Censorship in American Theater

Lysistrata by Aristophanes, a sex-comedy/anti war drama, The Crucible by Arthur Miller, a plot centered on the Salem witch trials banned because it contains “sick words from the mouths of demon possessed people”, and A Streetcar named Desire, banned for its features of rape and descent of a woman into insanity by Tennessee Williams are among some of the most banned plays of all time (http://classiclit.about.com/od/bannedliteratur1/tp/aatp_bannedplay.htm ). But that was in the past, back in the days when liberty and justice was certainly not for all. Society has progressed immensely, specifically in recent years, so how could these problems of artistically beautiful and stunningly insightful works of performance art being banned from the masses still be a problem relevant today?


Today’s theatrical productions are unfortunately still no stranger to censorship. Though society has evolved, new and more evocative plays have been written and produced, and rules changed for the better, instances of censorship are still not uncommon in today’s “evolved” world. Last February, Orange county high school in Newport Beach, CA banned production of the drama department’s selected spring musical RENT. While seemingly understandable at first (the original production is known to include some vulgar language, sex, and heavy drug use), this version of RENT is specifically called RENT: School Edition and much of the objectionable material not suitable for students under 18 has been removed. So what were the grounds for banning the production? There weren’t any; at least not any legitimate ones. Several stories about an anti-gay principle, a simple budget cut, and parent protests floated around for a while. However, when the rumors subsided the fact remained that the play was banned with no reason other than the principle's uncomfortable feelings about the possible effects of the material on students. Student and parent responses to the issue can be seen at the following link: http://www.queerty.com/orange-county-high-school-principal-bans-gay-characters-in-drama-department-20090213/


More recently, in April 2009, George Washington University, a world-renowned highly ranked university with a student body of over 23,000 got itself into a similar predicament. “The Company” theater group, which prides itself on progressive and experimental theater chose to produce the play “Quills” about the last few days in the life of Marquis de Sade, a French aristocrat and pornographic novelist. Aside from a plotline involving pornography, the play contains one scene in which the main character appears nude. The university gave the go-ahead on the play, on the condition that the nudity be cut. The fact that a University, not a high school, with an intolerant principle and few outspoken upper middle class parents, but A NATIONAL UNIVERSITY tried to censor artistic creativity is unthinkable, and frankly confusing as to how this could happen in today’s supposedly progressive and first amendment based society.


Nevertheless, although these setbacks are frustrating for the producer as well as the avid theatergoer who looks forward to cutting edge productions or even just accurate portrayal of the classics, many of today’s shows have escaped censorship and gone on to play to large audiences around the world. In fact, despite the controversy in Orange county high school the first ever RENT: School Edition played to packed houses at Harry S. Truman High School in Levittown, Pennsylvania and has been well received in high schools across the nation ever since.

All The World's A Stage

Theater is defined as a building, part of a building, or outdoor area for housing dramatic presentations, stage entertainment, or motion-picture shows (Merriam-Webster Online, 2009), but not all “theater arts” take place in structures designed specifically for arts and entertainment. In fact, one of the keys to understanding the basics of how theater arts came to be and why certain performances are so powerful and others, not quite up to par, is understanding that “theater” is constantly happening all around us. Actors can so skillfully embody a character or audience members be moved to tears by events on a stage, because theater is an art form based on observing and re-creating actions and events. We are all (albeit often subconsciously) actors every day. We put on different “costumes” for different events (i.e. wearing a different outfit on a job interview than on a date), and we change our way of speaking in order to be perceived differently in various situations (speaking one way with our friends and another to our teachers). We often do things to get attention, hide our flaws, be taken seriously, thought of as funny, etc., the list of acting and performance qualities in our daily life goes on and on. It is perhaps these factors that help explain why some of the most well-known and adored instances of theater have taken place not in the typical structure defined so clearly above, but in some of the most unstructured environments available. There are countless forms and instances of theater that occur outside the so-called “designated space.”


