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After teaching in Oregon schools for 30 years and directing students through several levels of theatre projects, I found myself faced with censorship regarding Knappa High School's production of Dark of the Moon, a play that has been performed at several high schools throughout Oregon.   Though there was as much support for this production as their was opposition, the school board gave the nod to a clergy's disapproval and censored this play.  As a result, the students developed their own project which reflected their consternation over being censored and several other issues that were important to them.  Rather than performing this at the high school, they took this work into nearby Astoria where they found a home in the River Theater (a community theater) and performed to sell-out audiences.  The entire experience was extremely traumatic and highly educational.  But the cost of censorship was so dear that it shook the very foundation of a long-standing and successful high school program.

posted 4 years, 2 months ago
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