Grease in Missouri 2005

Megan Bakaletz, Brendan Beil, Brad Handel, Roni Leake
Dr. Alan Woods
Theater 597
7 February 2008
“Grease” in Missouri, 2005

When Wendy DeVore, veteran drama teacher at Fulton High School in Missouri, chose to stage the musical “Grease” in 2005, she was not alone in her choice. In fact, over the years, “Grease” has become a staple in high school theaters across the United States. Set in the 1950s, “Grease” follows the tumultuous relationships of Rydell High students, Danny Zuko, Sandy Dumbrowski, and their friends the T-Birds and Pink Ladies. The musical explores social issues such as teenage rebellion, sexual exploration, pregnancy, and gang violence. Fearing that some in the small, conservative town might object to certain content, DeVore substituted slang for profanity and had characters sneak out for cigarettes instead of smoking marijuana. The production was given a PG-13 rating that was reflected on all promotional materials. Parents were also advised that the musical was not suitable for small children and FHS did not offer the traditional discounted ticket prices for children. DeVore was quoted as saying, “When teachers would ask me, ‘Can I bring my kids?’ I would say no.” All cast members of “Grease” were required to turn in permission slips signed by their parents that warned them of the musical’s content. Additionally, all rehearsals were open to parents and the public. School policy required that the Fulton superintendent, Dr. Mark Enderle, and the FHS principal, Teri Arms, clear all plays. Dr. Enderle approved “Grease” beforehand, but admits that he did not actually read the script (Schemo, 1). Most outsiders would agree that there was no shortage of precautionary steps taken by Ms. DeVore and the drama department to prevent an offensive production.
A month after “Grease” was performed by FHS students, three separate written complaints were sent to Dr. Enderle in response to the performance. While none of the letters mentioned it, all three were written by members of the Callaway Christian Church. The letters criticized the show for its scenes of drinking, smoking, and kissing, claiming it had gone too far by showing the kind of conduct that the community tried to discourage. One of the opponents, Terra Guittar, had been so outraged by the performance that she walked out, stating, “They're under 18. They're not in Hollywood.” Guittar also went so far as to inform other members of her congregation about the performance. Mark Miller, who never actually saw the FHS performance of “Grease,” sent a letter to Dr. Enderle after hearing a description of the pajama party scene from Guittar. Miller was offended by the description and felt that the character, Rizzo, should have worn a more modest nightgown like the other characters in the scene instead of just a pajama top. Upon receiving the complaints, Dr. Enderle viewed a video of the performance and determined that “Grease” had been an unsuitable play for the high school (Schemo, 1).
To gain a better perspective of the varying opinions of the events that took place, one must understand that those closely involved with the production received little opportunity to voice their praise. The impact and volume of negative opinions conveyed by church members was quickly exaggerated and fueled the growth of concern in the community. However, not all citizens of Fulton, Missouri found the performance too offensive and deplorable. Both DeVore and the student actors were extremely proud of their work and were excited about performing the musical. Mimi Curtis, whose son played the lead in “Grease,” said the principal and drama teacher had gone out of their way to respect parents’ wishes, even changing the script in response to Curtis’ objections to profanity. “I didn't view it as raunchy,” Curtis said, noting that kids “hear worse” just by watching television (Schemo, 2). Kim Heffner, who also had a son in the cast, agreed, saying, “I had no concerns. It's a play that was put on a lot of different places. If they don't want to go, it’s their choice. They know what ‘Grease’ is” (Nellis, n.p.). In addition, the nearby William Woods University had previously staged “Grease,” among its many performances, and never received a complaint from anyone in the community. The play that had once been the pride of many student actors at FHS had quickly become something many would rather forget (Schemo, 2).
To many, “Grease” is a relatively harmless musical performed by high school students everywhere. To others, it is the outlandish tale of unacceptable behavior in the form of smoking, drinking, drugs, and sex that encourages such actions in teens. They are two very different perspectives that are both vehemently endorsed by individuals and groups of people in different parts of the country. In order to understand the thought process behind either one, it is important to look at the culture, beliefs, and values of individuals and groups alike. For a small group of citizens in Fulton, Missouri, “Grease” was a very disturbing manifestation of their greatest fears.
To understand what caused the criticism of “Grease,” one must understand Fulton, Missouri. Located 90 miles west of St. Louis, Fulton is a town of slightly more than 12,000 citizens. While only 90 miles away, Fulton has an entirely different mentality than the “big” city; in the heart of the “Bible Belt,” it remains historically conservative. Fulton is the home of Westminster College and may be proudest of the fact that the college is where Winston Churchill gave his famous “Iron Curtain” speech (Schemo, 1). Deeply rooted religious values guide many citizens throughout their day, and upon viewing the appalling actions of high school actors in “Grease,” some churchgoers could not hold their tongue, sending both written and verbal complaints to superintendent Enderle. Once an understanding of the Fulton community has been established, it may be easier to understand the ire resulting from a high school performance of “Grease.” It seems as though the dominant, religious perspective of Fulton firmly believes that a healthy life does not include the vices of smoking, drinking, or extramarital sex. While light is shed upon these issues in a relatively tame manner in the musical, it was still too much for those dissenting citizens.
