On Saturday, Dec. 10, KO theater students were given the exciting opportunity to spend the day in New York City to see the Broadway show “1776,” just a few weeks shy of its closing. Additionally, they learned key lessons about our country’s past by visiting the African Burial Ground National Monument.
Leaving KO early in the morning, everyone started off the day by visiting the African Burial Ground National Monument. “It was a great way to ground the day with a different side of history,” said junior Audrey Karasik. Learning about the African burial grounds located in NYC was crucial to understanding a large portion of our country’s history that often goes untold.
“It’s sad how much America hides its past from its citizens,” added senior Avery Schiff. “I hadn’t heard of the African burial grounds in NYC before hearing about this trip.” By visiting the monument, as well as seeing “1776,” KO students were able to learn about this saddening topic in a more tangible way than just sitting in a classroom.
After grabbing lunch in Times Square, an opportunity for students to take pictures and relax with friends, the group headed over to the American Airlines Theater to see “1776” on Broadway.
“As a huge Hamilton fan, it was interesting to be in that same time period,” Audrey said, “but also to go more in depth about the writing of the Declaration of Independence itself.” The cast, which consisted of all women and non-binary individuals, told a familiar story through a new and powerful lens.
After the performance, the students were given the opportunity to have a talk-back with the cast, which allowed them to ask questions about their experience in the show and what this story meant to them as individuals.
At the end of the day, KO students were able to learn valuable lessons about our nation’s history that extended beyond a typical curriculum. “My biggest takeaway from the whole experience was a different sense about the absolute horror of slavery that went beyond their lives,” Audrey said. “While watching the musical about all of these men who were slave owners, all of that was in my mind.”
“I think these trips are extremely important because they allow students to learn outside of the classroom,” Avery said. Rather than sitting through lectures about these topics, KO students were able to learn about the difficult aspects of our nation’s history through a hands-on experience.We are so grateful to history teacher Steph Sperber, Director of Theater Kyle Reynolds, and everyone else who made this trip possible. We hope that our students can have more opportunities to go beyond the classroom and truly embrace their intellectual curiosity.
