1. Naked Boys Singing!
New World Stages Stage 4
The long-running musical revue featuring, well, naked boys singing.
Opening 14 Oct 2005
“The first line of Naked Boys Singing’s press release reads, “Talk about a Show with Balls!”
http://www.provincetown.com/show_venues_provincetown/entertainment_news_provincetown/_/16231/
This show is very controversial in New York right now. It star 8 nude men singing and dancing a revue. I believe its a bit over bored for a theatre show and causes to much of a controversy. I can understand brief nudity but, a full show is just search to stir up issues.
2. Spring Awakening
Music
Duncan Sheik
Lyrics
Steven Sater
Book
Steven Sater
Eugene O'Neill Theatre on December 10, 2006 and closed on January 18, 2009.
Directed by Michael Mayer with choreography by Bill T. Jones.
“Controversial broadway play shows nudity, masturbation, & more, of 17-22 yr olds”
http://officerresource.com/forums/f5/controversial-broadway-play-shows-nudity-masturbation-more-17-22-yr-olds-12391/
Spring Awakening is to controversial because it deal with to young of a nature. It stars of age people but, its mention and shown about younger people nude or sexual desires. I do not believe under age in that manner should be discussed. I believe it leads to many questions and situations for many audience members.
3. Angels in America
Written by
Tony Kushner
Walter Kerr Theatre in 1993
Directed by George C. Wolfe
Tony Kushner does the same things for his audiences. He carefully scans the cultural horizons for the topics people are afraid to discuss . . . then he discusses them.
http://sexualityinart.wordpress.com/2008/01/03/tony-kushner-angels-in-america/
This show is to controversial because of what it deals with and when it premiered in NY it was a rough time in AIDS history. AIDS was finally being investigated and this show brought in a new aspect that I don't believe the city was ready for.
4. Show Boat
Music
Jerome Kern
Lyrics
Oscar Hammerstein II
Book
Oscar Hammerstein II
Ziegfeld Theatre in New York on December 27, 1927
“Show Boat boldly portrayed racial issues, and was the first racially integrated musical, in that both black and white performers appeared on stage together.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Show_Boat#cite_note-Disclaimer-10
This show was very controversial because it was the first co-race show in American Broadway. I think it might have been to early for this. I don't think that this momentous occasion should have fit with the stories issues of race. It was already was a big deal for a show. I think it added to much to the hype and was to much to handle.
5. The Piven Monologues
The Public Theater, which houses the intimate nightspot Joe's Pub
Created by Alena Smith (Public Emerging Writers Group 2009) with Jordan Seavey (EWG '09) and Anna O'Donoghue.
Sept. 14 and is currently scheduled for an encore presentation Oct. 2 at 11:30 PM.
Order Given September 15th
“...was issued a "cease and desist" letter for the nightclub's production of The Piven Monologues,...he controversy surrounding Jeremy Piven's surprise departure from the recent Broadway revival of David Mamet's Speed-the-Plow...”
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/132885-Piven-Monologues-Receive-Cease-and-Desist-Letter
This was way to hot to handle due to its proximity in time to the actual story line. I believe Piven was right to issue the order. If more time had been given I believe he would have been fine with it. It was just a matter of poor timing.
6. ”Impulse to Suck: The performance of the apology and the separation between sex and state,"
Sixth Annual Meeting of the Cultural Studies Association at New York University,
The performance artist Karen Finley
May 2008
“Ms. Finley said that the scandal played into the public's need to turn politicians into tragic archetypes.”
http://www.nysun.com/arts/karen-finley-on-sex-and-socks/75492/
Ms. Finley is just to hot to handle with this one. Just like most issues the timing of this show was off. The story behind the show is still fresh on the publics mind and it does not matter to be an excuse for the public. It would be hard for the butt of this joke to take it as this and I think it just stirs up more controversy then is needed.
7. Take Me Out
Philadelphia Theatre Company
By Richard Greenberg
Directed by James J. Christy
May 13 - June 19, 2005
“...of a controversial subject, homosexuality in Major League Baseball.”
http://www.talkinbroadway.com/regional/philly/phil15.html
This show was to hot because of its timing with other baseball issues. With MLB having to deal with its Steroid issues, this just added in another issue to think about. I don't think baseball fans need to/ want to think about if there favorite players are gay and they are shy enough as it is. This was just to much at the wrong time.
8. “Quills”
George Washington University
directed by senior Paul Rozenberg and sophomore Alex Eisner
May 2009
“After six months of arguments with the University over the play's inclusion of nudity.”
http://media.www.gwhatchet.com/media/storage/paper332/news/2009/04/30/Arts/Nudity.Controversy.Theater.Kids-3732677.shtml
This show is controversial cause it involves nudity. I think frontal nudity does not belong in academic theatre. I believe this school thought same thing and felt that this was to hot of an issue to deal with.
9. Rent
Corona del Mar High School
Ron Martin, the theater teacher and director
February 19, 2009
“It was canceled after he chose the student version for the spring musical, hoping that it would counter what he saw as creeping homophobia on this Orange County campus.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/20/theater/20rent.html?_r=1&pagewanted=1
Rent should never be done in high school. It deals with to many hot topics that kids are just starting to learn and/ or identify with. Some kids are learning now that they may be gay. They don't need the added threats of homophobic and AIDS. Its controversial for its time period and it doesn't need to be brought to high schools.
10. Equus
Written by
Peter Shaffer
the Broadhurst Theatre, running through 8 February 2009
It’s Harry Potter on a horse!
This shows issue was that it starred Daniel Radcliffe. To many he is the boyhood hero Harry Potter. Here in the U.S. it's a major story and I dont think he should have played this role here in america. I think it ruins the sense of the books and I don't think kids would understand he's acting. He is to identifiable and this role was to much.
