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Friends, I was overjoyed when I learned the elders had voted to let bygones be bygones and allow me to have the honor of producing and directing our first Thanksgiving Pageant.
Since we don't have any genuine Indians living in Freehold, I naturally began recruiting young, clean-limbed actors and actresses to play the Indian characters in our stage musical extravaganza.
In our initial testing, we found applying copious amounts of red paint to our performers' unblemished faces and supple, toned bodies created the very convincing illusion they were, in fact, actual redskins!
Unfortunately, rehearsals were rudely interrupted yesterday by a delegation from Freehold Mothers for Racial Equity and Inclusion. They gave me a long lecture about "cultural appropriation" and "white supremacy," and made it clear I would suffer personal and professional consequences if the show proceeded in its current form.
Unwilling to compromise our artistic vision, I have put the entire production on hold at this time. I am very sorry to all who are disappointed.
EDITED TO ADD: There has been some loose talk about "missing funds." I want to make it very clear this is NOT the reason for the show's cancellation, and there is no way in HECK I would ever use "social justice" or "culture war" concerns as a smokescreen to cover up for any type of "financial impropriety."
EDITED TO ADD: I am very sorry certain parents were upset about our co-ed changing room backstage. Please understand with professional Broadway-style stage productions, it is very normal and common for actors and actresses to all use one dressing room. This the industry standard, and though our young actors and actresses are not yet professional performers, I thought it best to inculcate in them the norms and practices of professional theater. Please rest assured all usage of the changing room took place under my watchful eye.
Since we don't have any genuine Indians living in Freehold, I naturally began recruiting young, clean-limbed actors and actresses to play the Indian characters in our stage musical extravaganza.
In our initial testing, we found applying copious amounts of red paint to our performers' unblemished faces and supple, toned bodies created the very convincing illusion they were, in fact, actual redskins!
Unfortunately, rehearsals were rudely interrupted yesterday by a delegation from Freehold Mothers for Racial Equity and Inclusion. They gave me a long lecture about "cultural appropriation" and "white supremacy," and made it clear I would suffer personal and professional consequences if the show proceeded in its current form.
Unwilling to compromise our artistic vision, I have put the entire production on hold at this time. I am very sorry to all who are disappointed.
EDITED TO ADD: There has been some loose talk about "missing funds." I want to make it very clear this is NOT the reason for the show's cancellation, and there is no way in HECK I would ever use "social justice" or "culture war" concerns as a smokescreen to cover up for any type of "financial impropriety."
EDITED TO ADD: I am very sorry certain parents were upset about our co-ed changing room backstage. Please understand with professional Broadway-style stage productions, it is very normal and common for actors and actresses to all use one dressing room. This the industry standard, and though our young actors and actresses are not yet professional performers, I thought it best to inculcate in them the norms and practices of professional theater. Please rest assured all usage of the changing room took place under my watchful eye.
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