A day after two London area school boards pulled their $30,000 in funding from a musical about a gay teen's fight to bring his partner to prom, an online fundraiser has quickly made up for the shortfall.
The Thames Valley District School Board and the London District Catholic School Board traditionally donate $15,000 each to the Grand Theatre's high school project -- a production staged by area secondary school students. But this year both boards, unhappy about some of the content of the selected play, decided to pull the funding.
The chosen production this year is Prom Queen, a musical based on the true story of Marc Hall, an Oshawa teenager who fought the Durham Catholic School Board in a bid to bring his boyfriend to prom in 2002.
The online fundraiser, titled "The Show Must Go On," surfaced on CanadaHelps.org after word of the boards' decision to pull the funding came to light on Wednesday.
Just after 10am on Thursday, the fundraising effort had exceeded its $30,000 goal, with 329 people and organizations donating $33,043. By Friday morning, the amount was approaching $54,000.
Many of the donations were accompanied by messages of support. One contributor wrote "all of my best to the entire cast and crew of Prom Queen. And to any LGBTQ2+ members feeling down, you are amazing and much loved."
Another wrote "Londoners support our LGBTQ2S+ youth even when our institutions don't. Can't wait to see Prom Queen at the Grand Theatre! #THELOUDERWEGET."
The donations came from as far away as Australia. The fundraising effort even caught the eye of Irene Sankoff, one of the playwrights behind the smash hit Come From Away. She kicked-in over $2,000 and wrote "let's teach them that theatre can change the world. #THELOUDERWEGET"
The annual high school project at the Grand has a budget of $250,000. All roles in the production from actor to stage management are filled by students.
Both boards have stated their decision to pull this year's funding is based on issues with the script.
"Sponsorship is a decision of the administration and I know the director of education consulted with the culture for learning staff," said Thames Valley Board Chair Matt Reid, who is openly gay. "They did a thorough review of the script and there was a lot of concerns with the messaging, not about the LGBT issue, it is really about how adults and authority figures are portrayed in this play. It would leave many students thinking that they aren't able to trust the adults in the schools."
Reid expressed pleasure at seeing how successful the public funding campaign, initiated by digital firm retraction, has been.
"I think it is an important play, there is an important story there and I do hope our schools are talking about what exactly went on in 2002," said Reid.
Ed DeDecker, superintendent of education with the Catholic board, echoed that his board shares the same concerns as Thames Valley surrounding the dated perceptions the play contains.
"When a play is based on a true story doesn't mean that all of the things that happen or the way that all persons are portrayed are necessarily correct," said DeDecker. "[The play] very much feeds on dated perceptions - a priest who is highly conservative, rigid, not compassionate; a church that is not accepting, not inclusive, not welcoming; a principal who is fixated on rules for the sake of rules with no indication for their care or concern for students. Those are obviously counter to what we are trying to achieve in our schools each and every day."
DeDecker said there was fear the play damages the trust schools are trying to build between students and faculty. He also spoke highly of the board's longstanding relationship with the Grand Theatre and stressed the board will not stand in the way of any student who wishes to participate in this year's production.
"Our students have had a wonderful opportunity to participate with a professional organization like the Grand and professional directors, playwrights, musicians and that is an opportunity we very much value," he said.
Reid also pointed out that the Thames Valley board will continue to support the Grand in other areas, most recently donating $10,000 for the 100 Schools Spring Tour, which brings professional theatre productions to 100 elementary schools in the London-area at no cost to students.