'Rent' Will Go On at THS

"Rent" is back on track for Trumbull High School, but the proposed schedule is already creating an issue.

First Selectman Tim Herbst spoke on WICC Monday night. A letter from Principal Marc Guarino was issued about 4 p.m. Tuesday.

"The learning opportunities are essential. To plan for these, I will be working collaboratively with various groups," Guarino said in his letter.

He concluded, "I believe that this process can be accomplished during the 2013/2014 school year if the performance dates can be delayed to Wednesday, April 30, dress rehearsal, through Sunday, May 4."

Supporters who heard Herbst Monday night were pleased at first, but by Tuesday afternoon, Guarino's plan was already meeting with criticism from Jonathan Tropp, one parent of two THS thespians.

Tropp said on WICC Tuesday afternoon that he was "frustrated" with Guarino's proposed schedule. Between a planned trip to London, AP exams and the Annual "We the People" Competition, "the kids will be entirely consumed," he said.

He added that he did not feel the new schedule was deliberate. He hoped to have further talks with Herbst and school officials on the matter.

How It Began

At first, just before Thanksgiving, Guarino cancelled the production, citing numerous issues such as lack of  a school-wide "plan" for staging the show, which covers homosexuality, drug use and HIV/AIDS. He also said he was not consulted in the show's selection.

Herbst later suggested that the Trumbull Youth Association perform the show. And on Monday, the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam offered its stage.

Initial response to Herbst's Monday Night Announcement

"We were elated to hear this evening on the radio, directly from him, that he and Principal [Marc] Guarino are committed to bring RENT to the THS auditorium this academic year," they said Monday night.

"We are grateful that our voices and the voices of our children have been heard and for the support of our First Selectman," said the parents who wrote the letter. "We are willing to roll up our sleeves to work with the high school administration to accomplish this.

"This production had long been planned, and we are confident that it can be ready to go in March as scheduled so that our children, who have numerous heavily demanding curricular and extracurricular activities later in the year, including We the People, and spring athletics and music activities, not to mention AP exams in May and final exams in June, will be able to participate."  

"We look forward to a further positive announcement and to joining Mr. Herbst in the auditorium to celebrate Trumbull’s production of Rent, and we are hopeful to be able to join him as well in celebrating additional Connecticut High School Music Theater awards for Trumbull."

The letter was signed by "TRUMBULL PARENTS FOR RENT": Andrea Gottschall; Dan Gottschall; Gina Gallo; Tim Gallo; Lauren Tropp; Jonathan Tropp; John Blyberg; Virginia Ell; John Ell; Jackie Madwed; Jane Helfgott; and Annette Clift.