To Parents And Other Neighbors – Benefit Performance

The Wayland High School Theater Ensemble is proud to present their original play – To Parents and Other Neighbors.
Based on true events, this historical story unfolds in Wayland, Massachusetts during the height of the Red Scare. When an FBI agent delivers a confidential file to the local School Committee, the town is forced to confront a troubling revelation: Anne Hale, a beloved second-grade teacher, was once a member of the Communist Party.
As McCarthyism tightens its grip in the spring of 1954, parents, educators, and neighbors must wrestle with fear, loyalty, and conscience—and answer a question that divides the community: Is Anne Hale fit to teach their children?
This play has earned top honors in the Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild 2026 competition, advancing to the state finals at the John F. Kennedy Theatre in Boston on Friday, March 27 at 8 PM. Devised and created by the student cast, the production brings to life a true story from Wayland, grounded in rich historical detail.