The anti-gay Liberty Counsel is releasing a feature film early next year about high school students putting on a religious-themed theater production at their public school.
The Christian conservative legal foundation released the trailer to "Uncommon," which stars Erik Estrada as a principled janitor who helps the students put together the Bible-based production.
The theme is in line with Liberty Counsel’s goal to allow students and school employees to promote religious beliefs in public schools.
“Religious liberty in public school is certainly a fitting topic for our first feature film,” said Mat Staver, Liberty Counsel founder and chairman. “Many of the calls Liberty Counsel receives are from parents and students whose speech and religious viewpoints are being censored in the public schools.”
According to its IMDB.com page, "Uncommon" will depict students at fictional Rosewood High School as they work to create their own theater, music and dance departments after they are eliminated due to budget cuts.
“Struggling to find the right script, music and choreography the students get advice from an uncommon source: the Bible,” writes Daniel Bowden on IMDB.
But school administrators push back, telling the students they’re not permitted to discuss their religious beliefs during school hours.
“Fighting overwhelming challenges, the teens fight against political correctness to defend their privilege to worship, meet and perform,” Bowden writes on IMDB. “Will months of constant bullying by the establishment defeat the production and dismantle their faith?”
The trailer indicates the film’s climactic scenes will include courtroom scenes featuring Staver arguing on behalf of the students.
There’s also a Latino dance scene and some words of wisdom from actress Irma P. Hall, who starred in “Soul Food.”
The movie also stars Ben Davies (“Courageous”) and Grammy-winning Christian musician Jason Crabb, and it’s scheduled to open Jan. 18.
Its producers undoubtedly hope it will fare better than “The Christmas Candle,” a Christian-themed movie produced by former Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum.
That film attracted widespread critical scorn and grossed just $1.6 million in the first two weeks of release earlier this month.
Watch the trailer for "Uncommon" posted online on Vimeo:
