Tarleton State theater student says he chose McNally’s ‘Corpus Christi’ because it’s about tolerance, love
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| NOT BACKING DOWN | Tarleton State theater student John Jordan Otte says he believes that the message of Terrence McNally’s play, ‘Corpus Christi,’ is one of tolerance and acceptance, and that it can bring people together. But some Stephenville residents say the play is blashphemous and Otte shouldn’t be allowed to direct it in class. |
STEPHENVILLE — A Tarleton State University student’s choice to present a play with gay content for his class in directing has stirred controversy in the local community. Tarleton State is located in Stephenville, 70 miles southwest of Fort Worth.
When junior John Jordan Otte got the assignment to choose a play that was meaningful to him to direct for his theater class, he selected Terrence McNally’s "Corpus Christi."
On March 27, a 45-minute excerpt from the play will be performed along with selections from three other plays directed by other students in his class.
"Corpus Christi" has a modern Texas setting and depicts a gay man whose life parallels that of Jesus. The character, named Joshua, performs a same-sex wedding.
"The play is about acceptance and tolerance," Otte said. "I chose this play to direct and produce because I am aChristianand I believe that this play can bring people together in a story of acceptance and realization of the alienation we in the gay community feel from most of our churches."
But people in Stephenville are having none of that. They flooded the school with letters and phone calls. Alumni threatened to withhold donations.
Otte and his choice of play were denounced from local pulpits. The story ran on the front page of the Stephenville Empire Tribune under the banner "Showdown at Tarleton," and for days the letters to the editor were about nothing else.
Letters to the newspaper called the play "blasphemous."
But F. Dominic Dottavio, the president of the school, defended freedom of speech on his campus.
"Public universities are expected to extend the same constitutional freedoms we all enjoy in this country to their students, faculty members and staffs. Fundamental to the academic community are freedom of thought, speech and expression, issues we see publicly debated from time to time particularly in the arts.A certain play, speaker, concert, art exhibit or reading may provoke strong feelings and widely differing opinions," he said.
One letter to the newspaper discounted the idea of freedom of speech.
"You do have Freedom of speech, but are you prepared for the consequences of your decision?" the letter writer asked.
Calls to the university were directed to Dean Minix, dean of the College of Liberal and Fine Arts. He said that by Wednesday, March 17, the phone wasn’t ringing quite as often.
"But that could gin back up," he said. "The day isn’t over."
Minix said that for the performance, security will be present.
"We provide a safe and secure environment for our students, faculty and visitors," Minix said.
"I am grateful to my university and the faculty and staff here at Tarleton for allowing me to express myself as an individual and to put forth such an important piece of art," Otte said.
He was excited about supportive e-mails he received this week from McNally and his partner. He called the playwright a hero of his.
He also commended his cast, especially noting Chase Sikes, who is 18, straight and still in high school. Sikes plays Judas and he thanked him for supporting the LGBT community.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition March 19, 2010.
It’s ridiculous that had this simply been a passion play where you would sit and watch a human being being tortured and executed for 2 hours no one would raise an eyebrow. In fact, they’d probably tell you how beautiful and inspiring they found the experience. But as soon as even hint at the possibility of a character being gay people begin protesting and alumni threaten to pull funding.
People have some really f’d up ideas about decency.
What is ridiculous is the fact that this blasphemous play is allowed to be shown. If people want to know who Jesus is and what he is like, then study God’s Word instead of leaning to their own vain, depraved imaginations. God loves and judges according to truth. He does not compromise or tolerate sin. Everyone who does not repent and believe on the Word of God will face His judgment.
John is a disgrace to his family. John how can you say you are just like everyone else when you enjoy smelling and eating other mens poop?
I love how people get all up in arms when a fictitious character has a new persona. I could only imagine if someone changed up Star Wars. You people need to read a science book SOON!
What an embarrasment to our family. But more importantly, an embarrasment to our conservative state!
“What an embarassment to our state–to think!–people have the right to write fiction and put on plays about topics I personally don’t care for? What a travesty! Why can’t we just tell people what to think and believe? That’s “Texas As God Intendedâ„¢.”
Thank you Matthew! The school has a right to stand up for itself and allow the student to carry on with his project. This young man stuck his neck out for his beliefs and is that not what the martyrs of Christanity did during the persecutions by the Romans?
Where did these comments come from? they do not sound like the typical Dallas Voice readership.
It’s a play, was intended for a small audience, get over your selves.
Bob
What I find embarrassing is this state has so many homophobic bigots. @Randall,@Justin,@Ashley
If your beliefs hold you to assuming there isn’t anything wrong with gays exploiting an event held sacred to many people, how can you point your finger at another individual whose beliefs hold to the opposite? How are you any different than the other individual?
Are we feeling that good old xian love yet?
“The greatness of every mighty organization embodying an idea in this world lies in the religious fanaticism and intolerance with which, fanatically convinced of its own right, it intolerantly imposes its will against all others.”
`Adolf Hitler