-The old man standing beside me is actually Robin Hood,
but I don't know that yet.
-Some of the students who are doing the play --
we've been talking about that. We're like,
"It's just, like, a high school production,
but, like, at the same time,
it's not just a high school production anymore."
-A lot of times they think,
"Oh, I'm just a kid. I can't do anything about this."
We're making national news and stuff.
This is a big deal.
-High school students are pushing forward on their own
after their school canceled their spring play.
-I want kids around the country to see this
and be like, "These kids in Fort Wayne, Indiana,
went through this, so I can do it, too."
We were auditioning for "Marion,"
and the next day they talked to us
and told us that they didn't think
that we could do this production anymore
because community members expressed
that they did not think
that we should be putting on this play
because there were LGBTQ characters in it.
And it was defeating.
-I'm here to applaud whoever made the decision
to not do this play.
What we believe in is what the Bible says,
and the Bible says that homosexuality is a sin.
-I remember walking out, and everybody
was just talking about it,
and I just didn't say anything.
And as I walked out,
the further I walked away from that auditorium,
the more determined I felt to do something.
-We talked about it, where we could go from here,
what the logistics were like, where would we do it,
how would we get the money?
All of those adult things that us kids
don't really know how to do.
♪♪
-Yeah. -Okay. Perfect.
-Cool. So let's just do it a handful of times
till we feel comfy. Yeah? -Okay.
-I got involved when the high school teacher called me
and told me she would not be able to be involved,
but that she wanted to give it to someone that she trusted
and thought would honor it artistically.
Just trying to do it on a really quick clock,
not having a venue, not having any of the elements --
we didn't have costume stocks to pull from,
we didn't have sets, we didn't have a venue,
we didn't have anything.
And so time has been the biggest battle
because ultimately the community has been
really, really supportive.
-A lot of people automatically group theater
in with LGBTQ stuff or, like,
"Oh, you do theater? That's gay."
Stuff like that. You know, people will say that.
And I've gotten that a lot, actually.
So you want multiple shots in there?
-Yes. -Okay.
-I would love like three or four.
-Okay. Some of it's just, you know,
maybe ingrained homophobia, but at the same time,
part of it is because theater is inherently a place
where those who identify as queer,
it kind of just gives them an opportunity to have a voice.
-I mean, I don't feel like a man.
-Okay.
-I don't want to talk like a man or dress like a man
or drink like a man or kill like a man.
-I think canceling the play
was a way of censoring our voices.
"Marion" may be in a fictional world,
but it is very much about real people
and how they live their lives
and how they deserve to be represented
and they deserve to be seen.
[indistinct "Marion" dialogue]
♪♪
-We have sold out general admission.
I think everyone's a little nervous,
a little, like, on edge, just because it is a bigger show
than I think most of us have ever done.
-This will be a blueprint and an example
for other communities that are experiencing this,
when they have things shut down in any capacity
that there is a way.
[cheers and applause]
[indistinct shouting]
-Group hug!
[indistinct cheering and laughter]
-So do you like women?
-I like women.
[cheers and applause]
-As much as you like men?
-If that woman is you.
-I think that's how I feel, too.
Yes. That's how I feel, too.
[ Cheers and applause ]
-I'm just so immensely proud.
For me, what this show means is the success of my family.
You know, the kids in this show are my family.
I'm there for them and they're there for me.
And I'm just so incredibly proud of them.
♪♪