Chapel Hill High School students traded their classrooms for the stage this week, as dual credit and AP English seniors, along with theatre production students, traveled to Tyler Civic Theatre to see a performance of The Book of Will.
The field trip provided an opportunity for students to connect classroom lessons with a live theatrical performance. For English students, the experience offered a deeper understanding of Shakespeare's legacy and the importance of preserving literature. While theatre production students were able to observe acting, staging and storytelling techniques in a professional setting.
The Book of Will tells the story of Shakespeare's closest friends and fellow actors working to preserve his plays after his death. Without their efforts, many of his works could have been lost to history.
“The director of the show made a point to tell students that Shakespeare didn't write expecting to be read in English class,” shared English teacher Kelsey Fontaine. “He wrote for the stage and that is the best way to experience the work.”
Tyler Civic Theatre's unique theatre-in-the-round setting allowed students to experience the action up close, while gaining exposure to a different style of stage production.
Beyond the academic connections, attending a live performance encourages students to practice critical thinking, maintain their attention throughout the production and learn proper theatre etiquette.
One of the biggest highlights of the trip was seeing CHHS's very own theatre teacher, Mr. Spadie, perform on stage.
“It was absolutely amazing to see Mr. Spadie performing in the show,” said Fontaine. “It felt like we knew a real celebrity and that was so fun!”
Students cheered with excitement when he appeared on stage and enthusiastically gave a standing ovation as he took his final bow.
This experience brought literature and theatre education together, giving students a chance to see the lessons they study come to life while celebrating one of their own teachers in the spotlight.