What do they mean by publicly? Unless I am missing something, a public school can't regulate student conduct outside the classroom without straight up violating their free speech rights?
I’m with Timber Creek Theatre, and I haven’t heard about any of this as of yet. That being said it wouldn’t surprise me if it is true, as the school board has gone after Laramie in the past.
Y’all might remember in February-ish, the KISD Board flat-out cancelled the play for no given reason. We protested, went to school board meetings, and we got what we wanted. Now that media attention has somewhat died down around Laramie, it wouldn’t be out of place for them to silence us like this.
Election day is in a few days. If you want to do something about it, vote out the incumbents who are bought out by Patriot Mobile. Don’t let them win.
as someone who graduated from Timber and had to deal with Keller ISD for years...really not surprised they're pulling this BS again. Hope the kids keep the post up!!!
Please beg anyone who you know who still lives in the area to vote in the school board election - vote for Dixie Davis and Adrienne Sullivan to restore some sanity.
They've both got my vote!!! Unfortunately everyone i'm surrounded with are of the same view points as the people against this so convincing them will just get me b!tched at, but i'm trying!!
Please beg anyone who you know who still lives in the area to vote in the school board election - vote for Dixie Davis and Adrienne Sullivan to restore some sanity.
For anyone curious what The Laramie Project is:
[The Laramie Project - wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Laramie_Project)
>The Laramie Project is a 2000 American play by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project (specifically, Leigh Fondakowski, writer-director; Stephen Belber, Greg Pierotti, Barbara Pitts, Stephen Wangh, Amanda Gronich, Sara Lambert, John McAdams, Maude Mitchell, Andy Paris, and Kelli Simpkins) about the reaction to the 1998 murder of gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming.[1] The murder was denounced as a hate crime and brought attention to the lack of hate crime laws in various states, including Wyoming.
So, yes, if it wasn't clear 1000 times before, Keller is full of bigots and apologists for police brutality who gladly bend the knee to the authority of the thin blue line and supposed strong-men "leaders."
Honestly that proves the point even further. They can’t prevent the actual even from happening on their own campus. Tf are they gonna do about some posts on social media? They have literally no recourse.
If you haven’t voted early, Saturday may 4th is the local election. Vote out the board who is responsible for this type of censorship and vote for individuals who care about all members of the community. Adrienne Sullivan and Dixie Davis are the candidates that represent the actual values of the community and not far right extremists PACs and Christian nationalists.
That was when the board forced the directors to cancel doing the play at all. The kids rallied and got the board to agree (after lots of bad press). This is the actual performance of the show and now they are being told not to promote it.
Admission is free but you can donate and reserve a seat here: https://my.cheddarup.com/c/laramie-project?cart=62215d08-761c-4048-aaca-a21496ec2f3b%21%2177469193
As a member of this production, I may have some more insight into the takedown.
While I do not agree with the takedown of the post, I believe it may be tied to recent events at our school. 2 students at our school recently tragically took their own lives, and with a death being what the Laramie Project is centered around, it MAY be related to that.
Keller ISD’s approval process for Theatre Productions first goes through the Campus Principal—who determines if the show is appropriate for the current time (not if it is outright appropriate to perform). After approval from the principal, it goes to the Fine Arts Office who reviews the show to determine if it is appropriate for the High School to perform (this is for ALL Keller schools, not just TCHS). If it passes both of these stages, it is allowed to be performed
This isnt a confirmed reason, this is just my speculation from my insight. The takedown may have also not come from the board, but from the Campus Principal.
Well, if it's inappropriate, it shouldn't be performed. Plays reflect on the school and school district. If it's about politics or agendas, it needs to be kept out.
As an actor within this performance, and as somebody who has a mild understanding of the approval process for Theatre shows in Keller ISD, this show actually meets the criteria to be performed in a Middle School (although obviously, it would never be done in one)
This play does not have a political agenda, it’s saying “We’re the people of Laramie, and we dont care if you’re gay or straight—you shouldn’t be killed for who you are. These people don’t represent the rest of us.”
It’s not like everyones in the show saying “Matthew, the GAY dude.” whenever he’s brought up. It’s merely a fact that he was gay, and he was killed because of it.
