School called ‘hateful’ over satirical gay play

A Massachusetts charter school plans to perform ‘The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told,’ a spoof on the Book of Genesis featuring ‘Adam and Steve.’

By Charyn Pfeuffer - MSN Living Editor Mar 11, 2013 5:17PM

What if Adam’s partner in the Garden of Eden wasn’t Eve, but Steve?

A religious rumpus is brewing as one Massachusetts charter school plans to perform a spoof of the Bible’s creation story that features gay characters, reports The Raw Story.

Despite threats of protest, Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Public Charter School (PPVA) has said the show will go on. The regional charter school serves 400 students, grades 7 through 12.

More from MSN Living: 11 adorable smiling animals

“While we have no control whether organizations from other states decide to protest the show, it is clear to me that many of the most recent emails are attempts to coerce PVPA into canceling the play,” Head of School Scott Goldman said in a statement last week. “Allowing this to happen would very much go against the grain of our unique, artistic and intellectually rigorous PVPA community and the larger Pioneer Valley Community.”

The PPVA website describes “The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told” as “cheeky, raucously funny, surprisingly tender and ultimately wise as it dissects history, relationships, gay politics and the mystery of faith.”

“It’s not a play that bashes religion but it does make fun of some religious attitudes,” director Chris Rohman told MassLive.com. “Although it’s full of jokes — some of them at the expense of religious fundamentalism — the play, is, at its heart, a thoughtful investigation of the meaning of faith and family.”

More from MSN Living: 8 parenting obligations to ditch guilt-free

Even with threats of protest, the students are excited about putting on the play.

“They saw it as an opportunity to express some gay-positive messages that they want to share with the community,” Rohman was quoted.

William Newman, director of the Western Massachusetts office of the ACLU, told MassLive.com, "The highest function of art is to make people think and talk and consider and be challenged. This play seems to fill the aspirations and goals of art."

“The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told” is scheduled for March 15 and 16 at Northampton’s Academy of Music.

Would you go see this play?

Bing: Should religion be taught in schools?

More from Family Room:

Girls and manicures: How young is too young?

Single child families: The new normal?

Mom offers $500 to get daughter a job

Subscribe to The Family Room

Love content like this? Friend us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and find us on Pinterest.

Readers: Calling all mom bloggers – we’re looking for fresh voices on MSN Living. Email us your samples and contact info!

Photo: Christian groups call play hateful / Steven G. de Polo via Flickr, http://aka.ms/gayjesus

< Back to The Family Room

3Comments

Best

Mar 12, 2013 4:07PM

I am gay but really stuff like this needs to stop. I understand you are gay and proud, but that is a school a place where you suppose to learn not shove the gay or religious agenda on people. Sometime gay people take it to far. You get what you give. You give disrespect you get disrespect.

Previous replies

jay gonus

Mar 23, 2013 3:23AM

Oh, poor Christians... after tax dollars unconstitutionally get funneled into religious interest groups and school vouchers, it's refreshing to see this form of superstition get equal treatment. This is art and expression and you don't like it, feel free to not go. Or better yet, pray the show stops in one hand and crap in the other and see which one fills up first.

Previous replies

x soldier

Mar 12, 2013 1:21AM

only because of the distance being so far will I not see this play. Odd the Christians are calling the play hateful towards them and Christianity but they sure don't have a problem (not all) often doing the same. Last I check one is still able to attend church and pray openly even in public and select the faith you most likely identify with. Yet gay men etc can't gather without fear of attacks, can't even hold hands publicly or select whom they will love....and who is most often at the helm of those attacks. What I have a problem with in my USA is that we talk about freedom but for only those we like. Atheist don't have to follow a Christians way of thinking about God and Country the same way. So as long as they don't cause trouble any more that anyone else in society then they should be able to follow their path. Same with GLBT and yes even Muslims.

I am curious. Has God and Jesus gotten meaner since I was a kid. His followers seem to always be wanting to tell others what to think and do. And when they get push back they get ugly. God didn't force us to believe OR worship him but that has gotten lost somehow. I think (my opinion) he would rather I seek him instead of chasing me down.

God Bless ALL my fellow earthlings.