In regard to my decision to cancel the “Rocky Horror Show” play scheduled for production at the City of Carrollton Cultural Arts Center in Carrollton, Georgia — I feel that I, as your mayor, had no other choice.
It is true that this play was approved by the Carroll County Community Theater’s Board of Directors, a group charged with reviewing and approving plays scheduled to perform at the Cultural Arts Center. It is my further understanding that they did their job — they reviewed the content of the play and voted, with some reservations, to allow the request to proceed. The board issued instructions to “tone the content down” and to make the production more PG-oriented. The director of the play failed to do so, and in fact, took some liberties that headed the play in the opposite direction.
On Sept. 13, 2011, I was contacted by the city manager, Casey Coleman, who informed me that he had received a video of actors rehearsing a scene in the play, titled “Touch Me.” After reviewing this video, I was in absolute agreement with Mr. Coleman that this play could not be performed in the Cultural Arts Center. It is not an appropriate use of tax dollars, city property, city manpower or other city resources.
Later that same afternoon, the Carroll County Community Theater Board of Directors, at their meeting, supported this decision, as did the arts center manager, the director of the Recreation Department, and a majority of our City Council members.
Some people have stated that I violated their “First Amendment” rights, and I strongly disagree. This is not about “First Amendment” rights; it is about utilizing the proper venue. I sincerely believe in the “First Amendment,” and further believe that this group of individuals wishing to perform this play has every right to perform it in the proper setting. However, I do not believe that it is suited for our community-oriented Cultural Arts Center. Simply put, if it is to be performed, it should be held in an appropriate venue.
Wayne Garner
Mayor, City of Carrollton, Ga.
What is worse is that he takes cover in the first refuge of despots everywhere: “I had no choice. I did this to protect you.” In point of fact, the Mayor had many choices. The most sensible option would have been to voice concerns to the Director about the shows content and seek a quiet compromise. This was not done. The proper procedure would have been to voice concerns to the Board of Directors and let them do the job they were appointed to do: to balance the need for free expression with the values of the community. This was not done.
That he bypassed the Board strongly suggests that he knew that they would not have tolerated such political interference in their duties.
There is a long list of moderate choices that fall short of an outright ban. That the Mayor considered not even one of these is a singular failure of his leadership and a clear demonstration of his contempt for the citizens of Carrollton. He made a conscious choice to impose his idea of “community values” on us all.
I believe that Carrollton is a community whose values include free expression and mutual respect, two values the Mayor singularly seems to think we lack. I am heartened to see the large numbers of people rallying in support of freedom of expression and I hope that the Mayor will admit his mistake and reverse his decision. His actions have brought national attention to Carrollton in the worst possible way. Reversing his decision will help to heal at least some of the damage he has done to us all.
As for Mayor Garner, he has embarrassed himself and the city of Carrollton around the world. With this shameful, unAmerican act, he has shown himself to be the equivalent of the Taliban in America. I hope someone will run against him in the next election; I look forward to writing a check to that person's campaign.
Dear Mayor Garner,
Though I am sure you have received many letters and emails about this matter already, I hope you will take the time to read and consider this message. I am writing to express my disappointment at your recent decision to cancel the local production of The Rocky Horror Show. Although I am a relatively recent transplant to Carrollton, my time in this wonderful city has shown me an intellectually diverse community where people of all walks of life—young and old, parents and students, liberals and conservatives, artists and businessmen, you name it—live and work together in an atmosphere of tolerance and mutual respect. If I had to select a set of near-constant traits that characterize this diverse populace, I would point out an unflagging commitment to local culture and a zealous support for the arts. In order to properly represent this community, our local leadership must reflect these values. I personally disagree with your decision regarding the play, but I also find it jarringly out of touch with the Carrolton I have come to know and love.
I understand that in the past, the city has allowed and supported art that is targeted toward children and families, and I hope it will continue to do so. At the same time, I am confident that there is room for an adult-themed production in Carrollton as well. This is especially true of The Rocky Horror Show, a wildly popular and culturally significant work that has endured for nearly four decades. The thematic and stylistic content of the play are very well known, and no Carrolltonian lacks the powers of discernment to determine in advance whether this is something they want to see. If nothing else, this would have been a prime opportunity to test the waters, to see if a relatively uncontroversial play for mature audiences could find an audience in Carrollton. I believe the passionate backlash within the community, and equally passionate efforts to raise funds and find another venue for the production, prove that such an audience does exist here.
News of the cancellation has reached a number of widely-read national media outlets, and knowing that this is the first thing many people will hear about Carrollton makes me embarrassed for the city I have chosen to call home. More importantly, though, I wonder what effect this precedent will have on the city’s support for the arts going forward, and how a local leader could so flagrantly condescend to his constituents by denying them the chance to decide for themselves if this is appropriate material for public support. Please demonstrate respect for the intelligence and maturity of Carrollton’s adult theater-goers, and for the hard work of the Rocky Horror cast and crew, by reversing this decision.
Thank you for your time and consideration.