Why Community Standards Matter When Public Venues Market Events as “Family-Friendly”

By: Dikki Schober | Commentary, FAIR Colorado

Recent controversy surrounding a production of Shrek the Musical at the PACE Center in Parker has reignited an ongoing debate in Douglas County: how should publicly-supported institutions navigate community standards, parental expectations, and artistic expression—especially when events are marketed as “family-friendly”?

This discussion is not unique to Shrek, nor is it limited to one performance or one community. In recent years, Douglas County residents have raised concerns about programming promoted as appropriate for families that, upon closer review, did not align with many parents’ reasonable expectations. The Shrek controversy fits within this broader pattern—not because of hostility toward the arts or toward any particular group, but because of unresolved questions about transparency, neutrality, and trust in shared civic spaces.

At the center of the issue is a musical number titled “Freak Flag,” a song that appears in many productions of Shrek the Musical and emphasizes themes of belonging and self-acceptance. In numerous stagings across the country, this number is performed without overt political or activist symbolism. In Parker, however, the inclusion of a Pride flag during the performance sparked objections from some audience members who believed such imagery crossed a line—particularly in a production advertised as family-friendly and hosted in a publicly-supported venue.

PACE officials later confirmed that they had asked the production to keep the staging neutral following complaints. Despite this request, the performers chose not only to proceed with the Pride flag imagery, but to break the fourth wall and directly address the audience, explaining their decision. That moment is significant, because it transformed what might have remained an artistic disagreement into a civic one. The issue was no longer simply about stage design; it became about process, expectations, and respect for a shared audience that includes families with children.

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