New York Superintendent Bans Swastikas From High School Production of THE PRODUCERS

The public display of a swastika, the symbol of Hitler's Germany, naturally brings up heated emotions. Even when a musical like Mel Brooks' THE PRODUCERS figuratively spits on it, gleefully attacking the Nazis with ridicule, there are those for whom the symbol will always serve, in any context, as a reminder of unspeakable atrocities.

When THE PRODUCERS played on Broadway, Brooks insisted that photos and video clips from the famous "Springtime For Hitler" production number not be used for promotions. When the show came to Germany, where displaying a swastika is illegal, armbands and banners were decorated instead with a pretzel.

So when a photo of New York Rockland County's Tappan Zee High School's set for their upcoming production of THE PRODUCERS, which played this past weekend, showed the Nazi symbol on display, it was brought to the attention of South Orangetown Superintendent Bob Pritchard, who insisted they be removed.

"There is no context in a public high school where a swastika is appropriate," says Pritchard.

Student performer Tyler Lowe, who is Jewish, insists "It's satire, not supposed to be taken seriously."

A CBS News report on the issue is followed by the school's promotional video showing students in rehearsal.