Equus by Peter Shaffer
Debut: Broadway, Feb. 2007 at Broadhurst Theatre
Equus is a play about a young boy with pathological disorders and a doctor who tries to treat him. The original production unveiled in 1973 in London and it was met with rave reviews. This play is controversial because it faces sexual perverseness and religious idolatry. The young boy confuses admiration and sexuality with the horses.
Debut: Broadway, Feb. 2007 at Broadhurst Theatre
Equus is a play about a young boy with pathological disorders and a doctor who tries to treat him. The original production unveiled in 1973 in London and it was met with rave reviews. This play is controversial because it faces sexual perverseness and religious idolatry. The young boy confuses admiration and sexuality with the horses.
http://www.canmag.com/nw/6605-daniel-radcliffe-equus
Naked Broadway
But the fellas are still in front of the Full Monty Sign in the above pic
The Full Monty by Terrence McNally
Music by David Yazbek
Debut: Broadway, Oct 2000 at Eugene O'Neill Theatre
The Full Monty tells the story of six male steel factory workers who go and strip for money. The play was the subject of controversy because it dealt with topics like homosexuality and suicide. And, although the characters faced a slew of self conscious thoughts, the play featured full male nudity.
Music by David Yazbek
Debut: Broadway, Oct 2000 at Eugene O'Neill Theatre
The Full Monty tells the story of six male steel factory workers who go and strip for money. The play was the subject of controversy because it dealt with topics like homosexuality and suicide. And, although the characters faced a slew of self conscious thoughts, the play featured full male nudity.
Gay Broadway
Corpus Christi by Terrence McNally
Debut: Off-Broadway, Oct. 1998 at Manhattan Theatre Club
Debut: Off-Broadway, Oct. 1998 at Manhattan Theatre Club
Corpus Christi is a show about Jesus Christ and the Apostles. This production was full of controversy. It depicted Jesus Christ as a homosexual man and in the show he performs a marriage between two of his apostles. This sent chaos throughout the religious community and McNally received death threats form other extremists
http://www.insidesocal.com/outinhollywood/2008/10/corpus-christi-is-headed-for-a.html
Original 1927 Sheet Music for Ol' Man River, from Show Boat
Holly Hughes, Tim Miller,John Fleck, Martha Wilson andKaren Finley at NYU, April 15, 2004 Photo by Jim Constanzo
Racist Broadway
Original 1927 Sheet Music for Ol' Man River, from Show Boat
Show Boat by Oscar Hammerstein II
Music by Jerome Kern
Debut: Broadway, Dec. 1927 at Ziegfield Theatre
Show Boat is considered one of the most influential works in American theatre. It was also very controversial because it was the first play to have an interracial cast. There was must debate over the language in the show as well. The use of derogatory terms led to the show being reworked and adapted to please audiences.
Music by Jerome Kern
Debut: Broadway, Dec. 1927 at Ziegfield Theatre
Show Boat is considered one of the most influential works in American theatre. It was also very controversial because it was the first play to have an interracial cast. There was must debate over the language in the show as well. The use of derogatory terms led to the show being reworked and adapted to please audiences.
Busted
Sex by Mae West
Debut: Broadway, Apr 1926
Debut: Broadway, Apr 1926
Sex was a play written, directed, and starred in by Mae West. This was controversial because of the nature of the times and the show. The show played on Broadway for about a year before it was raided by the New York City police department. West was arrested on counts of moral indecency and was sentenced to ten days in jail
NEA 4
Holly Hughes, Tim Miller,John Fleck, Martha Wilson andKaren Finley at NYU, April 15, 2004 Photo by Jim ConstanzoThe 4: Holly Hughes, Tim Miller John Fleck and Karen Finley
The NEA 4 consists of the four artists who fought to receive grants from the U. S. Government. They were vetoed in June of 1990 on claims that the work being produced was controversial. They appealed to the Supreme Court and won in 1993. They received the grant money for the National Endowment for the Arts.
