Superintendent Cancels High School Production of “Between the Lines” For Questionable Reasons

by Chris Peterson

After months of rehearsals, design meetings, and more than 160 hours of preparation, the theatre students at Mississinewa High School in Gas City, Indiana were gearing up to perform their fall musical, Between the Lines, over Halloween weekend at the Gas City Performing Arts Center.

Now, that performance will never happen.

On Thursday, Superintendent Jeremy Fewell announced that the district had canceled the show after “concerns were raised” about its content. He told local station Channel 27 that even with licensed edits, the musical still contained “sexual innuendos and alcohol references” he “couldn’t in good conscience allow in a public school performance.”

The decision, made two weeks before opening night, left students and parents stunned. Fewell said he consulted with the school’s attorney before making the call and later met with the cast to deliver the news in person. “They were understandably upset,” he said. “As a school system, we must do a better job approving productions earlier in the process so situations like this don’t happen again.”

Parents say they were blindsided. Many found out about the cancellation from their children rather than the school. They describe the move as heartbreaking, especially after months of effort, fundraising, and anticipation.

Fewell later announced that Mississinewa has implemented a formal script screening process for future productions to ensure content is reviewed earlier. He emphasized that the district “remains committed to supporting its Fine Arts students” and plans to select a new show soon.

But according to parents of students in the production who posted on social media, this controversy started when one parent filed a complaint about a character in the show who identifies as nonbinary. They say that a single complaint triggered an internal review and ultimately led to the show’s cancellation.

For those unfamiliar, Between the Lines is a musical adaptation of the novel by Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer. It follows Delilah, a shy high schooler who feels invisible in the real world and finds escape in her favorite fairy tale book. When the story’s prince, Oliver, begins speaking to her, fantasy and reality start to blend. Along the way, Delilah befriends Jules, a witty and creative classmate who identifies as nonbinary. The story is about finding courage, self-expression, and writing your own narrative—literally and metaphorically.

Fewell has not commented directly on whether the nonbinary character played a role in the decision, but the timing of the complaint and the abrupt cancellation have raised questions among students and parents alike.

For now, the superintendent says the district cannot sanction or facilitate a performance of Between the Lines, though parents are free to organize an independent production if they wish.

Following the school’s decision, Between the Lines songwriters Elyssa Samsel and Kate Anderson released a statement expressing their heartbreak and disbelief.

“As the songwriters for Between the Lines, we’re devastated for the students who’ve spent months prepping and rehearsing for the show. We believe (and we’ve had it echoed to us many times by audiences) that Between the Lines has such a positive message for all who see and hear it, so we’re hopeful that we can help the show have a production elsewhere.

In the comments section of the news article, one of the parents said another parent complained because a character in our show is gay. They believe this is the real reason for the show’s cancellation.

While that is speculative, it’s so heartbreaking to hear.

One of the characters in this show is Non-Binary (Jules, originally played by Wren Rivera). This is most likely the character that they’re referring to.

The problem with this kind of censorship is it does so much more harm than good. These students will not only suffer for not seeing the fruits of their labor come to fruition, but they’re also learning that certain stories deserve censorship. This only serves to isolate and divide.

We are premiering The Book Thief in London today - a show largely about book burning and censorship during WWII. The irony of this is not lost on us. It seems in this case that the opinion of one person will now have a ripple effect on many. Kids who could have seen themselves in this show will now be unable to hear the message. Anyone in that community who feels like the show got cancelled for reasons that reflect their identity will feel othered. All of these things are the opposite of Between the Lines’ message : Live the story you want if it’s not the story you’re in.

We really hope we can help this community find a way forward in sharing this production.”

In my opinion, this is not just about a canceled high school musical. It is about what happens when fear wins.

A single complaint about a character’s identity was enough to undo months of collaboration, creativity, and community. Think about that. One person’s discomfort erased the voices of an entire cast of young people who dared to tell a story about difference and belonging.

That is not education. That is erasure.

This decision doesn’t protect students; it isolates them. It tells them that inclusion has limits. It sends a message that representation is something to be ashamed of instead of something to celebrate.

And here is the most painful part. Between the Lines is a story about a girl who learns she doesn’t have to live inside someone else’s version of her story. She discovers her voice, her agency, her truth. These students were doing exactly that—until their district decided that the truth was too uncomfortable to stage.

They silenced a nonbinary character to feel comfortable, and in doing so, proved exactly why that character needed to exist in the first place.

Theatre is not dangerous. It is one of the few places where young people can safely explore empathy and identity. Silencing that because one parent is uncomfortable is not moral leadership. It is moral cowardice.

And the tragedy is that these students will remember this. They will remember the applause that never came, the stage that stayed dark, and the adults who failed to stand beside them. But they will also remember how this felt—and for some, that will become the spark that drives their art, their voice, and their courage for years to come.

Because you can cancel a show, but you can’t cancel a story. And stories like this always find a way to be told.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.