One element of my teaching philosophy is the principle of immersive education. Students learn best not by reading about Shakespeare from a book, but by seeing a Shakespearean play. Even better, though, is not just seeing it, but seeing it as Shakespeare would have presented it in the theatre he would have presented it in.
This principle is central to my teaching methodology. Consequently, throughout my teaching career, I have taken students to the locations where art in general, and theatre in particular, was born and continues to grow.
Since 1994, I have taken students on numerous trips throughout the United States and abroad, including several National Forensic League competitions, art trips to Paris, Fringe productions in Scotland, and theatre viewing trips to Broadway and Ashland. In all, I’ve brought students on more than 15 different tours to experience theatre, rather than just read about it.
The results are unquestionably positive. Students get more mileage out of a week spent in London’s West End than a semester with a collection of scripts in the classroom. Some will argue that financing these tours is an enormous expense. It is. But I have always found a way to fund each one.
I continue to promote and foster student art trips. Currently, I am working with a small group of high school students who will tour France this Summer.
