Project #3 Too Hot to Handle

1. NYC Today

• Vietnam Veterans protest Broadway's "33 Variations" over casting of Jane Fonda
• Still angry over anti-war controversy after 37 years.
• "33 Variations" currently playing at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre

"We want the American public to know we haven't forgotten what she did," said retired cop Will Sekzer, 64, of Sunnyside, Queens, who fought in Vietnam for two years.
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/arts/2009/02/21/2009-02-21_vietnam_vets_rally_against_jane_fonda_wh-1.html

It is not uncommon today to hear of protests having to do with the war in Iraq, either for or against it. The war is a hot button with a large population of our country, and naturally it has caused its share of controversy in the entertainment industry including Broadway. Plays and shows with anti-war sentiments have sparked protests from war supporters, and vice versa. But what is unusual is for their to be a controversy today over a war that ended 37 years ago. However, 20 Vietnam veterans have protested "33 Variations" because of their new cast member Jane Fonda, and a controversy from decades ago. Though the protesters did not significantly reduce audience attendance, they did create a stir, proving that political issues even from the past are still sensitive subjects to many Americans.

2. Naked Broadway

• Republican National Committee finds "Naked Boys Singing" unsuitable for visiting delegates, show removed from tourist bureau website.
• August 2004, Off Broadway

"The show's producer, Carl White, said that the decision to drop the show runs counter to the reason's Republicans chose New York as the stie of the convention. 'They say they picked us because of our equality, our diversity, our culture.'"
http://proquest.umi.com.unx.1shsu.edu;2048/phdweb?index=5&did=1058566692&SrchMode=2&sid=4&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1236553831&clientId=96

"Naked Boys Singing" has run successfully Off Broadway for years without creating much controversy, but for the 2004 Republican Convention the show was deemed unsuitable for delegates. The city's tourist bureau had offered discounts and coupons to visitors for various attractions and shows, and at least a dozen individuals purhcased tickets for the show through the site. However, the Republican Pary's committee, upon reviewing the list, asked that "Naked Boys Singing" be removed, as it was not the type of entertainment that would best suit their audience. Though the incident did not create a large controversy, it is upsetting for a political organization to decide what is and what is not acceptable art for adult individuals to view.

3. Gay Broadway

• Chicago's About Face Theatre in hot water with playwright for cutting gay nudity scene in Douglas Carter Beane's "The Little Dog Laughed".
• February 2008
• Artistic Director Eric Rosen sends letter of apology at threat of closure

"The nude scene is important to the play — and that there are later dialogue references to it. "It's the shock of two characters who have been denying that they're gay undeniably in a moment of homosexuality."
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/114892.html

The About Face Theatre was in for a surprise when the author of their show, "The Little Dog Laughed" viewed a performance of his work at their theatre, and confronted them about an alteration to his script. His stage directions called for complete nudity in a scene, but the director changed it instead to having the two men perform it in their underwear. The director did write in advance for permission for the change, but when permission was denied he went ahead with his decision anyway. Then after being confronted by the playwright and promising to change it in subsequent performances, failed to keep his word. Eventually the artistic director wrote a letter of apology, addressing the issue. The director maintains that he did not understand that the stage directions specifically and necessarilly called for nudity, which raises the questions are stage directions legally binding, and how much of the author's intent is a director legally required to follow?

4. Racist Broadway

• Jewish play creates controversy between ethinic groups, feelings of racism and hatred.
  
• "Last Jew in Europe" written by Tuvia Tenebom
• Performed at the Traid Jewish Theatre of New York, Spring 2007

"Piotr Erenfeicht of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland accused the theater of engaging in activities that 'may be viewed as racist.' He criticized the show, saying that the materials 'may lead to ethnic hatred… towards the Polish people.'"
http://www.forward.com/articles/10488/

The play is set in Poland, in a time when antisemitism is rampant. It is an absurdist peice, but bears many truths about the treatment of jewish people. However, the plays caused qutie a controversy when the Polish embassy accused the production of inciting hatred toward Polish people by insinuating that Poland was antisemetic. The situation grew when the production company accused the New York Times of refusing to send a reviewer to the play, however the New York Times denies refusing. This situation is very interesting because when we think of racism we don't always think about ethnic groups such as those from Europe, but even in the 21 century in New York great sensitivities exist between groups, and especially when relating to the past. It may seem like lifetimes ago, and for most of it the incidents in question happened before our lifetime, but time has not decreased the feelings of pain and hostility between these groups, and as artist we must sensitive to that and try to understand how best to deal with these sensitivities.

5. Raided or Closed

• George Bernard Shaw's play, "Mrs. Warren's Profession" shut down.
• Theatre Manager arrested, warrants out for players.
• Garrick Theatre, New York, November 1, 1905.

"The play was revolting, indecent and nauseating where it was not boring." - Mayor McClellan
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9D0CE6D91130E333A25752C0A9679D946497D6CF

In November of 1905 at the Garrick Theatre "Mrs. Warren's Profession" was presented to enthusiastic crowds, however, upon being viewd by the police inspector the show ws closed down, and arrest warrants were issued for all of the cast as well as the owner of the theatre and the director. All members of the production cooperated fully with the investigation,a nd complied with all demands. The police inspector ws shocked at the "immorality" of the characters i the play, and even more shocked that the audience members were NOT shocked by this. Though no one else had complained, the play was shut down for good. This is interesting because it was a play by SHaw, who is part of our theatrical canon today, ahrdly controversial, and because the production was shut down based on one man's opinion.