The backlash from “Grease” stretched much further than the play itself. In a proactive measure, Dr. Enderle banned the FHS spring production of “The Crucible.” "To me, it's entirely a preventative maintenance issue," Dr. Enderle had explained. "I can't do anything about what's already happened, but do I want to spend the spring saying, ‘Yeah, we crossed the line again’?” (Schemo, 2). Like “Grease,” “The Crucible” is widely accepted as a popular and appropriate high school play and is on the required reading list in most high schools. Set in 17th century Salem, “The Crucible,” was based on the witch trials of the era and contained no profanity, smoking, drinking, or kissing like its Grease counterpart. “The Crucible” is a commentary on the McCarthy hearings in the United States during the 1950s. Somewhat ironically, Enderle made reference to the McCarthy hearings when he said, “[t]hat was me in my worst Joe McCarthy moment, to some” (Schemo, 1). The objection had to do with the extra-marital affair between two of the play’s characters, which was a minor detail in the performance and is actually only alluded to, never acted out. DeVore had her own ideas about the underlying concern with the play, stating that the Salem witch trials were “a time in history that makes Christians look bad,” something that would obviously stir up tension in the conservative town (Schemo, 2). Regardless of the reasons for the outcry against “The Crucible,” Dr. Enderle felt that it would be too soon after “Grease” to invoke another controversy, saying “The decision on ‘The Crucible’ is for spring 2006; I am not saying ‘The Crucible’ will never be performed. I'm just not of the opinion that now is the appropriate time.” Dr. Enderle would later tell the Fulton Sun that he received up to 10 complaints, both verbal and written, regarding the production of “Grease” and wanted to avoid a similar situation (Nellis, n.p.).
DeVore became angered by Dr. Enderle’s explanation to the Fulton Sun of his decision to ban “The Crucible.” In his letter to the newspaper, Dr. Enderle claimed he never “banned” the play, since there would be discussion of doing “The Crucible” in the future (Enderle, n.p.). Dr. Enderle also claimed to have talked to the student actors the day the article came out, which was not true. In response, DeVore started a blog web page, exposing the fallacy of Dr. Enderle’s explanation. Devore, along with her supporters, invited Dr. Enderle to the blog to respond to questions concerning the bans. Enderle and members of the Fulton school board, who had warned DeVore that her contract might not be renewed following the “Grease” uproar, were angered by DeVore’s continued outspokenness. “There's a part of me that says maybe I'm just a bit too outspoken for public schools,” said DeVore, “Maybe I need to find a school that's a better match.” Faced with the risk of being fired, DeVore resigned soon after (Associated Press, n.p.).
A community controversy grew over the banning of plays and the treatment of DeVore. In protest, The First Amendment Players, which is comprised of FHS students, local residents, and educators, put on their own version of “The Crucible” at a local church. The First Amendment Players confronted Dr. Enderle, claiming that they considered “Grease” and “The Crucible” censored unless he would announce a date for a future production. They also insisted that Enderle would agree to not stand in the way of these productions in the future. “He has to admit he made a mistake in banning the production at this time, and that he will not stand in the way of its production in the future,” one protester said. “If he admits that, we would be content.” The First Amendment Players are also working on establishing performance guidelines that would bypass the superintendent’s authority to dictate theater performances. The group thinks that play choices should be chosen by the director of the theater department. FHS drama students agreed, requesting the opportunity to study and perform difficult plays that will ultimately help them hone their acting skills (Hetzel, n.p.).
For somewhere between three and ten complaints to cause these repercussions for a high school drama program, two things can be inferred; first, that much of the community felt the same way as those who spoke up, and second, the community must have a limited understanding of popular culture. Making the first of these two assumptions could be dangerous, but this may or may not be the case in this instance. Not everyone in Fulton rose up in protest of “Grease.” All drama students interviewed by various media outlets voiced their support for both projects. There were also parents of performers that were interviewed who endorsed the work of their children. Even with all of the preventive measures taken by DeVore, the complaints still occurred. It is difficult to say whether those that opposed the performance were more disturbed that the teens in the show were portraying these evil actions through theater or if it was because others might see and be influenced by their actions. In either case, it is a very simple and close-minded reaction to the musical. However, the ultimate result of those complaints and concerns about “Grease” show the power of the conservative voice in Fulton. There must be a consensus among much of the community that the conservative, religious attitude is the proper way to live; otherwise, a few dissenting voices could have been ignored.
One must live in a sheltered world to be ignorant of the highly materialized popular culture that exists today, especially in the younger demographic. A scaled down version of “Grease” is less offensive than much of what is on television most nights during primetime. Perhaps public opinion takes on a somewhat jaded opinion of the religious, far right beliefs of people in places like Fulton, but the banning of “The Crucible” due to outrage following a tame version of “Grease” by a high school drama department may warrant criticism. Sheltering high school age students results in a cyclical thought process and is detrimental in terms of generating creativity and individuality. It is the reason that generations of group-think have limited the people of Fulton to rally behind those few dissenting voices that arise every time something different, controversial, or creative appears.
