Ohio school district cancels 'vulgar' musical because it featured Jesus and two ... trends now

An Ohio school district has canceled a school's planned musicals after officials deemed the production - which features several gay characters and a cameo from Jesus Christ - 'not family-friendly.'

Officials from the Cardinal Local Schools District aired the decision in a letter to parents Monday, slamming Cardinal High School's spring production, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

In addition to taking issue with the Jesus scene and the presence of two gay men as characters - described by the district as 'vulgar' - the board also aired concerns over a song titled 'My Unfortunate Erection.'

Organizers, meanwhile, maintain the production had been using a school-friendly version of the Tony Award-winning tune, titled 'My Unfortunate Distraction.'

Already several months - and hundreds of dollars - into the production, students and parents are already expressing their frustrations. The district, meanwhile, has stood behind its decision, asserting that anyone alleging discrimination is 'mistaken.'

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'When we found out it was canceled, everybody was just heartbroken,' said Riley Matchinga, a senior who was playing a lead role in the musical comedy told local affiliate Fox 8 of the school's decision.  

'Honestly, it was terrible. Everyone was just crying,' the teen said, appearing alongside her mother Mandi, the musical's assistant director.

Mandi Matchinga added that she was left stunned Monday when she learned the production was to be halted, with the mom claiming that the school - one of five in the district's jurisdiction - had already given the play a greenlight months ago.

The district, however, maintains that the musical was never approved by the school board, revealing it its statement it had 'received a complaint from a resident on January 11.'

The statement, penned by superintendent Jack Cunningham, added that other families registered concerns about the production, over some of the songs and themes present in the musical, which is based on a play penned by Rachel Sheinkin.