Following the closing night of Nyack High School’s production of Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, director Ben Tostado "put up" the show Rent to be approved for the spring musical. Nyack’s superintendent, Susan Yom, denied this show, opting for something more family-friendly, a show for all ages.
The approved musical was Grease.
The rights for the play are still pending because of its late selection, and auditions are postponed until the show is licensed out.
Yom’s position on this matter is absolutely understandable; she has only recently earned her position as superintendent, and may anticipate backlash for allowing a controversial production. However, Rent is a show that would be perfectly suitable for our community and send a message; one that matters to our students.
But is its replacement, Grease, any more appropriate than Rent?
Grease is a story about the ‘classic’ highschool experience. The classic movie version we grew up watching follows a white, heterosexual couple, featuring overarching themes of misogyny, rape culture and social conformity.
Rape jokes are all too common in this show, with lead, Danny Zuko, and his friends often asking questions about their sexual conquests, such as “did she put up a fight?” Danny later gropes the female lead, Sandy, pinning her down as she fights to escape. The female characters in the show are solely seen as sexual objects, their plotlines used to perpetuate stereotypes of vain, stupid, boy-obsessed teenage girls. These characters judge each other for lacking sexual experience, while the male characters slut shame and mock them all. The show ties all of these themes together with Sandy eventually changing herself to ‘win’ Danny, ending her pining in a beautiful finale of harmful messaging.
While it can’t be denied that Grease has amazing songs and a large cast, as well as room for modernization, it is surely not any more relevant or inclusive than Rent.
Rent is provocative, sure, but doesn’t feature any sex. While some of the main characters suffer from AIDS and drug addiction, there is no explicit drug use or glorification of drugs -- the messaging is honest and raw. It tells the stories of these characters without endorsing their actions, portraying the harsh reality of New York City in the 1980s. I'm certain that there are students and families that would benefit from and relate to the show’s messages of LGBTQ-acceptance (and oppression), the hardships of addiction and terminal illness, love and grief.
Nyack Drama Club is award-winning, and I have no doubt that the spring musical will be incredible. Nyack Drama historically explores bolder shows: Smile, All Shook Up, and She Kills Monsters. Here, however, I resent the district’s fear of the community’s possible backlash: The musical receiving ‘inappropriate’ claims dripping in homophobia.
High School drama doesn’t exist to be family friendly -- it’s here for students to have fun and tell stories that they care about.
Students wanted to put on Rent because it speaks to us. Grease speaks to our parents. Shows lobbied for by students, portraying matters that they can relate to, shouldn’t be censured and replaced with something ‘tried and true’ without real consideration.
Sorry, Nyack High School, it’ll be at least 525,600 minutes until we get Rent.