6. Arrested

• Mae West an cast are arrested for play entitled "Sex"
• 1926, Broadway New York

"She played a hooker with a heart of gold.”
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/features/happy-birthday/2008/Aug/Mae-West.html

Mae West starrred in her first role on Broadway in the play that she also wrote and directed called "Sex". Despite being viewed by over 325,000 people, including police officers and their wives, the theatre was eventually raided and all cast members, including West, were arrrested on charges of obscenity. West was convicted and sentenced to 10 days in jail, but was let out 2 days early for good behavior, skyrocketing her career nationally. Proving that sex always sells, even if it is "immoral".

7. NEA 4

• Karen Finely, performance artist.
• "We Keep Our Victims Ready"
• Funding from the National Endowment for the Arts was vetoed in June 1990.
• Court Case won in 1993, awarded grant money.

"She works on a raw emotional plane that even in these sophisticated times touches nerves and piques subconscious anxieties."
http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20118410,00.html

In 1990 Karen Finely was one of 4 artists to have their NEA grants revoked by John Frohnmayer, on the basis of subject matter. Finely's performance art, while sexually graphic at times, was a cry of outrage against pornography and sexual violence. Audiences who attended her shows were profoundly affected by her raw and powerful performances. Though a court overturned the NEA decision and returned Finely's grant money in 1993, the implications of the case will affect artists for generations to come. It is a rallying point for artists who refuse to compromise their work or allow the censorship by those who disagree with them.

8. Regional Theatre

• LA's Cornerstone Theatre Company performed excerpts of "The Grapes of Wrath" to support and help local protesters who were arrested.
  
• June 21, 2006, LA County
• Praised by some for bringing awareness to a community cause.

"I think it served one very valuable function that theatre can fulfill at its best: to incite, goad, and further the conversation a community is having with itself and others, and to add rigor to the prodess of self-evaluation we as individuals and as communities are engaged in at our best."
http://www.backstage.com/bso/news_reviews/stage/article_display.isp?ynu_content_id=1002725823

This case is a little bit different than the rest of the controversies in this project. Instead of their performance inciting a protest, this company used theatre to support a protest already in progress. But I"ve included it here, and I hope it will be accepted, because it's an incidence of theatre being involved in a controversial situation. A local community garden, one of the largest of its kind, that had been used by lower income families for generations was being closed and destroyed, drawing hundreds of people to protest. ON June 14, over 50 of those protesters were forcibly removed and arrested. The Cornerstone Theatre Company then stepped in and began performing "The Grapes of Wrath" on site in support of the garden and the protesters. It is an example of how valuable theatre can be to a community, and of hte powerful affect it can have in the midst of controversy.

9. College/University

• Indiana University production of "Corpus Chrisit" sparks vicious protest, as well as sold out crowds.
• Fort Wayne, Indiana
• August 2001

"A group of residents and state legislators had asked a judge to stop the play or force the school to move it off campus because they said it was blasphemous and a misuse of tax money. The courts sided with university officials who citd academic freedom in allowing the student-produced play."
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1027388879999_22798079

The play "Corpus Christi" by Tony award winning Terrence McNally opened to a sold out audience at the INdiana University's Fort Wayne Campus. However some people came to see more than the play, one man stating he had come for "the human theatre". This play centered around a gay christ-like figure sparked protests of outrage. Protesters held signs reading "Turn or Burn" and "Jesus loves, but hates sin!" There were anti-christian protesters shouting as well. Its in no way surprising that the idea of a gay-Christ upset many traditionally religious individuals, however shouting threats at others is hardly an effective way of spreading God's love.

10. High School

• Cancellation of student written play sparks national controversy
• Wilton High School Theatre Department, Wilton Connecticut
• Spring Semester - June 2007

"The National Coalition Against Censorship and the Dramatists Guild urged the administration to allow the students to perform the play, unedited, in a letter signed by 33 prominent playwrights, including Edward Albee, Christopher Durang, and Marsha Norman."
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0612/p20s01-woam.html?page=3

At Wilton High School students in an advanced theatre class created their own one act play, titled "Voices in Conflict", direclty based on the interviews, letters, and blogs of real soldiers serving in Iraq. Though their play began as an ordinary class project, students became very involved in and connected to the piece as they did extensive research and talked to soldiers. However the principal of their high shcool made the decision to cancel the show after being contacted by a parent. Principal Timothy Canty claimed that the piece was "unbalanced" and "sensationalized", and stated taht it could offend people who hafe relatives in Iraq. While the students were disappointed at not getting to perform the piece they believed in and had worked so hard on, the cancelation created a national controversy by those concerned that the play was being censored for its critique of the war. Since the cancellation, several professional theatres in New York have hosted hte student's production, including The Public Theatre in Manhattan, and a letter of petition signed by prominent playwrights has been sent to the school. I tend to think the fact that the play was written by students probably has more to do with the controversy than its subject matter, as pieces pertaining to the war are fairly common,a nd the bigger issue is the censorship of young artists.