The cast of Shrek the Musical at Parker Arts’ Parker Schoolhouse Theatre did not fold when the town asked them to tone things down. Instead, the actors with Sasquatch Productions paused a sold-out Friday performance, told the audience exactly what was going on, then finished the climactic “Freak Flag” number waving Pride flags anyway. The production is still on the calendar through early February.
Town’s Request And The Cast Response
Parker Arts told the company it had fielded “a variety of complaints” about the Pride flags in the number and passed along a request from its Cultural Director that the performers consider swapping them out for single-colored flags, according to The Denver Gazette. Director Kelly McAllister called the call “disheartening” and told the paper the company seriously considered not performing at all if that request turned into a demand. Actor Lucas Barta said the outreach “weighed heavily on the entire company” and made them reconsider whether to continue the run.
Parker Arts’ Position And Inclusion Policy
Parker Arts emphasizes that when the Town presents a production, it serves as the presenter only and does not make or control creative decisions for independent companies. On its event page for the Shrek run, the organization posts venue details along with a “Welcomeness and Inclusion” policy that pledges to “create a space where all people feel heard and respected,” according to Parker Arts. The same page also lists showtimes and ticket information for the remaining performances.
Sponsorship Fallout And Onstage Protest
Once the cast went ahead with Pride flags in the “Freak Flag” number, briefly stopping the show to explain their choice to the audience, at least one visible supporter appeared to back away. By Saturday evening, promotional materials for the run no longer listed Denver Lutheran High School as a fiscal sponsor, according to The Denver Gazette.
Bekah-Lynn Broas, who leads that number, told the crowd that the cast would “respectfully, and peacefully, and with fire in our eyes, protest this request. We resist,” the paper reported. Videos shared after the performance appear to show the audience largely cheering the cast’s decision.
Why This Moment Resonates
For many community and school productions, the “Freak Flag” sequence has long been treated as a full-throated celebration of difference and belonging. Shrek the Musical was the most-produced high school musical in the 2013–14 season, according to BroadwayWorld, which helps explain why representation in that particular number can feel especially charged for local performers and families…