From staff reports

A group of Carroll High School students will present the play “Marian, or The True Tale of Robin Hood” at 7 p.m. May 20 at the Foellinger Theatre, 3411 Sherman Blvd., Fort Wayne.

Tickets are available at marianlives.org, at https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/05005EAA98EC5006, or in person at the Parks and Recreation office at 705 E. State Blvd. (credit card only).

Students moved to produce the play independently after the school administration canceled the play, which explores gender-focused themes. Students quickly surpassed their $50,000 goal. The gofundme account has exceeded $82,000 as of 9 a.m. Monday.

The cancellation came into focus at the Feb. 27 meeting of the Northwest Allen County School Board. Twenty-nine people signed up to speak about the play. Some parents spoke in favor of the cancellation, stating it would have forced the idea of same sex relationships onto students. Others spoke against the cancellation.

“To hear that that was canceled that Friday morning when the cast list was supposed to be posted that night or Monday morning was really disheartening,” Carroll student Marissa Carroll said at that time.

“We’re supposed to be a community,” Carroll said. “That’s NACS entire thing, is that we’re a community that helps people and makes everybody feel that we have a safe space and that was kind of disregarded.”

Superintendent Wayne Barker said the play was canceled due to issues it created among students.

A news release from Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation offered this description of the play: “A gender-bending, patriarchy-smashing, hilarious new take on the classic tale. Robin Hood is (and has always been) Maid Marian in disguise, and leads a motley group of Merry Men (few of whom are actually men) against the greedy Prince John.”