Censoring+a+School+Play

American Idiot Uncensorship Outline

The National Coalition Against Censorship has a toolkit for defending censorship with seven steps. This defense plan is focused on the first four NCAC recommendations: I. Clarify your facts II. Develop and practice your argument III. Mobilize against cancellation IV. Transform the controversy into a teachable moment.


 * Clarify your facts **
 * Know where the complaints came from and/or who complained.
 * Know the nature of the complaints. For example, were they formal or written. Additionally defenders need to know what exactly those opposed to the play took issue with i.e., language, age appropriateness, sex, drugs, violence, etc.
 * Know the school district’s policies for selection and/or reconsideration for drama pieces. While this is often in place for instructional materials, it is much less available for dramatic materials
 * Know the circumstances. If the piece is cancelled, who made the decision? Was the piece previously granted oral or written approval and if so, by whom?
 * Know if the rights to the play were officially secured through licensing houses with formal contracts.


 * Develop and practice your argument **
 * Has the play received any high profile awards that speak to its artistic merit?
 * Has the play been performed anywhere else in the country, particularly in a high school or middle school setting?
 * Explain your aims concisely and persuasively


 * Mobilize against cancellation **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Identify allies within your community
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Using sample letters, compose persuasive letters to responsible parties including but not limited to: principal, teachers, school board, superintendent, local paper.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Get the word out through school/school board’s open forums, signage, internet and digital media

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">In general, objections to dramatic pieces center on the concerns about the morals of the community and students’ readiness to deal with controversial and mature topics. To deal with students’ preparedness, contribute in the creation of **study guides** that ensure students understand the context for the contested sections. Another suggestions in holding “**talkbacks**” after performances which allow students and drama teachers to answer questions from community member that can help lessen tensions and build a bridge toward positive outcomes.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Transform the controversy into a teachable moment **

====<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">The Show Must Go On: A Toolkit for Organizing Against Theater Censorship in Public Schools. (2014, November 18). Retrieved April 20, 2016, from http://ncac.org/resource/the-show-must-go-on ====

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">What happened... <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode',sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">On January 17, Nate Ferreira, faculty director of the Lamplighters, sent a general e-mail to the school community which included the following statement: //<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode',sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">As most of you know, we had a drama club meeting this past Wednesday to discuss the details of producing “American Idiot” as our final show this school year. Due to the mature content of the original production, I have been working with the publisher to modify the script, to ensure that it would be appropriate for a high school group to perform. // //<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode',sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">This project was very successful, and we feel that the modified script and production notes maintain the integrity of the show, while removing profanity and the more adult scenarios in the original Broadway production. The publisher is even starting the process of turning our edited version of the script into their official “School Edition” of the play, to allow other high schools to easily perform this play in the future. // //<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode',sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">As I’ve stated at our student/parent meetings during the past two school years: this extended production process was intended to allow us to work on a show that most of the kids were extremely excited about, while continuing the award-winning Lamplighters tradition of exploring serious issues in a mature and responsible way. In the same way that our presentation of the student-authored and directed “Happily Never After” last year did an excellent job of handling the difficult issues of domestic abuse and justifiable homicide, “American Idiot” opens discussion about many issues of young adulthood. // //<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode',sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Unfortunately, a very small number of extremely vocal people have complained about our choice of production. This led to Mr. Longey [principal Andrew Longey] and I meeting on Friday to discuss a change in our choice of production. To be clear, Mr. Longey did not force us to change – he and I took a long and careful look at all aspects of the show, and all arguments on either side. At this late stage it is very difficult to switch to a different play, but **I do feel that it is best for us to set aside “American Idiot” for the time being**. I want ALL of our club members to be able to be a part of our musical, and I want to be absolutely certain that the play happens at all. //

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sherman, H. (2016, January 25). Something Unpredictable With 'American Idiot in High School. Retrieved April 20, 2016, from [] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Important facts


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Timeline of the events **

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Faculty advisor for the drama club works with the publisher to make sure the modified version is appropriate for high school students. //

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Students and advisor believe the modified script is both true to the integrity of the original and is to be the model for the publisher of a school version. //

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">A small but vocal group of parents voice their disapproval of the project and the principal becomes involved. //

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The principal and faculty advisor choose to set the play aside seemingly due to the controversy but also because students would not be allowed by parents to perform. //

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The parent group never read the modified script. //


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Step One: Clarify your facts **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;">The complaints came from a small group of vocal parents
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;">The objections were to readiness of students to handle mature subject matters such as drugs and sex.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;">It appears there is not a specific county or school policy for selecting dramatic pieces
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;">A decision was made by the principal and faculty drama club advisor to pull the play before concerned parties had read the modified version
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;">The play was purchased from a licensed publishing house who worked with the school to modify the play into an appropriate high school format


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Step Two: Develop and Practice your argument **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 1.5;">The album "American Idiot" has won numerous awards including a Grammy.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 1.5;">The musical earned a Tony nomination for Best Musical and a Grammy nomination for best musical album
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 1.5;">The high school adaptation, licensed by Music Theater International is being piloted by a New Jersey high school with a three camera taping of the show made available on GreenDay.com.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 1.5;">Co-writer of American Idiot, Michael Mayer, says, "The power of American Idiot lies with its authenticity and immediacy. There qualities have been touchstones for us as we made the musical. Nothing is more authentic than young people playing characters close to their own age and experience; the immediacy of the story of these kids'search for meaning is evident each time we turn on the TV, check our Twitter feed, log in to Facebook, or engage with the world in a variety of ways".
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 1.5;">Ashley Bauers, the Dayton, NJ music teacher who is directing the production stated that "...we're confronting issues show brings up that are vital and relevant topics to discuss with our kids. Ideally, the audience will walk away from this production empowered to have these conversations with their loved ones.

====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Hetrick, A. (2016, April 14). High School Pilot Production of American Idiot Premieres Today | Playbill. Retrieved April 21, 2016, from http://www.playbill.com/article/high-school-pilot-production-of-american-idiot-premieres-today ====


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Step Three: Mobilize Against Cancellation **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;">Share the writer/biographer of the play's Instagram message regarding the cancellation of the play
 * https://www.instagram.com/p/BA-RNvCJFS7/
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;">Using sample letters, write concise but persuasive letters to responsible parties, decision makers, and stakeholders
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;">Using social media, signage, and other appropriate communication outlets, share the controversy and invite interested parties to come to a reading of the play or to come and view the script.

Faculty takes a portion of class time to make content related connections to the play to give students a forum for discussion. For example, student in English can compose a writing piece that either predict what the characters' lives would look like in the future, or lessons learned from both character and students' point of view. Math classes could research statistics related to teen parenting and/or drug use and history and sociology could examine the impact of these hot button issues over time.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;">Step Four: Transform the Controversy Into a Teachable Moment **