SHERMAN, Texas (KTEN) — The Sherman Independent School District announced Friday that the high school will stage a "new" version of the Broadway musical Oklahoma! in which "students will be able to play any part."

The district canceled the original December production earlier this week after Phillip Hightower said his transgender son had been cast for a male role in the musical and was later told he would not be able to participate.

"When they called me, it was, 'Max isn't a boy, essentially, so Max can't have this role,'" Hightower told KTEN.

The school district did not confirm that account, only to state that "the sex of the role as identified in the script will be used when casting."

On Friday, Sherman ISD said a new production of Oklahoma! will now be scheduled after January 15. The district's statement said, in part:

"After further review of the options available, the District plans to utilize a different version of the production. Our goal is to have a musical that showcases each student’s talents while also being age appropriate, with no concerns over content, stage production/props, and casting. 

By utilizing a new version that’s age appropriate, sex will not be considered when casting the new production. Students will be able to play any part, regardless of whether the sex of the character aligns with the sex of the student assigned at birth."

Sherman ISD welcomed comments on its new policy at the next meeting of the Board of Trustees on Monday at 5 p.m.

Here is the full text of the district's statement on Friday:

"Sherman ISD first wants our community to understand that there are often multiple versions of theater productions. The version of the musical production originally scheduled for December 8, 2023, at Sherman High School is intended for an older audience, and Sherman ISD strives to produce a musical suitable for all ages.

After further review of the options available, the District plans to utilize a different version of the production. Our goal is to have a musical that showcases each student’s talents while also being age appropriate, with no concerns over content, stage production/props, and casting. 

By utilizing a new version that’s age appropriate, sex will not be considered when casting the new production. Students will be able to play any part, regardless of whether the sex of the character aligns with the sex of the student assigned at birth. 

Sherman ISD values the diversity of our students and staff and knows this has been an especially difficult time for many of our students. The circumstances revealed the need to implement a more formal review process for theatrical productions and scripts. Moving forward, the District will have a tighter review and approval process, and we apologize that this was not already in place. 

We want to thank our community for the care and patience they have shown as we have navigated these difficult circumstances. The new production of the musical will be scheduled after January 15, 2024.

The Sherman ISD Board of Trustees will be holding its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, November, 13, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. Should an individual wish to speak at public comment they must follow the procedures for doing so. Public comment cards are available on the District website at www.shermanisd.net/board. Additionally, hardcopies may be obtained at the SISD Service Center located at 2701 N. Loy Lake Rd, Sherman, TX 75090. Completed cards must be submitted before the start of the meeting at 5:00 p.m. in order for an individual to address the Board. The meeting will be livestreamed on the District’s YouTube channel via this link."