For Immediate Release:   April 7, 2008

 

Eleventh Graders Get Ready to Relive History of “1776”

 

            VIERA—April 21-24, approximately 4,500 eleventh grade students attending Brevard Public Schools’ 15 area high schools will experience musical theatre combined with living history through the performance of “1776.” Produced by the Cocoa Village Playhouse, the shows will be staged at the Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts in Melbourne. The annual theatre expedition has become a tradition for BPS students—last year, students learned by experiencing “The Pirates of Penzance.”

            “This is a fantastic opportunity for our students and I cannot think of another theatre experience as meaningful to eleventh graders as ‘1776,’” said Superintendent Dr. Richard A. DiPatri. “We feel very strongly that this type of cross-curricular learning is integral to helping our students better understand a range of topics, including our history and culture. ‘1776’ is the perfect production for this type of educational experience. We applaud our sponsors, and the outstanding support of the Cocoa Village Playhouse Performers as well as the King Center for the Performing Arts. They are all making this outstanding opportunity possible.”

            DiPatri said that the major strength of the show is its focus on America’s roots. “Examining the sacrifices of the patriots who founded this nation provides an excellent lesson in not only history, but also in courage and character,” he said. “That is at the core of the original American experience.”

This musical production won the 1969 Tony Award and connects many areas of the curriculum such as history, government, civics, writing, reading, speech, music, art and drama. Wal-Mart, Pepsi Bottling Group and McCree Architects and Engineers are underwriting this event, with additional support from the Brevard Schools Foundation.

“The importance of the arts with cultural connections outside the classroom is part of a well rounded curriculum,” said Lisa Rehm, the secondary language arts resource teacher helping to coordinate the effort. “By experiencing the arts through this shared cultural event, our students will be building community and a firm foundation for the future.”

Eleventh grade teachers from many subject areas worked together to prepare students for the experience, and create classroom lessons that connect the play to the curriculum, Rehm said. Their collaboration is insuring a well-rounded educational opportunity for students.

“For example, one lesson focuses on the revision process of the Declaration of Independence as it was being written,” Rehm said. “Another has students discuss and debate important topics related to this historic time period. Still another examines primary sources in the letters of John Adams and his wife Abigail Adams with a connecting activity to have students write letters to our brave soldiers stationed abroad.”

BPS also offered special thanks to the Cocoa Village Playhouse and Anastacia Hawkins-Smith for staging the show. The King Center is planning an evening performance, open to the public, on April 22. Call the box office at (321) 242-2219 for ticket prices and additional information.

                                   

-BPS-