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School officials canceled South Grand Prairie High School\u2019s production of the musical \u201cLittle Shop of Horrors\u201d after a girl was cast in the male lead role.<\/p>\n
Grand Prairie ISD<\/p>\n
Grand Prairie school district officials canceled a production of the musical \u201cLittle Shop of Horrors\u201d after a female student was cast in the male lead role, according to a social media post by the student and reporting from Star-Telegram media partner WFAA-TV.<\/a><\/p>\n Student Ana Mota, a senior at South Grand Prairie High School, was cast as Seymour<\/a> in the musical, she told the Dallas Morning News.<\/p>\n Mota had played male roles at least twice before, and was given the part after four days of auditions and \u201cthe same opportunity\u201d as everyone else, she wrote in a statement posted to her Instagram. About a week after earning the part, Mota was told she would no longer be allowed to perform as Seymour because of \u201ca decision made by the district and its legal team concerning Senate Bill 12,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n The bill, which went into effect last year, prohibits drag performances<\/a> on public property in the presence of minors.<\/p>\n District officials initially said Mota\u2019s role would be reassigned to a male student, but when Mota declined to accept a different part, the district decided to cancel the show outright, according to the Dallas Morning News.<\/p>\n \u201cI was upset,\u201d Mota told the Morning News. \u201cThis isn\u2019t drag at all.\u201d<\/p>\n In her statement, Mota noted that in August, U.S. District Judge David Hittner blocked the state from enforcing<\/a> the bill, ruling it unconstitutional and a violation of the First Amendment. Mota also argued that the district violated Title IX, a federal statute prohibiting public institutions from limiting participation in educational programs on the basis of sex.<\/p>\n In a statement, GPISD officials wrote that the decision to cancel the musical was made in light of the fact that the show contains sensitive themes like an abusive relationship. Additionally, the character of Seymour develops a romantic relationship with the show\u2019s female lead.<\/p>\n \u201cThis course of action does not diminish the accomplishments and the talents of these students,\u201d school district officials told WFAA. \u201cRather, we want to ensure that we do everything in our power to put them in a position to be successful while adhering to state and federal law.\u201d<\/p>\n This story was originally published October 13, 2026 at 5:48 PM.<\/p>\n Related Stories from Fort Worth Star-Telegram<\/p>\n