# Student speaks out after Grand Prairie ISD halts musical

> Student protests school's cancellation of musical over gender casting decision.
- Title: Student speaks out after Grand Prairie ISD halts musical
- Summary: Student protests school's cancellation of musical over gender casting decision. Grand Prairie ISD canceled South Grand Prairie High School's Little Shop of…
- Keywords: grand prairie isd, south grand prairie high school, little shop of horrors, senate bill 12, ana mota, emily liles, news, local, Student, speaks, Grand, Prairie
- Source: FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth — https://fox4news.com/news/student-speaks-out-after-grand-prairie-isd-halts-musical-over-casting-decision
- Author: Joseph Rowe
- Published: 2026-10-15T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: grand prairie isd, south grand prairie high school, little shop of horrors, senate bill 12, ana mota, emily liles, news, local
## School board meets after cancellation
Grand Prairie ISD school board met for the first time since canceling South Grand Prairie High School's musical production.
## Casting decision cited for cancellation
District canceled Little Shop of Horrors after female student Ana Mota was cast as male lead, citing Texas Senate Bill 12.
## Student addresses board
Ana Mota spoke to school board about how district's decision impacted her and community.

> The district was afraid they were teetering the law with SB 12 and decided to take extreme caution, removing me from the role
## Parent seeks clarification
Mota's mother Nancy Jimenez demanded explanation on how Senate Bill 12 affected district's casting.

> Their silence spoke, spoke that then I have to do something else
## Replacement musical announced
South Grand Prairie High School will produce Frozen with auditions starting in January.
## Key takeaway

Grand Prairie ISD canceled South Grand Prairie High School's Little Shop of Horrors production after a female student was cast as male lead, citing Texas Senate Bill 12.