Musical about gay teens reconsidered by school board

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High school senior Henry Hanson recently watched in anticipation as various possible musicals were ticked off a board each day, a tradition that helps get students excited to officially announce Hampshire High School’s spring production.

The theater student was eager for the reveal of this year’s selection of “The Prom,” a comedic musical about a school that tries to cancel a dance to prevent a gay student from attending. The 18-year-old said this year’s production meant more than usual because it was a chance for theater kids, some part of the LGBTQ+ community, to feel represented in their craft.

But then district administrators stepped in. They shut down the announcement, telling students in a meeting last Friday that they wouldn’t allow the music department to put on the show this year due to safety concerns, he said.

“It was disheartening that they had said we can’t do it ‘because of your own safety.’ We’ve never had something like this happen before,” Hanson said. “Overall, it’s a generally accepting community so it kind of felt like a shock.”

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