The NEA 4 consists of the four artists who fought to receive grants from the U. S. Government. They were vetoed in June of 1990 on claims that the work being produced was controversial. They appealed to the Supreme Court and won in 1993. They received the grant money for the National Endowment for the Arts.
http://www.franklinfurnace.org/research/essays/nea4/ayers.html
Parents at a Nevada high school are suing the school to stop productions of "The Laramie Project" and "Rent," the smash Broadway hit which had a standing ovation on its closing night, pictured above. Credit: Getty Images
Rent by Jonathan Larson
Debut: Green Valley High School, Jan. 2010
Rent is a rock musical that debuted on Broadway in April of 1996. The subject matter of Rent deals with AIDS, homosexuality and the bohemian lifestyle. Its controversy comes when schools performed the show. Green Valley high school in Las Vegas had lawsuit filed against them by the parents of the students. They claimed that the “themes of homosexuality and drugs are too mature for teens” to perform.
http://www.lasvegasnow.com/global/story.asp?s=11899811
Regional
My Name is Rachel Corrie ed. by Katherine Viner and Alan Rickman
Debut: Shelved until further notice
Banned in Toronto, Miami, and New York City
My name is Rachel Corrie is the real life story of U.S. peace activist, Rachel Corrie. Theatres in New York will not produce the show and the Miami Theatre shelved it. The play is controversial because of the gruesome facts of her death. She was killed by a bulldozer because she was trying to stop the destruction of a Palestinian doctor’s home.
Debut: Shelved until further notice
Banned in Toronto, Miami, and New York City
My name is Rachel Corrie is the real life story of U.S. peace activist, Rachel Corrie. Theatres in New York will not produce the show and the Miami Theatre shelved it. The play is controversial because of the gruesome facts of her death. She was killed by a bulldozer because she was trying to stop the destruction of a Palestinian doctor’s home.
College/University
Keely and Du by Jane Martin
Debut: College of the Canyons, Nov. 2009
Keely and Du is a play centered around two people dealing with their differences in beliefs. It confronts issues such as abortion and rape. Although the play showed both sides of the issue, it created controversy dealing with religion. It raised many questions concerning rape victim’s rights versus women’s rights.
Debut: College of the Canyons, Nov. 2009
Keely and Du is a play centered around two people dealing with their differences in beliefs. It confronts issues such as abortion and rape. Although the play showed both sides of the issue, it created controversy dealing with religion. It raised many questions concerning rape victim’s rights versus women’s rights.
High School
Parents at a Nevada high school are suing the school to stop productions of "The Laramie Project" and "Rent," the smash Broadway hit which had a standing ovation on its closing night, pictured above. Credit: Getty ImagesRent by Jonathan Larson
Debut: Green Valley High School, Jan. 2010
Rent is a rock musical that debuted on Broadway in April of 1996. The subject matter of Rent deals with AIDS, homosexuality and the bohemian lifestyle. Its controversy comes when schools performed the show. Green Valley high school in Las Vegas had lawsuit filed against them by the parents of the students. They claimed that the “themes of homosexuality and drugs are too mature for teens” to perform.
http://www.lasvegasnow.com/global/story.asp?s=11899811
http://www.parentdish.com/2009/11/03/nevada-high-school-parents-sue-to-stop-students-from-performing/
Rehearsal for the Broadway production. Back row, left to right: Lamont Washington, Lynn Kellogg, Suzannah Norstrand, Marjorie Lipari. Front row, left to right: Sally Eaton, Leata Galloway, Shelley Plimpton, Natalie Mosco
http://www.orlok.com/hair/holding/photographs/hair/rehearsal.html
Wild Card
Rehearsal for the Broadway production. Back row, left to right: Lamont Washington, Lynn Kellogg, Suzannah Norstrand, Marjorie Lipari. Front row, left to right: Sally Eaton, Leata Galloway, Shelley Plimpton, Natalie MoscoHair by James Rado and Gerome Ragni
Music by Galt MacDermot
Debut: Off-Broadway, Oct. 1967 at Joseph Papp’s Public Theatre
Broadway, Apr. 1968 at Biltmore Theatre
Hair, the American Tribal Love-Rock Musical is a controversial musical that debuted on Broadway in the late 1960’s. This play came out shortly after the law was abolished that stated; all plays had to be approved before they were performed. Hair dealt with topics like drugs, sex, and war. This play is controversial because in 1960’s America, anyone that talked disrespectfully about America and its decisions was chastised.
Music by Galt MacDermot
Debut: Off-Broadway, Oct. 1967 at Joseph Papp’s Public Theatre
Broadway, Apr. 1968 at Biltmore Theatre
Hair, the American Tribal Love-Rock Musical is a controversial musical that debuted on Broadway in the late 1960’s. This play came out shortly after the law was abolished that stated; all plays had to be approved before they were performed. Hair dealt with topics like drugs, sex, and war. This play is controversial because in 1960’s America, anyone that talked disrespectfully about America and its decisions was chastised.
http://www.orlok.com/hair/holding/photographs/hair/rehearsal.html
