse by Alex Wood, WhatsOnStage | The hit drama opens this summer. Read...
Go Inside Rehearsals for London's The Great Gatsby, Starring Corbin Bleu, Jamie Muscato, Frances Mayli McCann by Andrew Gans, Playbill | The Broadway musical adaptation of the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel will play the London Coliseum. Read...
Michael Sheen Will Star in U.K. Revival of Our Town by Andrew Gans, Playbill | The 2026 staging, marking the first production of Sheen’s Welsh National Theatre, is co-produced with London's Rose Theatre. Read...
Paul Jacob French and Max Bowden Star in the London World Premiere of Midnight Cowboy the Musical by Andrew Gans, Playbill | Nick Winston directs and choreographs the new musical at the Southwark Playhouse Elephant. Read...
World Premiere of I And You: The Musical, More Set for McCarter Theater Center's 2025-2026 Season by Molly Higgins, Playbill | Lauren Gunderson adapted her play for the new musical, which features music and lyrics by Ari Afsar. Read...
Casting Complete for A Doll's House, Part 2 at Pasadena Playhouse by Molly Higgins, Playbill | Jennifer Chang is directing Lucas Hnath's sequel at the California theatre. Read...
Willem Dafoe Adds Festival Programmer to His Résumé by Rob Weinert-Kendt, American Theatre | The busy actor has stocked an International Theatre Festival at the Venice Biennale with heavy hitters—including the one that formed him, the Wooster Group. Read...
Frozen, Relentless, Hello Girls, More in Syracuse Stage's 2025–2026 Season by Molly Higgins, Playbill | The central New York theatre will stage six productions in its upcoming season. Read...
Free Reads of the Week
Read entire plays for free! Playscripts offers a selection of full-length and one-act plays that you can access for free, which is ideal for use in theatre productions, school performances, or competitions. To explore these titles, click on the cover image below or select the "READ FOR FREE" button at the bottom of this section. This action will direct you to the play's page on the Playscripts website. Once there, click "READ NOW" to begin enjoying the play immediately!
Fire Exit by Stacie Lents
The Story: Everybody at Westfield High School thinks they know what happened the day of the fire. Fire Exit opens in the aftermath, as the community faces what appears to be a prank gone terribly wrong. But as the kids and adults open up about their lives and the bigger picture of the day's events emerges, the truth proves to be far less simple. Told through a series of poignant and often very funny monologues, Fire Exit is a powerful ensemble piece that proves things, and people, aren't always as they seem.
Genre: Drama | Run-Time: 30 - 35 minutes | Casting: 3 W, 2 M, 3 Any (4-8 actors possible: 2-6 W, 2-5 M) | Set: Minimal
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