| Playwright Linda Felton Steinbaum was so intrigued | | | | prove their masculinity. Many young boys may be |
| with the rush of female teachers charged with sexual | | | | physically ready but not emotionally ready for an |
| misconduct against their male students that she was | | | | intimate sexual relationship." "I researched this topic |
| moved to write a play, Mustang Sally, addressing the | | | | exhaustively," says Linda, "and have done my best to |
| manifold issues and inequities of the trend. The cases | | | | present a typical case of female teachers involved |
| are almost too numerous to list," says Linda. "What's | | | | with sexual misconduct (statutory rape) with male |
| even more surprising is how young a lot of the victims | | | | minors in the play. The psychological term for the |
| are. Most of us assume that if a female teacher 'falls' | | | | condition is 'hebophilia', which is sexual attraction to |
| for an underage boy, he must be very mature and | | | | adolescents, or postpubescent minors. It's happening |
| near adulthood. Not so. Surprisingly, the majority of | | | | more often than you might think, and it disturbs me that |
| these teens are still are gangly, awkward children." | | | | this can be lightly laughed off by society. We need to |
| Here are some of the cases that caught the | | | | protect our sons as well as our daughters. What |
| playwright's eye - all are teachers; Lakina Stutts, age | | | | message are we sending other female teachers who |
| 40 with a 14 year old student, Deana Bobo 37, sex | | | | might find themselves 'attracted' to their young male |
| with 14 year old, Mary Kay Letourneau was 34 when | | | | students when men convicted of statutory rape are |
| she had sex with a 12 year old, Bethany Sherrill 24 | | | | sentenced to 10 or more years in prison while women |
| with 14 year old, Kelly Lynn Dalecki 28 with 13 year old | | | | offenders normally get probation or house arrest?" As |
| boy, Sherry Brians 41-- with a 12 year old, Pamela | | | | Matthew Felling, media director of the Center for |
| Turner 27 -- 13 year old boy, Susan Eble 35 -- 14 year | | | | Media and Public Affairs said, 'The main dichotomy is in |
| old, Tara Lynn Crisp 29 -- 14 year old Laura Lynn | | | | coverage - men are demonized, women are |
| Findlay, Carol Flannigan 50 -- 11 year old former | | | | diagnosed. Men are beasts, but women are troubled, |
| student, Moan Marie Sladky, and let's not forget | | | | or mentally ill." The play, Mustang Sally, has attracted |
| infamous Debra LaFave, the 25 year old blond | | | | top theatrical director Arturo Castillo to helm the |
| bombshell teacher of Tampa, FLA, who pleaded guilty | | | | project. Arturo has directed shows in many large |
| to having sex with a 14 year old boy. The list goes on | | | | Equity venues including the National Theatre in London. |
| and on. Forensic psychologist Louis B. Schlesinger at | | | | As producer, I can say we are very excited to have a |
| the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, | | | | director of Arturo's caliber committed to this production. |
| is quoted in a Fox News story, "Older women involved | | | | I have worked with Arturo before and, like me, he only |
| with underage males is nothing new. That's been going | | | | commits to significant works that highlight truth or |
| on many, many, many years. The general view is that | | | | expose a real need in society. The message of the |
| it's a right of passage… the guy is lucky. Some | | | | play, the not so rare occurrence of female teachers |
| adult men and women are attracted to teenagers," | | | | accused of sexual misconduct with male students |
| said Schlesinger. "These are teachers with boundary | | | | (which is most likely grossly underreported), deserves |
| problems. Their boundaries are very fluid." (article | | | | as much attendance as possible. Therefore, in July, we |
| written by Catherine Donalson-Evans, published 12 Feb, | | | | will look for name talent to portray the two leads; the |
| 2005) "Still, it's a crime if the boy is underage," says | | | | teacher Kathy, 31 and her stressed older sister, |
| Linda, "even if the sex is consensual." She goes on to | | | | Elizabeth, 35." Mustang Sally opens Oct 13, 2007 at |
| say that these boys are often confused by messages | | | | The Whitefire Theatre in Sherman Oaks, CA for a six |
| they see in movies, tv and the media. And the | | | | week run. The Whitefire, celebrating its 25 anniversary |
| repetitive tacit message is this - if they are offered | | | | this year, is one of the nicest AEA 99-seat houses in |
| sex, especially from an authority figure, they must | | | | LA. For info, visit or for reservations, call 866-811-4111. |
| submit, whether they want it or not, to comply and also | | | | |