OCEAN TOWNSHIP, N.J.—The curtain will go up this fall at Ocean Township High School on a play about the death of a gay college student.

School Superintendent Thomas Pagano reversed a decision by the principal who felt "The Laramie Project" might be disruptive. That decision last week led gay-rights activists to plan a protest.

Pagano told The Asbury Park Press Aug. 10 that the community is overwhelmingly in favor of the play and no one had expressed support for Principal Julia Davidow’s initial decision.

Pagano told the newspaper he had received mail from as far away as California.

"The Laramie Project" is the true story about the murder of Matthew Shepard. The gay University of Wyoming student was beaten to death in 1998.