Creation of the World and Other Business
Date: 2003
Region: North America
Subject: Political/Economic/Social Opinion Religious
Medium: Theatre
Artist: Authur Miller, author (1915 - 2005), Dan A.R. Kelly, director
Confronting Bodies: President of Greenville Technical College and two opening night audience members.
Date of Action: May 8, 2003
Location: Greenville Tech Barton Campus, Greenville, South Carolina, USA
Description of Artwork: The Creation of the World and Other Business is a dramatic comedy based on a non-traditional interpretation of the Book of Genesis. The cast in this particular production included a woman in the role of God and black men in the roles of Adam and Abel.
The Incident: The play (written by Arthur Miller and performed on Broadway in 1972) was directed by Dan A.R. Kelly and opened at Greenville Technical College on May 7, 2003. The next day, after a complaint about its content, The Creation of the World and Other Business was cancelled. The official reason was that the incomplete paperwork presented had violated scheduling policies. Furthur study of the situation by the National Coalition Against Censorship found no major error with the submitted paperwork, terms of agreement, or other 'problems' named by the President of Greenville Technical College. NCAC urged the colledge to allow the performance to move forward to no avail.
Results of Incident: Performance was not allowed to move forward.
Source: Metrobeat (Mid- May editions. Greenville, SC) http://cotu.monoxyde.org
