NYC Today
Production: My Name is Rachel Corrie
Where: New York Theatre Workshop
When: Opened December 4, 2009
“A hearing actor playing a deaf character is tantamount to putting a white actor in blackface.”
This performance is controversial because it uses non-deaf actors to play the roles of deaf characters. This sparks controversy among the deaf community because they believe that a hearing actor does not understand the deaf culture as a deaf person would. The deaf community is offended by the lack of auditions held for deaf actors for this production and the lack of research spent on learning the culture of the deaf community.
Nudity
Production: Love, Valor, Compassion
When: Opened November 1995
Who: The Manhattan Theater Club
Where: Walter Kerr Theater
“…it has genuine pathos that's only slightly tinged with sentimentality, and, as a singular talking point, it offers more male nudity than has probably ever been seen in a legitimate Broadway theater. Is the nudity essential? Does it turn men into sex objects? Is it cheap exploitation?”
The controversy of Love, Valor, Compassion is showing nudity just because we have the right to. Arguments can be made over if it’s necessary and if it contributes anything to the play other than a cheap thrill. Although the other side to the argument, does the nudity in this play show allow for depth within its characters? By seeing these characters nude, does it allow us to see a new dynamic to their life and issues within?
Gay Broadway
“The Children's Hour gained some notoriety, and was initially banned in Boston, Chicago and London. The controversy over its content also scared off the Pulitzer Prize selection committee, which refused to attend a single performance of the play.”
Production: The Children’s Hour
Produced: Nov. 1934- July 1936
Where: Maxine’s Elliott Theatre
This show sparked controversy because of the suggestion that two boarding school teachers are engaging in a lesbian affair. To today’s standards, this would not create such uproar but in 1934, this was a hot topic for controversy. Although the play does not revolve around the affair but around the theme of rumors, it did not stop the play from being banned and snubbed for the Pulitzer Prize.
Racist Broadway
Production: Miss. Saigon
When: April 1990
Where: New York Broadway
Asian-American directors, playwrights, and actors protested against not only Pryce's "yellowface" performance — Pryce had performed the role on the London stage wearing heavy prosthetic eyelids, until he was informed that some people might find this racially offensive — but also against the show's producer's refusal to allow Asian-American actors to compete for the role.
The Asian community acted out against the Broadway production of Miss Saigon because of the white actor portraying an Asian in yellow face. The show was quickly cancelled because of this controversy despite the advanced ticket sales. The casting director responded by announcing that there were no Asian actors that auditioned in which fit the role. The Asian community did not feel justified by this statement because of the little roles in which are available to Asians.
Busted
Show: Making Porn
Where: SPOT, St. Louis
When: March 11-12, 2005
“I talked to the liquor commissioner, who finally faxed me over the statute, which defines lewd and lascivious, which includes four things, one of which is nudity — one was for the purposes for sexual arousal and enjoyment. I knew our play was for the enlightenment of the human condition. I said, ‘I don’t think we come under this thing.’"
This show was deemed controversial enough to be shut down by the city ordinance because of the combination of nudity and alcohol. St. Louis city ordinance bans "lewd and lascivious’ behavior in an establishment holding a liquor license.” The shows producer was outraged because of the stipulations in which he views the city ordinances policy versus his opinion of the nude intentions.
NEA Four
Who: Holly Hughes, Tim Miller, John Fleck, and Karen Finley
When: 1989
What: NEA denial of grants
“John Frohnmayer, then chair of the NEA, refused to approve grants to the four performance artists, apparently due to pressure from the Bush administration.”
This event was controversial because these four performance artists were denied grants based upon the content of their performance. Each performers work was centered on homosexuality, AIDS, religion and political issues. The NEA received pressure from the government not to fund this type of work. The NEA was advised to grant those with “general standards of decency.” The NEA four went through several court hearings and eventually their case went to the Supreme Court where “general standards of decency” was overturned.
Regional Theatre
Production: The Emperor Jones
Who: The Goodman Theatre, The Wooster Group
Where: Chicago
When: January 2009
“Third World Press sent out e-mails asking for a boycott of the show. It also had asked for a boycott of a panel discussion scheduled earlier in the day…”
The controversy surrounding this production is the white actress in blackface. This is seen to be offensive because of the social standards of America today. Minimal roles are offered to black actors today and a blackface actress is only a reminder of where our country was and not a representation of where we are today.
College Controversy
Production: Corpus Christi
Where: Tarleton State University
Who: Student Director: John Jordan Otte
“A planned play at Tarleton State University that portrays a gay Jesus has raised emotions in Stephenville to the point where a Christian radio show was jammed with protest calls and some student actors have been pressured to quit.”
This production was considered controversial because of the homosexual content with the connection to Jesus. This show was produced in a highly religious and conservative town which led to a high disapproval amongst the community. The director John Jordan Otte, a Mormon homosexual, related to the play because of his own struggle with homosexuality in a conservative environment.
High School
Show: Rent
Where: Corona del Mar High School, Newport beach California
Who: Ron Martin
When: February 2009
“He said his principal, Fal Asrani, had objected to the show because of its treatment of ‘prostitution and homosexuality.’ ‘When I heard that, I stopped her and looked her in the eye and said, ‘First, there is no prostitution in ‘Rent,’ and second, homosexuality is not wrong,’ ” Mr. Martin said. “She made no comment. It was the most demoralizing, disappointing moment in my career as a teacher.”
This show raised controversy within this school and led to the show being cancelled. Martin was extremely appalled by the cancellation of the production because he felt that by producing this play, it would allow for students to be come more aware of how wrong discrimination is. The high school would have preformed a toned down version of Rent, which omits some foul language and the musical number Contact.
Wild Card
Production: Angels in America
Where: Charlotte North Carolina
Who: Charlotte Repertory Theatre
“Faced with threats of expulsion from the Booth Playhouse—and police
arrest if they did perform—the Rep secured an eleventh-hour court injunction that enabled the show to go on. But this was a Pyrrhic victory in the Culture Wars that followed. The county commission cut off funding to the company—and all other arts organizations in the community—during the next budgetary cycle.”
This show sparked controversy in the conservative community because of the homosexual themes and full frontal nudity. Charlotte Repertory Theatre were threatened with arrests but managed to perform. Their performance cost them their budget. Voters raced to the polls to let their opinion be heard, which caused city commissioners not be reelected.
