Today's story is a bit different. It is not about the Tonys or the glitz and gossip of "the Broadway". Today's story is about a group of young kids who want to put on a play. As I was pursuing the theater chat room All That Chat (we [heart] ATC) this morning; I saw a link to an interesting article in the L.A. Times about some young high school drama students. I was very moved by the article and wanted to share the story with you.
Last fall, Nicole Carothers, a senior at The John Burroughs High School in Burbank, CA proposed a drama project. She wanted to mount a production of The Laramie Project. You may remember this show, it is a docu-theater show about Matthew Shepard, the young gay man that was fatally attacked (beaten and hung on a fence to die) near Laramie, Wyoming in 1998. The project seemed like a great idea and was supported by the school drama teacher Scott Bailey. They even joined efforts with the school's Gay Straight Alliance to produce the show.
However, when Carothers and her fellow drama students returned from winter break they learned that the show had been banned by the principal Emilio Urioste Jr. The principal claimed that his reason for canceling the show was that it would "tear the community apart."
The students did not let this stop them. The decided to put the show on anyways. They found a real theater (the Colony Theater in LA). They began rehearsing the play on the back patio of Carothers' house. They started a viral advertising campaign using email and MySpace. They even created a name for themselves; the Don't Tell Bailey Theater Company (after their drama teacher Scott Bailey - who wasn't supposed to know anything about the show).
Then some amazing things started to happen. The Colony Theater donated the use of the theater (rent-free!), as well as costumes, props, programs and help with lighting and sound. It turns out that The Colony was home to the original LA premiere production of The Laramie Project back in 2002. Wow! But, it doesn't stop there.
This week Leigh Fondakowski and Kelli Simpkins (two of the creators of The Laramie Project and original cast members from the Tectonic Theater Project) flew to Burbank to help with the final days of rehearsal. Wait, there is more.
Now it appears that the Principal has had a change of heart and has allowed the students to rehearse at school and would like to see the show staged at school next year. Hmph! Word is that the Principal got a call from Stephen Jimenez, who administers a Los Angeles Unified School District program addressing the problems of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students. This conversation seems to have helped the Principal to see things in a new light! Although the Principal (in the L.A. Times article) seems to suggest that there is something more going on here that lead to his initial decision. He claims he never objected to the play itself and hints that there was a disagreement between he and the drama teacher about what types of shows he wanted to see produced. The principal wanted big splashy musicals and the drama teacher, Bailey, wanted to do small scale edgy plays. Ridiculous!!!!
The students say that they "hope their show will drive home the consequences of intolerance - and that Burbank is not immune." They are dedicating the show to Lawrence King, the young boy who was killed this past February by a 14 year old classmate for being openly gay.
The show opens tomorrow and runs for two performances. There is bound to be a great deal of attention surrounding the performances, which I imagine will be very exciting for these young thespians. I, for one, applaud their conviction and perseverance and wish them the very best of luck with their show. Bravo!
~ See You On The Aisle
Reader Comments
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Being a CA theatre junkie, I'll totally be there to support!!!!
Awesome! Break a leg, kids!
I'm the mother of one of the kids in the play. It was a hard road - lots of hours outside of school. It's absolutely tremndous what's happening with the Colony donating the theater, Techtonic sending help to LA from N.Y.and support from outside groups. Scott Bailey is a great drama teacher who brings out wonderful things in kids. However, I do have to defend the principal -- some of the things that make the kids love Bailey so much would drive a principal (boss) nuts - it's a personnel issue - that's why the principal can't talk.
I was at the Colony tonight. The show was awesome! I was totally impressed by the professional performanc from these young folks. Also, the 276-seat theater was sold out and they had to turn people away. It is also over booked for the Friday performance. I'd say another theater should approach the Don't Tell Bailey troupe and offer their stage. Great job kids!
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