Student warns board removal of 'Drowsy Chaperone' scene risked future musicals, cites licensing process

Ian Gusturst, a Unionville High School senior and the lead in the recent production, told the board the removal of a scene from the musical Drowsy Chaperone raised both artistic and legal risks.

Gusturst said the excised scene was intended as a critique of past racist portrayals onstage and that removing it eliminated an opportunity for discussion. He told the board the alteration required careful handling because the show is licensed through Musical Theatre International (MTI), the licensing agency that holds performance rights and can deny future requests or take legal action. "The alteration of a musical is a complex process. And if it goes wrong, it threatens the future of all musicals at the school," Gusturst said.

He said the request to remove the scene was granted in this case, but noted that MTI responses can be slow or may not grant changes, which could disrupt performances or expose the district to contractual risk. Gusturst also criticized the local decision process for lacking transparency and said many participants in the production were not consulted before the change.

The student asked the board to ensure future decisions involving licensed works include directors and participants and to make the review process more transparent. Board members acknowledged the comment but did not announce formal policy changes during the meeting.

No formal motion or vote related to the musical was recorded in the meeting minutes; the student’s remarks were entered as public comment.