I'm disappointed that the author of this piece chose to quote commenters (from Mr. Crosby's original letter) who hadn't seen the performances, and apparently didn't have any connection to the school or even know any kids in the performances. Uninformed opinions should not be considered credible sources in the quest to provide "both sides" of the story.
To Mr. Crosby: I understand that you wouldn't want your daughter is a seen with "hookers." However, I saw no one who was playing anything remotely like that--only some sass (and some incredible voices). Are you sure your daughters didn't ask about that term because of some other kids? I know my own child has come home and asked about things that I wasn't prepared to discuss because of conversations at school. Unfortunately, that's part of being a parent in the world.
Theater is about dressing up and pretending to be something you're not. When you say that it's not appropriate for 10 yr olds to act like the Supremes, I wonder: what *would* be okay for 10 yr olds? I can't think of much more innocuous than the Supremes, given the popular singers and songs of today. I definitely agree that we need to be concerned about the over-sexualization of our kids (girls, especially). But I don't think that a school Broadway production is one of the things we have to worry about. I'd ask you to take a good look at the music your kids listen to, the TV they watch, and the toys they play (or played) with, and think about the messages that are being bombarded, constantly, through these media. The book "Cinderella Ate My Daughter" is a great resource for discerning what is--and isn't--appropriate for our kids as they grow.
I congratulate Ms. Davis, Ms. Durkin, and all the Arts Alive community on a great and inclusive performance. There were a few moments that made me raise my eyebrows, true--and so next time, if my daughter chooses to be in a show, I'll pay closer attention to the entire script--not just her parts. And maybe I'll go to a rehearsal or two. And if I have a problem, I'll raise it with the Arts Alive staff and the school administration.
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