A on Change.org seeks signers to join an effort against Keller ISD鈥檚 new theater policy, approved in August, that some call censorship.
Parent Courtney Mullaney launched the petition to end the policy, which requires a superintendent-led review of every play and musical before it can be performed.
As a result, Mullaney said, previously approved productions, including 鈥淭he Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime,鈥� 鈥淩uthless,鈥� and 鈥淵ellow Boat鈥� are now off limits.
"As parents of children actively participating in the Fine Arts programs of Keller ISD, we are alarmed by the sudden increase in censorship of the theatre departments across the district," the petition reads.
Other high schools have performed these plays, including 鈥淵ellow Boat,鈥� as recently as this month. The play involves a child with hemophilia who contracts AIDS after a medically necessary blood transfusion. Cary High School in North Carolina presented the show last weekend. In Texas, Royal ISD, west of Houston, produced it in 2020.
Last fall, Legacy High School in Mansfield ISD put on 鈥淭he Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime,鈥� based on the book about an autistic boy who looks into the death of a neighbor鈥檚 dog.
A senior in Keller ISD, Nathan Beets, wrote on the change.org petition that "theater can have a profound effect on its audience. We can鈥檛 do that if we are censored from portraying real-life stories on stage; stories that people may find uncomfortable to talk about, but are best conveyed through art."
Earlier this year, Keller ISD was accused of censorship when it cancelled 鈥淭he Laramie Project,鈥� a play about the murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student in Wyoming. After public pushback, the district reversed its controversial decision and the play was produced.
Keller ISD鈥檚 website says the district鈥檚 fine arts program is among 鈥渢he finest in the nation.鈥� It lists among key values 鈥渞espect for the diversity of our school community through a culture of understanding and personalized learning opportunities.鈥�
四虎影院 contacted Keller ISD for comment about the policy but hasn鈥檛 received a response.
Bill Zeeble is 四虎影院鈥檚 education reporter. Got a tip? Email Bill at bzeeble@kera.org. You can follow him on X .
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