Project Discovery High School |
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The 2007-08 school year marks the 20th Anniversary of Project Discovery High School. The program began in 1987 with a production of Shakespeare's Hamlet. In the intervening years, People's Light has provided 450,000 free tickets to students from 21 area high schools. Funding from corporations, foundations, and individuals cover the cost of the tickets. For many students, coming to People's Light is the first time they have seen a professionally-produced play. The same high schools take part each year. This continuity allows for long-term relationships to develop between the teachers and People's Light. Currently, there are no openings for new schools to join the Project Discovery High School Program. Downingtown School District has participated in Project Discovery since the beginning. Downingtown's Nancy Robinson, English Department Chair, says, "The shows at People's Light engage our students on many levels. Students leave the theatre talking, debating, and laughing. Teachers often conduct mini-classes on the buses returning to school because we don't want to miss these wonderful 'teachable moments.'" |
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Joanna Liao as Angelique, Stephen Novelli as Argan, Peter DeLaurier as Beralde and Jud Williford as Cléante in THE IMAGINARY INVALID (photo by Mark Garvin). |
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Project Discovery shows are open to students of all abilities and interests (you don’t need to be in the drama club or have high grades to come). The productions for students are the same ones adults see in the evening performances and include classic and modern works as well as new plays. Each performance includes a post-show conversation with the cast. People’s Light writes study guides on the plays, which are published and distributed through the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Newspapers in Education program. The Theatre also frequently provides teacher workshops and in-school residencies to participating schools. Productions students have seen most recently: Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, Moliere’s The Imaginary Invalid, Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, and Carson McCullers’ Member of the Wedding. During the 2007-08 school year, Project Discovery High School students will attend Theophilus North, based on a novel by Thornton Wilder; and The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams. Tickets for the 10 AM matinees of The Glass Menagerie are also available at a discounted rate to non-Project Discovery schools. For more information on group discounts for schools, click here. |
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(From left to right) Lenny Haas, John Wernke, Julianna Zinkel, Ahren Potratz, and Mary Elizabeth Scallen in Thornton Wilder's THEOPHILUS NORTH (adapted by Matthew Burnett). Photo by Mark Garvin. |
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Avon Grove High School, West Grove BayardRustin High School, West Chester BishopShanahan High School, Downingtown B.Reed Henderson High School, West Chester Center for Arts & Technology, Pickering Campus, Phoenixville Coatesville Area Senior High School, Coatesville Coatesville Area 9th & 10th Grade Center, Coatesville Conestoga High School, Berwyn Downingtown East High School, Downingtown Downingtown West High School, Downingtown East High School, West Chester Great Valley High School, Malvern Kennett High School, Kennett Square Octorara Area High School, Atglen Owen J.Roberts High School, Pottstown Oxford Area High School, Oxford Phoenixville Area High School, Phoenixville Unionville High School, Kennett Square Delaware County Interboro High School, Prospect Park Montgomery County Hatboro-Horsham Senior High School, Horsham Norristown Area High School, Norristown |
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For more information about The Project Discovery High School, please contact Nancy Shaw, at 610-647-1900, ex 101, education@peopleslight.org. |
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