‘Rent’ premieres at CdM

Excited, energetic cast members belted out their lines from the musical “Rent” in the theater of Corona del Mar High School hours before the first public performance Thursday evening, while a group of eight uniformed Newport Beach police officers got a briefing just outside.

The musical focuses on a group of Bohemians in New York City, several of whom are gay, as they deal with issues like drug addiction and AIDS.

Corona del Mar’s production of the “school version” has been a subject of national controversy for months since Principal Fal Asrani was accused of canceling it because of objections to its portrayal of homosexuality. Asrani has denied the charges. She declined to comment on her view of homosexuality, citing the district’s advice not to talk about the controversy.

Before the production she stood upbeat and smiling in the courtyard greeting students. Then she took her seat on the back right of the mostly filled 230-seat theater and watched the show.

“I’ve always supported [the production],” Asrani said. “I’m just waiting for my chance to speak.”

There was a palpable air of defiance in the voices of the cast members and the production was full of energy. Dancers writhed wildly and the characters flaunted some racy sexual gestures called for in the script.

All of the news cameras and heated debates of the past months have brought the students together like few catalysts could.

“This has been a major bonding experience for us,” said ensemble member Melissa Mooney. “It’s a great environment. Everyone is so passionate about this.”

Since the allegations of prejudice on the part of the administration, the ACLU has filed a lawsuit against the school claiming that its leaders have fostered an atmosphere of homophobia and bigotry.

Two protests are scheduled for before tonight’s performance: One is by an outspoken Kansas church that runs a website called godhatesfags.com and is flying half a dozen members to California; the second is a silent counter-protest organized by students who will be joined by a couple of local groups that champion gay rights.

Senior actor Emily Morris came up with the silent protest despite suggestions from friends who wanted to have a more confrontational demonstration. She started a Facebook group advertising it and said that more than 300 people had committed to come last time she checked.

Much like many of her fellow drama students, Morris sees the controversy as an opportunity.

“It’s really exciting because we’re able to reach more people this way,” she said.

Lori Rifkin, one of the lead ACLU attorneys on the case, said that the administration has not done nearly enough to support the cast members and the production.

The district released a statement Wednesday afternoon that said, “Although there has been controversy and circumstances associated with the selection and production of this particular play, the District and Corona del Mar Administration are very supportive of the drama department and the student cast members.”

Rifkin said the statement doesn’t go nearly far enough and an assembly or a public address should have been scheduled. Asrani should have talked directly to the students and condemned homophobia, Rifkin said.

“In light of the way the principal of the school invited this attention to the students putting on ‘Rent,’ there has been even more homophobia directed at them, and it’s incumbent on the administration to support the students and make sure that people know that homophobia will not be tolerated in this environment,” she said.

Newport-Mesa Unified School District spokeswoman Laura Boss said that the musical has the “full support of campus administration,” but the school is “not doing anything different than any other production.”

Director Ron Martin, who has been at the school for five years, has had a tense relationship with the administration.

“They haven’t been supportive. I’ve never had a lot of support here anyway, but at least they left me alone,” he said. “I’ve felt at any time that they could have canceled this play or fired me.”

Before curtain many of the students wore shirts designed by cast members that read “The first amendment is not for sale, it’s for Rent.”

Although some in the community have criticized the play’s content as inappropriate, fellow students have been overwhelmingly encouraging, most said.

Reporter ALAN BLANK may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or at [email protected].