For those of you that may not be aware, LaGuardia HS in NYC had a bit of an uproar over onstage Nazi symbols during their production of The Sound of Music… The Sound of Music!!!
https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2018/12/07/school-admins-question-use-of-swastika-in-sound-of-music/The fact that the family is escaping not embracing the Nazis, and this is a classic film and musical coming up on 50yrs old, is disturbing enough. But what is next? No Romeo and Juliet because it depicts violence and teen suicide? No Cabaret because that too has Nazis? No Macbeth because it promotes witchery and murder? No tragedies, just Disney productions and stage versions of cartoons?
If theater is supposed to evoke thought and discussion, how does this happen if the optics of social media images can lead the politically left and right into protests without actually examining the content for their protests? And how will this play out with state, national, and international K-12 theater organizations? If we are not vocal we can be headed towards a theatrical version of book banning.
I am fortunate to have a very supportive administration, but there’s always a level above them at the District that may not feel the same way when an election rolls around.
Is there any discussion going on in your schools and districts?
Joseph D'Aquino
Newport Harbor High School
Drama Department Program Director
I.B. Assistant Coordinator