Canceling play puts school leaders in the spotlight

MIDDLEFIELD, OHIO — A Geauga County school district’s decision to cancel its high school’s spring play has created its own drama, with the officials who made the decision now standing in the spotlight.

Plans by the Cardinal High School drama department to perform “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” were nixed by the Cardinal School District’s Board of Education on Jan. 25 after the superintendent and board members say they received complaints about the play’s content.

“Its dialogue and song lyrics contain vulgarity and are therefore not suitable for our pre-teen and teenage students in an educational setting,” Cardinal Superintendent Jack Cunningham said in a statement. “Regrettably, this production was not submitted to the Board of Education or district administration for approval.”

The decision to cancel the play has caught the attention of Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who played Mitchell Pritchett on the long-running TV show “Modern Family” and was a member of the Broadway play’s original cast. Ferguson posted a video on Tiktok offering support to students and criticizing the district’s actions, saying portions of the play that might be objectionable can easily be changed for younger performers and audiences.

Mandi Matchinga, assistant director for the musical, said the play was approved by the district early in the school year and rehearsals already were underway. Cardinal musical director Vanessa Allen gave board members copies of the play’s script on Jan. 12, but she reportedly wasn’t aware the board was meeting Jan. 25 to decided the play’s fate.

Matchinga says that when she asked school officials why the play was canceled, she was told only that it wasn’t “family friendly.” She says previous plays have not been subject to board approval.

The district’s decision left students who were part of the play stunned.

“When I heard the news, my heart sank. I grabbed my friend’s hand and watched the face of every kid in that room drop with disappointment,” Sabrina Clinger, a senior, said.

“I kept looking at my classmates as they stared off into the distance. It didn’t seem real. No one ever thought this would happen.”

According to playbill. com, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” is the story of “several socially awkward youngsters finding joy, heartache, and a purpose in competing at the regional spelling bee.” The play grossed more than $45 million during its nearly threeyear run on Broadway from 2005 to 2008. It was nominated for six Tony Awards, winning two.

The play does have two gay characters who are parents of a student, although school officials say their decision was not based on discrimination. “Anyone suggesting otherwise is simply mistaken,” Cunningham said. He said school officials were more concerned with some scenes containing “vulgarity and bad language.” Jesus also makes an appearance in a scene.