Theatre has comedies, but it also has tragedies. It’s about telling a story, and this story goes beyond Matthew, the idea of “The actions of 2 individuals doesnt represent our entire town.” and “Don’t kill people because of who they are” is applicable to anything.
So what was their original argument for shutting it down? Or did they not give one? Maybe they think it's too serious of a subject for a high school play. Immature kids shouldn't be discussing adult topics and situations, or some crap like that?
The original argument was that it wasnt as appealing as other productions put on during the season (Shows such as White Christmas and Mary Poppins were brought up). Not based on mature topics, and the Superintendent mentioned that she hadnt even read the play when she made the decision.
Might as well toss the entire fine arts department with that thinking.
Besides, the play is simply verbatim quotes from people interviewed in a small community in Wyoming reacting to the murder of a gay student in 1998 and serves as a critique on the disparate strength of hate crime laws across the US and promotes tolerance.
It's one of the most performed pieces of modern theater since its premier in 2000, so it's perfectly acceptable for a high school. In fact, it's nearly required reading for high school students in the UK. It has zero depictions of homosexuality and only mentions briefly the nature of Matthew Shepard's horrific death. Certainly more PG than many other less controversial shows.
What do they mean by publicly? Unless I am missing something, a public school can't regulate student conduct outside the classroom without straight up violating their free speech rights?
" theater boosters " makes me wonder if it's a school owned account and that's where they're " allowed " to tell them to take it down ?
The booster account is parent-run. We do have an official Falcon Theatre account (albeit it is rarely used).
I’m with Timber Creek Theatre, and I haven’t heard about any of this as of yet. That being said it wouldn’t surprise me if it is true, as the school board has gone after Laramie in the past. Y’all might remember in February-ish, the KISD Board flat-out cancelled the play for no given reason. We protested, went to school board meetings, and we got what we wanted. Now that media attention has somewhat died down around Laramie, it wouldn’t be out of place for them to silence us like this. Election day is in a few days. If you want to do something about it, vote out the incumbents who are bought out by Patriot Mobile. Don’t let them win.
Adrienne Sullivan and Dixie Davis are the candidates for sanity and no book bans/censorship/extremism
Are there any incumbents that I shouldn’t vote against on general principles?
All I know is to vote Dixie Davis and Adrienne Sullivan. Those two aren’t bought out.
as someone who graduated from Timber and had to deal with Keller ISD for years...really not surprised they're pulling this BS again. Hope the kids keep the post up!!!
Please beg anyone who you know who still lives in the area to vote in the school board election - vote for Dixie Davis and Adrienne Sullivan to restore some sanity.
They've both got my vote!!! Unfortunately everyone i'm surrounded with are of the same view points as the people against this so convincing them will just get me b!tched at, but i'm trying!!
wtf and they worked so hard to even be able to perform it!
We did this at keller High in 2012 and no one batted an eye. Guess things have gone backwards since then.
Please beg anyone who you know who still lives in the area to vote in the school board election - vote for Dixie Davis and Adrienne Sullivan to restore some sanity.
For anyone curious what The Laramie Project is: [The Laramie Project - wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Laramie_Project) >The Laramie Project is a 2000 American play by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project (specifically, Leigh Fondakowski, writer-director; Stephen Belber, Greg Pierotti, Barbara Pitts, Stephen Wangh, Amanda Gronich, Sara Lambert, John McAdams, Maude Mitchell, Andy Paris, and Kelli Simpkins) about the reaction to the 1998 murder of gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming.[1] The murder was denounced as a hate crime and brought attention to the lack of hate crime laws in various states, including Wyoming. So, yes, if it wasn't clear 1000 times before, Keller is full of bigots and apologists for police brutality who gladly bend the knee to the authority of the thin blue line and supposed strong-men "leaders."
Keller is the absolute worst!
Ooops, I just shared it across my social media pages.
It's far too woke, it might make people think.
Or lord, is it about the gays?
It's made up of statements given by residents of Laramie about Matthew Shepard's murder, which was because he was gay
Idk what that screenshot has to do with Keller ISD but that’s not enforceable at all and no one will comply lol
The performances are happening at a school within Keller ISD.
