The Underground (In Syndication): Student Production of “Corpus Christi” Canceled after Protests

Playwright Terrence McNally, 70, the author behind the controversial "Corpus Christi." Photo credit: San Jose State University.

Tarleton State University directing student John Otte’s production of playwright Terrence McNally’s controversial “Corpus Christi,” has been called off by school officials in Stephenville, Texas, citing “safety and security concerns for the students as well as the need to maintain an orderly academic environment,” according to The Austin Chronicle.

The play was scheduled for performance last Saturday, but was canceled after it was met with heated and violent protests from Stephenville residents, as well as phone calls and e-mails sent to the office of university president F. Dominic Dottavio. Dottavio later released a statement saying that the play was not sponsored or funded by the university and Otte was solely responsible for any costs associated with the production.

Otte’s play was not open to the public and the University therefore initially defended his right to present the performance as a class project that was “not intended for the public anymore than a student’s math assignment.” The production was rescheduled for an 8 a.m. show time and then later canceled by Dottavio amidst threatening calls and e-mails.

Set in 1960’s Texas, McNally’s passion play depicts a gay Jesus (referred to as Joshua) who shares a homosexual relationship with the apostle Judas and even performs a same-sex wedding ceremony for two of his other apostles. In Otte’s version, Jesus and Judas share a kiss at the Pontius Pilate High School senior prom.

FOX News reported that Otte’s play even contained a few “controversial updates,” including Joseph (Jesus’ father) as an alcoholic wife-beater and Mary (Jesus’ mother) “giving birth alongside a chorus of moaning men.”

David Harris, pastor of Stephenville’s Hillcrest Church of Christ and host of a local radio show, said, “It infuriates me that somebody would be given a platform to be able to demean and degrade the Son of God. I’m angry about it and every Christian should be.”

Otte, 26, has openly declared himself both gay and a Christian. In a written statement, he defended his production, arguing that he hoped it would serve to “bring people together” and to promote the acceptance of gay Christians.

He also added that, “It is being said often that this play is a direct attack on Christians – their faith and their deity. It is simply not true. I’m not attacking anyone in choosing this play. I want people to see and understand another side to faith. I want us all to know that unconditional love means just that – unconditional – and I believe tolerance is a key message in this play. None of us, not one of us, should ever feel alone or separated from God or whomever we believe in.”

While several Tarleton students were among the protestors, many stood in support of the production and the university’s right to see it performed free of criticism.

“This is academia, and one of the attributes of academia is cultural diversity,” student Christopher Hepburn told WFAA News. “Having this shown is something we should embrace as college students.”

The content of the performance, however, drew strong remarks from Lt. Governor David Dewhurst. Last Friday in an open press release, Dewhurst stated:

“Every citizen is entitled to the freedom of speech, but no one should have the right to use government funds or institutions to portray acts that are morally reprehensible to the vast majority of Americans.

Texans don’t deserve to see their hard-earned tax money used to debase their religion. This lewd display runs completely contrary to the standards of scholastic excellence and common decency that we demand in our publicly-funded institutions for higher learning.”

The play ends in Jesus’ crucifixion, with a moniker above his head reading “King of the Queers.”

“And they call this art,” says Pastor Harris.