Mobsters from “On the Waterfront” on a floating dock in Brooklyn, a re-enactment of the famous V-J Day kiss in 1945 live in Times Square, a few hundred or so people break into synchronized song and dance in a crowded shopping mall (pictures at http://www3.timeoutny.com/newyork/upstaged/2009/07/street-theater-break-out-in-song-this-week/) ; all of these scenes represent theatrical performances that have take place in the ’08-’09 season. On the street, in public spaces, or in outdoor areas is where theater transcends all barriers and becomes not just an audience watching a performance, but a truly interactive, innovative, and all encompassing experience.


Perhaps one of the most original productions done recently, was this summer’s staging of “IRT: A Tragedy in Three Stations”, performed entirely in subway train cars and on various station platforms in New York City. Teased as being the “longest running theatrical production In New York – it runs from Brooklyn to Manhattan”, this piece truly embodies every benefit street theater has to offer. IRT took advantage of a well-known public space and turned the everyday ordinary into something extraordinary. Costing only $10 a ticket, this play was affordable for audiences of all ages and incomes and even gave a few lucky commuters a chance to glimpse the excitement for free. The New York Times review and accompanying photographs can be seen here: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/02/nyregion/02underground.html

Activism and Theater Arts

The term Theater Arts encompasses a wide and diverse array of topics ranging from full-blown musicals and large stage productions to local experimental and avant garde theatrical projects. The focus of this blog will be on examining changes and progress in American theater in recent years, as well as the effect of theater arts on society and current events and issues in America today. As a senior at Cornell University studying Communication and minoring in Theater Arts, this topic is one that I am very excited about, as it encompasses my core interests and studies. In addition, the interplay of performance art and pressing social issues is a topic I’ve spent a lot of time contemplating and developing unique outlooks on, and I am eager to share these with the Comm. 3600 class as well as the rest of the blogosphere.

Since theater’s earliest beginnings, with the first ever plays recorded in ancient Greece and Rome, (Greenwald & Schultz, 2001) the stage has been a definitive creative outlet for getting your voice heard. Over the centuries, but especially in recent decades, themes of some of the most well-known dramas and musicals alike have included extremely controversial topics such as racism, war, sex and sexuality, physical abuse, illegal drug use, and gay rights just to name a few.

While controversial themes in theater can sometimes be mistaken as cheap ploys for media attention, they can also be the ultimate teaching tool, a way for playwrights to express their passion and opinions in creative, entertaining, and hard-hitting ways. Plays that deal with issues that affect society, that can make people uncomfortable while making others want to stand up, take action and make a difference are the works that garner the attention of private organizations, worldwide media, and general audiences alike.

Homosexuality has been a topic of performance art pieces throughout society for years, and some of the most popular and award winning works in the theatrical world have gay themes and characters. RENT, Angels in America, and Hair, are perhaps three of the most renowned works that have captured audience’s attention, while causing both positive and negative reactions, for decades. Most recently however, a short, satirical musical theater piece was created as a tool of performance activism to demonstrate one side of a prominent social issue and try to garner new supporters to vote against Proposition 8: “a California ballot proposition that eliminates same-sex couples right to marry” (http://www.whatisprop8.com/, 2009)

First released as an internet-only satirical piece and later adapted for the live stage, “Prop 8 the musical” was performed live on February 23, 2009 on Broadway at the Defying Inequality Gay Rights fundraising event. The piece was later performed at several other live venues including California activism events and colleges and universities across the country; and was played and replayed on several national television news and political programs.

The video can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAMXclA_W-A

This example, chosen for its qualities of humor, its popularity and surrounding controversies, presents an ideal case for the power of theater arts in society. There were countless ways that the intended message (support to vote against Prop 8) could have been communicated, and indeed in the months and weeks leading up to the vote countless methods were pursued. Ads ran on TV, Facebook groups were formed, and viral marketing campaigns both online and off ensued. However, the fact that these actors, (most of whom are well known and work only in television and film) chose the form of musical theater to join together and propagate a message they felt strongly about, shows the true value and respect this art form holds in the acting community. In addition, this method was not only chosen because of its respect in the artistic community, but because it was thought that using this satirical, musical piece would be the best way to positively affect audiences. Whatever the reactions, (which in reality included massive outpourings of both public outrage and support); “Prop 8 the Musical” was indeed successful at gaining attention for a significant cause through the art of musical theater.