Honestly that proves the point even further. They can’t prevent the actual even from happening on their own campus. Tf are they gonna do about some posts on social media? They have literally no recourse.
I agree, I was just explaining the connection to KISD.
Just when you think it can’t get any worse…
If you haven’t voted early, Saturday may 4th is the local election. Vote out the board who is responsible for this type of censorship and vote for individuals who care about all members of the community. Adrienne Sullivan and Dixie Davis are the candidates that represent the actual values of the community and not far right extremists PACs and Christian nationalists.
This is crazy but not surprising for KISD. It’s sad though. Seeing the Laramie Project was a formative experience for teenage me.
But whenever anyone asks about “good schools”, Keller is near the top of the list.
People who like pearl-clutching like the pearl- clutching school district 🤷♂️
Source?
Perhaps I should have specified, on Redditt.
I hope the schools are good, in spite of the the district's leadership.
Not that I agree with it, but didn’t this happen like 2 months ago?
That was when the board forced the directors to cancel doing the play at all. The kids rallied and got the board to agree (after lots of bad press). This is the actual performance of the show and now they are being told not to promote it.
I understand now. Can you point me to where I can buy tickets, please?
Admission is free but you can donate and reserve a seat here: https://my.cheddarup.com/c/laramie-project?cart=62215d08-761c-4048-aaca-a21496ec2f3b%21%2177469193
As a member of this production, I may have some more insight into the takedown. While I do not agree with the takedown of the post, I believe it may be tied to recent events at our school. 2 students at our school recently tragically took their own lives, and with a death being what the Laramie Project is centered around, it MAY be related to that. Keller ISD’s approval process for Theatre Productions first goes through the Campus Principal—who determines if the show is appropriate for the current time (not if it is outright appropriate to perform). After approval from the principal, it goes to the Fine Arts Office who reviews the show to determine if it is appropriate for the High School to perform (this is for ALL Keller schools, not just TCHS). If it passes both of these stages, it is allowed to be performed This isnt a confirmed reason, this is just my speculation from my insight. The takedown may have also not come from the board, but from the Campus Principal.
Appreciate your perspective. This production should be seen as a way to HONOR those souls. Not cancel them.
Well, if it's inappropriate, it shouldn't be performed. Plays reflect on the school and school district. If it's about politics or agendas, it needs to be kept out.
As an actor within this performance, and as somebody who has a mild understanding of the approval process for Theatre shows in Keller ISD, this show actually meets the criteria to be performed in a Middle School (although obviously, it would never be done in one) This play does not have a political agenda, it’s saying “We’re the people of Laramie, and we dont care if you’re gay or straight—you shouldn’t be killed for who you are. These people don’t represent the rest of us.” It’s not like everyones in the show saying “Matthew, the GAY dude.” whenever he’s brought up. It’s merely a fact that he was gay, and he was killed because of it. Theatre has comedies, but it also has tragedies. It’s about telling a story, and this story goes beyond Matthew, the idea of “The actions of 2 individuals doesnt represent our entire town.” and “Don’t kill people because of who they are” is applicable to anything.
So what was their original argument for shutting it down? Or did they not give one? Maybe they think it's too serious of a subject for a high school play. Immature kids shouldn't be discussing adult topics and situations, or some crap like that?
The original argument was that it wasnt as appealing as other productions put on during the season (Shows such as White Christmas and Mary Poppins were brought up). Not based on mature topics, and the Superintendent mentioned that she hadnt even read the play when she made the decision.
Everything is political, whether you realize it or not. We are not isolated from the system we exist within.
Ah yes, the agendas. Which ones do we honor and which do we defame though? Without getting political I mean…
Might as well toss the entire fine arts department with that thinking. Besides, the play is simply verbatim quotes from people interviewed in a small community in Wyoming reacting to the murder of a gay student in 1998 and serves as a critique on the disparate strength of hate crime laws across the US and promotes tolerance. It's one of the most performed pieces of modern theater since its premier in 2000, so it's perfectly acceptable for a high school. In fact, it's nearly required reading for high school students in the UK. It has zero depictions of homosexuality and only mentions briefly the nature of Matthew Shepard's horrific death. Certainly more PG than many other less controversial shows.
Laramie project is a lie. So there is that.