Teaching Children Hope Through Theater: 1812 Productions’ Arts Outreach in Philadelphia Public Schools

Abstract

Although deep budget cuts have plagued funding for arts education in Philadelphia, the theater company 1812 Productions has made deep impacts in two of the city’s most challenging public schools. They have proven themselves as a dynamic force both in working to bring racial harmony to a high school fraught with violence, and in teaching life skills to students with disabilities. The schools they work with are very different, but in both they teach children lessons of hope for the future.

1812 Productions has a dedicated education outreach staff that provides classroom-oriented theater education designed around the needs of students. They work in collaboration with teachers to develop programs that will complement course curricula while enhancing communication and team-building skills. In addition, they use partnerships with other arts organizations to expand students’ opportunities whenever possible. The secret to their success is that they focus on a small number of students and strive to give them the highest quality experience.

1812 Productions is the result of a long-term collaboration between actor/teachers Peter Pryor and Jennifer Childs. Both graduated from the University of the Arts in 1990. After acting and teaching in Philadelphia for several years, they established 1812 Productions in 1997 with the support of Arden Theater Company. One of their first productions was The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (abridged). In 1999, they also started their Education Outreach program at South Philadelphia High School and the Widener School for Children with Disabilities.

In 2005, 1812 Productions received an honorary citation from the City of Philadelphia for outstanding work and commitment to the Philadelphia arts community. By 2008, the theater company boasted a staff of seven and had produced 33 professional productions, including 14 world premieres of original work. Today they maintain a four-show season and recently have started several new ventures, including the Jilline Ringle Solo Performance Program and 1812 at the Angel, a series of comedy cabaret performances at an Old City music venue.  In addition to producing established comedic works, they create their own comedic theater pieces and are perhaps best known for their annual political humor holiday show, This Is the Week That Is.