The decision by two London, Ont. school boards to pull funding from a play about a teen boy's fight to bring his boyfriend to prom is a “bad move,” says the Greater Sudbury actor who played the lead role in its original run.
Alessandro Costantini, known locally as the founder of YES Theatre, was nominated for an award for his 2016 performance in “Prom Queen: The Musical” at Montreal's Segal Centre for the Performing Arts.
“It's like 'Oh come on, you guys, bad move on your part,'” Costantini said. “Anybody who would be upset would go see the play and no longer be upset. They would be enlightened, they would be educated.”
"Prom Queen: The Musical" tells the true story of Marc Hall, who fought a successful legal battle against the Durham Catholic District School Board to bring a same-sex date to his high school prom in 2002.
The production hit the news again recently after a decision by senior administrators at the Thames Valley District School Board and the London District Catholic School Board.
The school boards normally kick in a combined $30,000 towards the Grand Theatre's High School Project, a program that allows students to receive training in professional theatre.
The Thames Valley board said the play contained inappropriate language and didn't show adults in a positive light. Board officials say the move has nothing to do with the play's central theme.
Trustees, however, said they weren't made aware of the decision by senior administrators for some time after it happened, and planned to discuss the issue at their Jan. 23 meeting.
Costantini said he doesn't agree with the boards' reasoning for pulling the funding, and said it's rather ironic, given the play's theme.
“The word 'faggot' is said in the play, but it's very specifically used,” he said. “The writers aren't just throwing around this language for no reason.”
The play is actually very important for LGBT youth, Costantini said.
“When I was in Montreal, there was so many LGBT young people that came forward after the show who articulated that this was the first time in their life that there was a hero on stage that was like them,” he said.
“That's something that we're all entitled to, and as theatre artists, we have a responsibility to provide to people, no matter what the community is, because everyone is everywhere.”
Meanwhile, a crowdfunding campaign has raised more than $58,000 in two days for the Grand Theatre's High School Project so they can put on the play anyway.
As a result of the community support, the theatre said it will offer two student matinees free of charge to students.
“It's just inspiring,” Costantini said. “I was really moved when I looked online (and the crowdfunding was at $58,000). I thought 'This is incredible.'”
