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Rent for Kids Too Risque, Blast Parents, Schools

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 20, 2009 10:43 AM CST
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(Newser) – The long-running Broadway musical Rent has been edited for the school stage, but the truncated version retains themes of drugs, AIDS, and homosexuality that have some administrators running scared, the New York Times reports. High school productions around the country have met with administrative and parental resistance, forcing organizers to cancel some productions, at least temporarily.

“I know we can’t stick our heads in the sand, I know drugs are out there, I know teens are having sex,” said one superintendent. “But I don’t know if we need Rent.” The edited version dumps some profanity and one song but doesn’t soft-pedal its central topics. Said a producer: “It makes sense to me that we’ll take steps forward and hit a pothole and take a step backward. But you know what? The kids are going to win.”

Anthony Rapp, an original cast member of the Broadway musical 'Rent' reminisces about the musical's origins, in New York, Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008.
Anthony Rapp, an original cast member of the Broadway musical 'Rent' reminisces about the musical's origins, in New York, Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008.   (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
The cast of 'Rent' performs onstage during the 62nd Annual Tony Awards held at Radio City Music Hall on June 15, 2008 in New York City.
The cast of 'Rent' performs onstage during the 62nd Annual Tony Awards held at Radio City Music Hall on June 15, 2008 in New York City.   (Getty Images)
In this July 2007 image released by Richard Kornberg & Associates, the cast of the Broadway musical 'Rent' is shown.
In this July 2007 image released by Richard Kornberg & Associates, the cast of the Broadway musical 'Rent' is shown.   (AP Photo/Joan Marcus)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
Guest
Feb 21, 2009 5:11 AM CST
It's always better to hide reality from kids until they're 18 and reality can hit them squarely in the face properly.
AllisonMW
Feb 20, 2009 4:19 AM CST
I always laugh when I read about wanna-be moral stuff like this in our country. In other countries, they are much more strict on violence in media outlets than we are, and compare our violent crime levels to theirs. I personally didn't care for "Rent," but parents need to stop being so naive about sex-related topics. Talk to your children! Flipping thru the channels, I see much worse on MTV and VH1 with these risque characters on the reality shows. At least "Rent" is acclaimed Broadway acting, not "For the Love of Ray J" or "The Hills!"
bacimom
Feb 19, 2009 11:51 PM CST
Do those parents bother to notice what their children are watching and listening to on the media and did they let their kids see the film?

Calif. high school cancels show
Los Angeles Times

Other cases across the country
Associated Press

 
education • high school • children • Broadway • parents • musical • Rent • high school students

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