SHERMAN, Texas — Late Monday night, Sherman Independent School District board members voted to reinstate the original script and cast of "Oklahoma!" for the Sherman High School drama, reversing the school's controversial decision to recast and pause the production.
The board's reversal came after a heated meeting, where more than 60 people spoke in support of Max Hightower, a transgender senior cast in the musical.
Max's family gained public support after revealing administrators told them earlier this month the play would be postponed and recast and that students could only play roles that match their sex assigned at birth.
That affected not only Max, but several other students who were cast in roles opposite their sex.
The school later walked back its decision and said sex would no longer be considered in casting, but that the school would now produce a more “age-appropriate version of the play.”
That adjustment was not sufficient for several folks in the community, who showed up to Monday night's meeting.
Max’s dad, Philip Highwater, told the board that the version would cut his stage time and solo.
“This was the biggest role Max ever had, this was a solo,” he said. “This would’ve been the culmination of his career.”
Speaker after speaker slammed the district Monday, including Sherman graduates, taxpayers, actors and LGBTQ community members.
“I’m ashamed to see the bullies have moved from the hallways to the administration of this school,” one former Sherman student said.
“Reinstate the real version of 'Oklahoma!' and let the students sing!” a taxpayer said to applause.
“I’ve played male roles in the past and it was no big deal. And guess what? That’s theater!” one actress told the board.
“I’m transgender, I’m risking coming out to my entire homophobic family for this because this is a hill I will die on!” a member of the LGBTQ community said.
Following the public comment portion of the meeting, the board went into a private closed-door session to discuss the matter. Max told WFAA he had hope the board would reinstate the original script and cast.
“It was emotional and empowering," he said. "I didn’t expect there to be no hate at all. This is something that feels so big and out of my hands. To know there is a big group out of people who want to help me, and help everyone affected, it feels like we’re on even sides now and can actually win this fight.”
When board members returned, they unanimously voted to reinstate the original script and cast of the musical.
Following a 7-0 vote in favor of the motion, Board President Brad Morgan shared the following statement on behalf of the Board:
“We want to apologize to our students, parents and our community regarding the circumstances that they have had to go through to this date. We understand that our decision does not erase the impact this had on our community, but we hope that we will reinforce to everyone, particularly our students, that we do embrace all of our Board goals, to include addressing the diverse needs of our students and empowering them for success in a diverse and complex world. The Board is committed to uphold its ethical duties to include being continuously guided by what is best for all students in our District.”