Santa Rosa High School Theatre's "Dog Sees God" Will Be Allowed to Perform, with restrictions
by Chris Peterson, OnStage Blog Founder
Following the uproar over their decision to cancel Santa Rosa High School’s production of “Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead”, the school district is reversing course and allowing it to be staged at the school, but only for audiences 16 and older. Officials did not say when those performances could happen.
“While the parents of the students performing in the play were informed of its content and provided consent, we recognize that the same opportunity was not given to all parents whose students may have attended without their supervision,” said Santa Rosa City Schools Board President Omar Medina and Superintendent Daisy Morales in a joint statement Saturday morning.
The decision was “not made out of censorship but out of caution and concern,” they said.
Officials pulled the plug on the show after opening night’s performance after complaints were made. District officials would not say who complained. The students were notified Friday morning that they could not stage their next three scheduled shows.
The play, a modern reimagining of the beloved Peanuts characters as teenagers facing real-world issues, had been chosen to spark meaningful discussions about mental health, bullying, and self-acceptance.
The complaints deemed the material "obscene" and "offensive," citing its candid portrayal of sensitive topics like sexuality, substance abuse, and mental health struggles.
The cancellation sparked a heated debate across the district, with many arguing that the decision was an act of censorship that denied students the opportunity to explore difficult conversations through art.
According to reports, a local theatre, The Mercury Theatre, had volunteered their space to allow the students to perform the rest of the run. With this new development, it’s unclear is that will happen at the Mercury.
As I mentioned in the earlier piece, while “Dog Sees God” is certainly a more mature selection for high school theatre, I encourage more schools to do the same.
Tackling complex themes helps students grow as artists and individuals, encouraging critical thinking, empathy, and open dialogue. When schools support age-appropriate, thought-provoking content, they create opportunities for deeper engagement with the arts and the world around them. Mature material allows students to explore diverse perspectives, cultivate emotional intelligence, and prepare for real-world experiences.
By trusting students to handle these stories responsibly, high school theatre programs can foster a more inclusive, vibrant, and impactful arts education that resonates with audiences and empowers the next generation of artists.
I’m thrilled for the students at Santa Rosa that they will be able to finish their performance run of this show.
UPDATE: according to reports, the students were able to complete their performance run of the show at the mercury theater this weekend.