Tullahoma Religious Leaders Oppose RENT Production

A Tullahoma community theatre has met with religious opposition to its upcoming production of RENT. A few pastors from around the area have sent emails around the city citing that the Performing Arts for Children and Teens (PACT) at the South Jackson Civic Center's July musical, is unsuitable for the age group involved.

One unnamed pastor elaborated on the content included in the show, describing it as, "a musical about a group of college age students who choose to live a "bohemian" (sexually, morally, and legally permissive lifestyle in New York City)."

"While I have no objection to a theater group selecting and performing any musical or play they choose," he clarifies. "This is our own (Tullahoma) theater group! What is worse is that this play was selected for PACT. The acronym stands for "Performing Arts for Children and Teens."

Citing this email, another pastor, L. Wayne Wester, wrote his own chain, which concluded with, "Really? Do you agree with me and many of my fellow Pastors and concerned parents that this is inappropriate for such a group? If you do...speak up about it!"

Click here to read the full emails.

PACT's production of RENT runs July 10-19 and stipulates that attendees must be 18 or over. Click here for more information on the show.

Source: Howard Sherman