LAUSD Bans Musical Plays on American History in Charter Schools
The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has decided to prohibit a well-known series of fifth-grade musical plays centered on American history in local charter schools.
For nearly 30 years, students at Marquez Charter Elementary School in Pacific Palisades have showcased musicals that highlight key moments in America’s development. These productions include Philadelphia Miracle, which focuses on constitutional treaties; Hello, Louisiana!, which portrays Lewis and Clark’s journey; and Water and Electricity, about the Industrial Revolution. There’s also a fourth-grade play, Gold Dust and Bust, that centers on California history.
Co-written by Jeff Lantos, with music by the late jazz pianist Bill Augustine, these musicals have effectively communicated historical facts, contributing to Marquez students’ notable performance in history assessments.
According to a 2004 study from Marquez, students demonstrated more than double the success on history tests compared to peers from other schools.
In 2015, local ABC affiliate KABC-7 reported on a UCLA study that found Marquez students retained historical knowledge significantly better than those from similar socioeconomic backgrounds.
Janet Mills, a Marquez alumna from two decades ago, now a choreographer at UCLA, visits her former school to assist with choreography. She noted that many of her peers pursued careers in the performing arts influenced by their experiences at Marquez.
After a fire destroyed the school in January, students were able to perform at Stage Fox Studios in West Los Angeles. However, in a surprising turn, LAUSD plans to ban the theater program starting in the 2026-2027 school year.
District officials informed Marquez educators and Lantos that the musicals were deemed “not culturally relevant” and inappropriate for fifth graders.
After community pushback, it was suggested that the school could retain one production, Philadelphia Miracle, but only if the text was revised for political correctness.
For instance, descriptors like “deaf person” were not acceptable, and a character referred to as “Cutie Pie” by a male admirer was considered inappropriate. Furthermore, jokes about the three-fifths compromise and references to slavery were flagged. The district expressed concerns about simplifying the struggle over slavery to a “North vs. South” narrative, fearing it undermined the human element of that history. Officials also took issue with the portrayal of women during the constitutional convention.
Lantos shared that he had received complaints about a scene depicting African American slaves gaining freedom after crossing the Mississippi, performing dances with Native American women. This scene had been performed without incident for nearly three decades.
He mentioned being called into a meeting with several DEI specialists from LAUSD. Although he offered to revise the play, he hasn’t heard back from the district in 15 months.
A spokesman for LAUSD stated that no decisions have been finalized, acknowledging the importance of artistic engagement for students while expressing commitment to fostering these experiences.
According to Lantos, the district seems to overlook the communal excitement felt during performances. He reflected, “It’s as if they’ve missed the essence of the show entirely.” He noted that he hasn’t been allowed on campus until the issue is settled.
“We essentially deliver our version of Hamilton three times a year for fifth graders; it’s tough to envision anyone opposing this,” he added.
