Posted on 12/09/2006 10:43:13 AM PST by wagglebee
A production of "Cabaret" in a California city that features high schoolers as cast members is drawing a horrified reaction from public interest organizations and local officials because of the revealing costumes and the teens' sexually provocative poses.
Titus Gee, a reporter for the Valley Press in Lancaster, first reported on the situation, noting that the high school performers will be "attired in bras, teddies, foundation garments, garter belts and little else."
The production this weekend at Antelope Valley College's Black Box Theatre in Lancaster, Calif., was not the responsibility of the high school, where spokeswoman Bridget Cook told WND that "there may be some individuals who have some connection to the high school district, like students or staff or volunteers" who are participating in the college event. But a spokeswoman from the college who did not provide her name told WND that the production was a joint effort with the high school. The newspaper said both high school and college students are involved.
Karen England, executive director of Capitol Resource Institute, said she was "absolutely appalled that a high school would allow its students to participate in a show that can only be described as a strip tease for minors."
"As a parent, I am outraged that a high school would allow its students, minors in their charge, to be involved such an inappropriate production," England said. "We are calling on parents all across California to contact the Antelope Valley Union High School District and express their outrage."
"Schools should be engaged in education, not titillation!” she said.
The newspaper said the production was a part of the Antelope Valley Union High School District's "senior project program." Highland High senior Lane Williams told the newspaper he's wanted to stage "Cabaret" since he was a freshman and was "surprised" he was able to do it.
"The musical numbers themselves are priceless – bold, raunchy and packed with sex appeal," Williamson had told the newspaper's entertainment writer, Julie Drake.
The newspaper, whose managers decided against publishing any promotional photographs of the event because they "featured sexually suggestive positions from dance numbers" also said the production "raised an alarm" among Antelope Valley district officials who saw photographs and watched rehearsals this week.
The play is a look at the nightclub life in Berlin before World War II, and as a Broadway show has won many Tony Awards. As an R-rated film it collected eight Oscars, including one for Liza Minelli as Best Actress.
School District Supt. David Vierra, who didn't return a call from WND, told the newspaper the district would have to look into its authority in the matter since it is a partnership between the school district and the college.
The school district does have a policy undergarments are required and midriffs be covered at all times, and another policy that bans sexually explicit or suggestive materials.
Trustee Donita Winn told the newspaper she was concerned about high school students taking part.
"I'm really going to suggest – not knowing anything about the play – that the girls wear a little more clothing. Also, the poses are a concern."
The newspaper said the poses show students clutching or pointing to their breasts, and their legs spread and angled suggestively toward the audience.
"The main word here is appropriate. … I do not feel that the wardrobe is appropriate for high school. I feel that the content of the play is adult in nature and not appropriate for high school students," Winn said.
You are right. I don't know much about either one to be honest. I don't know why they just don't add some clothes. Wouldn't that eliminate this problem?
True. I suggested on another post that they just add some more clothes to the costume. That might work for this play. High School is too young to be wearing "underwear".
You are right. I don't know much about either one to be honest. I don't know why they just don't add some clothes. Wouldn't that eliminate this problem?
Not really, the storyline of the play as well as the setting really isn't appropriate for high school.
(HS Boy 1:) Uh, what's, uh, like to understand?
(HS Boy 2:) Yeah, man; ain't it just a bunch'a babes bouncing their boobs & shakin' bootie?
(HS Boy 1:) Like what I said; it's just, uh, like...Art, man! That's it; it's just art!
(HS boy 3:) Can I play a Nazi, can I? Can I? I already have the uniform!
Start by admitting from cradle to tomb
It isn't that long a stay....
"Yes, but high school girls are not sex objects."
It would appear that they are, at least so far as this particular government high school is concerned.
And those are the boys!
I must respectfully disagree. I always wore underwear in High School.
The moral do gooders will cancel Cabaret and usher in La Cage aux Folles, go figure.
Same thing happened to Palm Springs. Moral do-gooders were assuaged by the drunken debauchery of college coeds, cancelling Spring Break, only later to usher in Biker and White Weekend for the homosexuals.
This is one of the primary job of government schools. To get kids so wound up sexually that anything goes. That and the "diversity" B.S. People need to start suing the school systems over not teaching reading, writing, and arithmetic.
Yeah... damn moral do gooders. Can you believe how many laws are based on morals. Not allowing rape or murder being just a couple. What's wrong with these morons, right? Stay out of other people's business, right?
Nothing wrong with temperance, but there are lots of folk who exasperate worse sin by appealing to legalism.
BTW, there is probably no group of people who would jump to gossip and do-good moralism than a bunch of jealous high school girls thinking about a peer in a play who might get the attention of a boy they had been thinking about or whose attention they wanted to attract.
IMHO, the kids themselves will do far more to enforce morality than anything code enforced upon them. Granted it doesn't hurt to have laws and codes to prevent criminal behavior from being condoned.
"The musical numbers themselves are priceless – bold, raunchy and packed with sex appeal," Williamson had told the newspaper's entertainment writer, Julie Drake.
It seems to have escaped this gang that Cabaret is a metaphor for the encroaching Nazism of the late 1930's early 40's. If they think the play is all about T&A, they have missed the point entirely.
there isn't a such thing as an "appropriate" high school play any more. the play we chose in HS (west side story) got denied approval becaus it was deemed racist, then the replacement play we chose (grease) was denied because there weren't enough parts available for black people.
gotta love PC.
When I was in high school we performed, "Bye Bye Birdie," "My Fair Lady," "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," "Li'l Abner," "The King and I"
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