Posted on 01/29/2011 7:03:30 PM PST by FortWorthPatriot
University of MT - Missoula.
University of Colorado - Boulder.
University of Texas - Austin.
[quote]
Dear XXXXX,
First of all, thank you for taking the time and effort to write your letter. Even when someone writes to express great displeasure, as you have, I am grateful that you let us know how you felt .and that you have the right to do so .that you helped secure the right to do so. I thank you for your service to us all. I feel that there may not be much I can say or tell you to make you less angry right now, and it is not my intention to defend or explain any actions at the moment, but I do want to make a distinction or two for the moment:
*The Mikado is not ever presented as a childrens theatre play. The production in question is an offering of the MCT Community Theatre, which produces main-stage shows such as Fiddler on the Roof, White Christmas, Jesus Christ Superstar and many other well-known and sometimes lesser-known show titles. The original letters to the editor on Friday referred to it as a childrens theatre production, which I believe was accidental on the part of the writer, but nonetheless, didnt help this situation, as it gave a false impression of the material.
*I cannot speak for the left, the right, or any other socio-political group. Neither does MCT, inc. I believe we can all learn from anything we go through to be more civil, more understanding and less accusatory.
*There was no intention or attempt to be a part of they by using the common-day references thathave been removed from the production. On a day-to-day basis, we try to keep politics out of our workplace and I can assure you that there is no one, common political opinion that exists in our organization. The same is true of our volunteer performers in the MCT Community Theatre productions .
*Purely in the fyi category, I would be happy to share with you the context of the lyrics, within the story line .but you may already be learned about Gilbert & Sullivans production and the modern-day references about situations and the kinds of things that are very high-profile in their ability to bring controversy (ie: people who talk on cell phones all the time, ignoring the clerks, or those who dont yield at Round-abouts, etc ). Please know that I am not making an excuse for what I believe, personally, was a lack of judgment, but I remind people all the time that knowing the context of a comment---though it may still bring discord---still helps us understand the intention.
I appreciate your frustration and that all finger-pointing about the causes of things should really cease. Though I was not a part of the decision to go with the lyrics in the first place, nor to change/remove them from the show, I know there was no malice intended. From what you said in your note, I expect this may not mean much at this point. But, I was very pleased the lyrics were removed from the production and I now hope that ---as we have acknowledged our responsibility for this, and offered our apologies and regret that this even occurred, that we can learn from this week together and move on to a better day.
Again, please know that I am grateful that you gave us (me) an opportunity to respond, with at least some thoughts on this situation. I am hopeful that people will not judge the immense value of this company that has been around for 40 years, that I love and have served for 20 of those years on the matter of the four words in question.
Thank you so much for your time. I have copied below the note from our Executive Director which has been submitted to the Missoulian, as well as posted on our website.
Terri
Ms. Terri Elander
International & Public Relations Director
Missoula Children's Theatre
200 North Adams Street
Missoula, MT 59802
ph 406-728-1911, ext 232
fax 406-721-0637
telander@mctinc.org
www.mctinc.org
From Michael McGill, MCTs Executive Director:
I am sorry that the satirical reference to Sarah Palin has offended some of our patrons. Gilbert & Sullivan were well-known as satirists, addressing the social and cultural issues of their dayaristocracy, government, etc . Some of the lyrics performed in The Mikado around the country today reflect the issues and topics of our time. We know that MCT means many things to many peopleand we are blessed with passionate, loyal audiences, here in Missoula and around the world. In this instance, however, we are talking about an MCT Community Theatre production (not to be confused with a Missoula Childrens Theatre production). Although MCT Community Theatre did not pen the lyrics that were found to be offensive, we have taken the action of removing them from this production. It is my hope that the audiences will appreciate the hard work, artistry and beauty within this MCT Community Theatre production of The Mikado.
Michael McGill
Executive Director
MCT, Inc.
[end quote]
Thanks for the ping Bay.
I saw this yesterday and
it is dispicable. It is
“Lord of the Flys” and
proof that we DEVOLVE.
I FOLLOW PALIN!
She’s the only one leading!
The snotty little s**t has responded here: http://www.mctinc.org/uploads/docs/InMissoula/MCT%20Community%20Theatre%20Mikado%20Response.pdf
First he tries to palm it off on the fact that the play was originally written by Gilbert & Sullivan who were “well-known as satirists” - and of course, their violent anti-Palin remarks were just “satire” in the same vein.
Of course, he also takes great pains to point out that it was the Missoula community theater, not the Missoula childrens theater, that put on this bit of incivility; as if that ought to make all the difference in the world. And, gee, how gracious it was of them to remove the offending lyrics.
If anything, this letter makes him into even more of a turd than he was at first.
[... Is it a means of desensitizing
kids to the slaughter of human beings? ...]
Too late.
We already murder over a million
unborn human beings every year.
It amazes me that Mark Twain is censored yet works like The Mikado can be "brought up to date" and few seem to care.
Instead of Sarah how would it be if she was replaced by Barak Hussein Obama, Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi or someone else on the left?
Bet the moonbats would be howling.
Do I smell hypocrisy here? Peeeuuuu I think I do.
BTTT
Cure that; defund the National Endowment for the "Arts". Let those who want left wing theater, art, music and literature support it voluntarily.
Of course you can! I'm sending it to Quinn.
I miss Protest Warrior.
:0(
I think the city of Missoula probably owns the thing.
In The Mikado, the Lord High executioner is a comedic figure.
I always thought of Missoula as a mining town, but apparently the hub of it is the university now, filled no doubt with moldering, ‘60s retreads and students they’re eager to brainwash.
Its not a school. Its a municipal theater apparently. Its not a play BY children but FOR children. They probably bussed in all the school kids for the show.
Credit where credit is due; at least they did respond.
Okay, I’m glad its not a children’s theater.
I still hope they aren’t or funded by the government local or otherwise.
People should just boycott and shun them, maybe complain to the FBI.
Use both barrels on the perp?
Your typical leftwingtard never had any humanity.
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