Censorship is a very real issue outside of Fulton, MO and continues to be a source of discussion and disagreement all over the world. As indicated before, negative and provocative opinions tend to spread very quickly. This often leads to individuals in positions of power quickly passing judgment and censoring something or someone in order to deflect criticism. School censorship is often influenced by outsiders who have the ability to sculpt a school’s curriculum in terms of which literary works are permissible. These individuals can be leaders in the community or church, members of a school hierarchy, or even parents. Religious and moral values are often very entrenched in a family’s set of core beliefs and any departure from their own beliefs will often be met with intense discomfort and criticism. This uncertainty, when approached with a new or differing view, can be the root of censorship.
To assume that any one person’s view of the world is the only way to educate our children is merely a lesson in bigotry. If the parents of students in a small community choose to censor and shelter their children from the ways of the world, the effects will ultimately hinder their children in future endeavors. The goal of educating our youth is to prepare them for life in the outside world and give them the tools to succeed in the business environment. High school is supposed to prepare our youth for further education in college; removing learning materials does them a great disservice. Universities across the United States embrace cultural diversity, and a well-rounded student will be able to enroll in higher education and have a better chance to succeed. High school students who are heavily exposed to censorship face additional challenges when they enter the college environment. They must grow not only academically, but also personally, to a larger extent than the average student. Students who are well rounded, flexible and able to keep an open mind when dealing with their co-workers are likely to find success in their professional life This success spawns from interaction with a diverse group of individuals with different ethnicities and religious beliefs.
In recent years, new technology has been an engine that drives issues of censorship. The internet has allowed people around the world to almost instantly access publications, videos, articles, and almost any other type of art and literature that exists. By making information more easily accessible and constantly breaking down communication barriers, technology has magnified the impact of a small group of opposing voices, as seen at Fulton High School. Another impact of technology on censorship is that the internet has enabled an almost infinite amount of people to voice their opinions or post their work for all to see. This spike in available information has opened the door for more and more people to be offended and try to censor the content with which they are uncomfortable.
The severe censorship of the musical “Grease” at Fulton High School altered the perspective that students may have had toward the realities of smoking, street gangs, teenage pregnancy, teenage rebellion, and offensive language in the 1950s. These issues were prevalent in the “greaser” subculture, among the more well known issues of civil rights and women’s equality. It could be argued that the measures taken by Wendy DeVore actually detracted from the core message of “Grease.” At what point of removing offensive language, marijuana, drinking, smoking, and kissing does “Grease” lose its relevance? In the case of “Grease” at Fulton High School, members of the community were given the choice of whether they wanted to be exposed to these controversial issues in the musical or choose not to attend.
A small town can remain a small town without staying behind the times and ignorant of the outside world. A community in Titus, Florida was asked, “What does ‘small town atmosphere’ mean to you?” Al Gutierrez replied, “Before I answer what a small town atmosphere means to me, let me tell you what I think it is not. It is not a closed-minded attitude; it is not a backward thinking government run by the good ol’ boys. Small towns should be pleasant and forward thinking.” (Gutierrez, n.p.) Fulton, Missouri must strive to take a progressive approach toward these ideals.
After developing an understanding of the differing viewpoints and educating ourselves on the many aspects of the circumstances surrounding the high school drama program at Fulton High School, we have come to the conclusion that the entire situation was blown out of proportion. There is no reason that a high school play from a town of 12,000 citizens should cause enough of a stir to appear in the New York Times. The hardships endured by Wendy DeVore were both unfair and undeserved. After endorsing the production of “Grease,” Dr. Mark Enderle should be held responsible for the public backlash created by the musical. At the very least, he should have stood behind his employee when she was met with criticism. Unfortunately, he did neither, and Wendy DeVore was held solely accountable. She was forced with a difficult decision to either keep her job and produce censored work that limited her and her students’ creativity, or leave the Fulton School District. To force a teacher, who had the support of her superintendent, to choose between her job and her beliefs is not only unfair, it is absurd. The city of Fulton also had its name smeared on a national platform, being criticized for its inability to adapt to the changing times. The far-right mentality, along with “Bible Belt” beliefs provide the fuel needed to drive censorship. Ultimately, our group feels that the precautions taken by DeVore were more than adequate, and any further censorship of the musical detracts from its message.

