Carnegie Hall to Host Christian-Bashing Musical

(Hat tip: Custos Fidei)

From the Catholic League:

CHRISTIANS SAVAGED AT CARNEGIE HALL

January 22, 2008

One week from today, “Jerry Springer—The Opera” will open a two-day run at Carnegie Hall. Commenting on this is Catholic League president Bill Donohue:

“Never before in its illustrious history has Carnegie Hall been home to Christian bashing, but that is all about to change on January 29 and 30. Incredibly, it is allowing a patently obscene and viciously anti-Christian musical to be performed on its stage. Thus has it got into bed with the bigots, making a mockery of art in the process. This isn’t art—it’s license.

“Is it art when a world religion is trashed on stage in a totally obscene way? This is what the officers of Carnegie Hall seem to be saying, which is why they are allowing ‘Jerry Springer—The Opera’ to soil its stage next week. And do they agree with Max von Essen, the actor who plays a transsexual in the show? Here is what he told the Internet-site BroadwayWorld: ‘I’m a New Yorker. I’m liberal and open-minded. Things don’t really shock me. But I was reading the second-act today and thinking that if you’re religious, you could be. But you shouldn’t.’ (Italics in the original.)

“How telling. Max has a mind that is so open that it allows him not to be shocked at cultural assaults on someone else’s religion, even in instances when he is doing the trashing. When some are offended, he is just liberal enough to tell them they shouldn’t be. Is this the road Carnegie Hall wants to travel?

“Those who think that we are overreacting should read what ‘Jerry Springer—The Opera’ is all about. Click here to find out.”

Contact: publicaffairs@carnegiehall.org

My Comments:
Little-known fact about me ... I have performed on the stage at Carnegie Hall.

I used to think that was a big deal. But either the standards for what constitutes performance worthy of that venue have slipped, or they were never high to begin with.