Texas school district suddenly cancels production of Little Shop of Horrors over female Seymour

A Texas school district suddenly censored a high school production of Little Shop of Horrors after a female student won the role of Seymour.

South Grand Prairie High School gave the leading role in the Howard Ashman-Alan Menken musical to Ana Mota, a senior who has performed male and female roles in school plays in the past, according to Dallas NBC affiliate KXAS. But this year, the Grand Prairie Independent School District stepped in after the casting decision and shut the whole production down.

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In a statement to local media outlets on Tuesday, district officials cited Texas’ sweeping “Don’t Say Gay” law that went into effect this year.

“Recently, a casting decision was made to place a female student in the role of a male character in the school musical. In the musical, a romantic relationship develops between the two main characters. When District leadership learned of this issue and, in consideration of themes in the musical involving an abusive relationship, a decision was made to pull that production and find something more appropriate. This decision was made in light of the District's ongoing effort to ensure its programs remain consistent with Senate Bill 12 and all applicable law,” the statement reads.

“This course of action does not diminish the accomplishments and the talents of these students. Rather, we want to ensure that we do everything in our power to put them in a position to be successful while adhering to state and federal law.”

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According to Mota, the issue has never been a concern with prior productions. She also suggested the casting of female students in male roles is more about practicality that politics.

“Last year we did Into the Woods, and in Into the Woods I played Jack, who is a male role," Mota said. "In high school theater there's sometimes a lack of males; you know, you only have so many people joining theater, and most of those people happen to be female."

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The unprecedented decision was remarkable for several reasons. While Little Shop does feature a plot involving abuse, chiefly between the female lead Audrey and boyfriend Orin Scrivello, the play doesn’t have explicitly LGBTQ+ content, despite being a breakout work by out librettist Ashman. The new Texas law cited in the statement has been used to shut down LGBTQ+ student clubs and restrict any school curriculum materials about sexuality or gender identity, but it says nothing about gender-neutral casting.

Mota’s mother, Nancy Jimenez, noted as much as she promised to stand beside her and ask district officials for sweet understanding instead.

“The law in itself doesn't even apply to this situation," Jimenez said. "In this climate that we’re experiencing now, there are a lot of things, a lot of laws that they’re attempting to really intimidate us and push us towards a corner. And I don’t think that is right.”