A Message from Richard Thomas

A production of the musical Monty Python’s Spamalot, slated for the South Williamsport Junior/Senior High School in Pennsylvania in 2015, was canceled by the school’s principal due to “homosexual themes.”

In case you haven’t been following the story, you might check out Howard Sherman’s overview at Slate for background, Drew McManus’ take at Adaptistration for commentary, and a follow up at Howard’s blog about a sudden and newly introduced Public Performance Policy at the school.

Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Wicked), president of the Dramatists Guild, sent a statement to the school principal, which is reproduced in full here. Further coverage of this appeared in Playbill and Broadway World.

Julie Woffington, president of the Educational Theatre Association, has also written a letter to the to the school district, urging them to reconsider the cancellation.

Now, Emmy Award-winning actor Richard Thomas (The Waltons, The Americans) speaks out for LGBTQ equality in schools–and on school stages.

[youtube width=”853″ height=”400″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVnRUjyBSQA[/youtube]

If you want to see equality portrayed and embraced in the South Williamsport Area School District, write to:

Superintendent Mark Stamm mstamm@swasd.org
Principal Jesse Smith smith@swasd.org
School Board Chairman John Engel jengel@swasd.org

before the next school board meeting coming up on September 22, 2014.