A new play about teaching. Teach creationism in her science class. William Missouri Downs

DEAD WHITE MALES

(A Year In The Trenches Of Teaching)

A Dark Comedy By William Missouri Downs

Dead White Males is a contemporary, issue-oriented, dark-comedy about the religious right, our schools, and the politics of teaching. The play uses epic theatre staging techniques to tell the story of Janet Greenberg, a young, idealistic, first year teacher who struggles against a school board dominated by the religious right. They wants to ban sex education, Holden Caulfield and evolution from the classroom.

Janet learns how to write a "proper" self evaluation, how to censor musicals so that they are fit for "young minds", how to deal with countless new mandates, endless curriculum changes, petty political games, all the while learning how to cover her ass in a world dominated by constant accountability. When Doris, Janet's best friend, has a nervous breakdown (while being forced to teach creationism in her science class) Janet is called to testify against her. She must name names or lose her own job. In the end, Janet learns why there aren't a lot of risk-takers in teaching.

(4 Women – 3 Men – Simple Set)

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