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Too, well not really Muslim, but vaguely Middle Eastern for school

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We're definitely in crazyville now.
A Pennsylvania school district has decided not to stage a Tony Award-winning musical about a Muslim street poet after community members complained about the timing so soon after the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

The Richland School District in Johnstown had planned to stage "Kismet" in February, but Superintendent Thomas Fleming said Tuesday that it was scrapped to avoid controversy.

"We're not saying there's anything bad about the musical. We may potentially produce it in the future," Fleming told The Associated Press. The Tribune-Democrat of Johnstown first reported on the district's decision.

Music director Scott Miller said the district, not far from where hijacked United Airlines Flight 93 crashed, last performed "Kismet" in 1983 — to sold-out audiences.

The play has no inappropriate content, Miller said, but he and other members of the performing arts committee decided to switch to "Oklahoma!" after hearing complaints.

Kismet? Really? Next, will we stop students from reading Aladdin, Sinbad the Sailor, or Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves? Can students bring pita bread in their lunches?

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  1. Marie,
     
    I encourage you to stand up against the Fearful Folks and strike a chord for multi-culturalism and humanity (not to mention the integrity of your recital) … TELL THE STORY!!
     
    Reminds me of class today, when my sixth graders were discussing who was going to read what part in a Reader’s Theatre unit. A boy suggested he wanted to read the part of the princess who was marrying the prince, also read by a boy. A girl said, “That’s ridiculous. Boys can’t marry boys.” Rather than choosing to remain silent lest any parents or administrators get riled up, I said, “Sure they can. Men can marry each other in many states in America.” The girl said, “They can? That’s weird!” To which I replied, “Yep, they can and there’s nothing weird about it. Women can do the same thing.”
     
    Seriously, if we give in to the Fearful Folks, we are complicit in their discrimination and ignorance — whether or not we intend to be.
     
    And on a more serious note … have a great weekend!
     
    Tom
     
     

  2. I’m preparing a voice recital for this coming January.  As my voice teacher and I were choosing repertoire, we decided to include a medley from “Kismet”—the music of those 1940s/1950s musicals are perfect for my very legit voice–I’ve also done “Kiss Me Kate” etc.  I do it in recitals to give myself a break between arias & art songs and I usually tell the story as I do.  With “Kismet”, I’m just singing the gorgeous tunes–Borodin, ya know–but not telling the story. I feel funny about  not telling the story–and it’s a funny one, too. Could a silly VOICE RECITAL raising money for autism research rile people up?  I don’t know, but when I presented my program, that’s what was suggested. Allen, we’re “Stangers in Paradise”…..or maybe not. But “Not since Ninevah” has there been such a kerfuffle.
     
    Marie

  3. Oklahoma, huh? What about that dastardly Muslim street peddler, Ali Hakim? (Well, he could be Muslim….)
     
    Very sad, but also one more example of reactionary and short-sighted educational administrators who act out of fear.

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