Bibliography

Associated Press. “Play canceled; Mo. high school drama teacher quits.”
20 March 2006. First Amendment Center.
This article was obtained to get outside information about what occurred after the fallout from the banning of “The Crucible.” It detailed the resignation of Wendy DeVore, Fulton’s drama teacher, and explained decisions made by the drama program following the cancellation of the spring play.

Enderle, Mark. Letter to the editor. “Much ado about nothing.” The Fulton Sun 17 February 2006.
This letter to the editor was published in the Fulton Sun after being submitted by Dr. Mark Enderle. He wrote it in response to the controversy surrounding his school district when he decided to cancel “The Crucible.” It was used by our group to gain his perspective.

Gutierrez, Al. Interview. Titusville United Vision. 1 Nov. 2007. Feb.-Mar. 2008 .
This source was unique in the sense that it was from an online response board. A small community in Florida invited their residents to post their feelings on what it meant to live in a “small town,” in an attempt to keep everyone happy with the community and allow insight to their feelings for their neighbors. An effective quote was used in the body of our paper.

Hetzel, John. “First Amendment Players bid superintendent to comply with checklist.” The Fulton Sun. 23 March 2006.
This article from the Fulton Sun talks about the actions taken by those in opposition of the censorship to prevent a similar outcome in the future. The First Amendment Players were able to provide open-minded citizens of Fulton with an alternative to the censored productions at FHS.

Nellis, Stephen. “‘Grease’ gripes cancel ‘Crucible.’” The Fulton Sun. 22 December 2005.
This article, in addition to one found in the New York Times, provided the details of what happened in Fulton, MO and who was to blame. The Fulton Sun was a reliable source that provided details and interviews with citizens of Fulton.

Schemo, Diana Jean. “In Small Town, ‘Grease’ Ignites a Culture War.” The New York Times. 11 February 2006.
This was the original article used by our group to learn about the situation that engulfed the town of Fulton following a high school production of “Grease.” It provided the back story for our presentation and this paper from a reputable and national source.