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