School administrators are catching flack, but they are standing by their decision to make the homosexual-themed play mandatory for students.
"Zanna, Don't" is the name of the play, designed to show what some people in society do - engage in homosexual relationships.
But a scene featuring two male actors kissing was apparently too much for some students, who ran out of the Hartford Public High School auditorium.
About 40 students stormed out, and principal Adam Johnson says he was bombarded with calls and emails.
"Many people interpret this as advancing a political agenda, and that's not what my job is," he said. "But when I think about the world that our students live in and need to be prepared to be successful in, that's what this is all about."
Anti-gay marriage group Family Institute of Connecticut disagrees, saying school officials went too far.
At the first showing of the play, the auditorium was filled with more than 700 students, standing room only. But after a week of both positive and plenty of negative reaction to the performance, it remains to be seen how many of the seats will be filled for the second showing.
The play will be shown for students in the school Friday, but this time around, parents will be given the choice to opt their kids in or out.
