LONG WHARF THEATRE PART OF TEACHING TOLERANCE GRANT

Long Wharf Theatre and Emmett O'Brien joined together in an effort to implement teaching tolerance in the Career Development Classes. This union between the theatre and the trades was the result of a grant submitted by ELL/Career Development instructor Mary Parady. " The media arts career cluster offers a remarkable opportunity for students to explore tolerance and multicultural education in an atmosphere that is creative, enjoyable, trade related and great fun."

One focus of this project was to help build empathy, understanding and communication through multicultural education which included a student penpal exchange program with the High School in the Community in New Haven. Both schools participated in the Long Wharf initiative to address tolerance through the play "The Bluest Eye" by Lydia Diamond and based on the novel by Toni Morrison.

"The Bluest Eye" tells the story of Pecola Breedlove a young black girl coming of age in the racially turbulent 1940's.  The work delves into the meaning of beauty and how much impact community plays on the development of the human spirit. 

Jacob Stoebal worked with the Emmett students with enthusiasm.  He encouraged self exploration through this theatre production that confronted major issues and he empowered students to seek self-directed learning opportunities.

Mr. Stoebal came into the school to instruct and to dialogue with the students about the concept, theme and characters of "The Bluest Eye."  The two participating schools read the play and attended the production on April 4, 2008 at the Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, CT.   The "Talk Back" after the performance included a meeting with the director and actors where students discussed the work and asked questions pertaining to the play and to the multicultural issues addressed by the author.

As the Resident Education Fellow at Long Wharf, Mr. Stoebal is accustomed to enhancing the theatre experience for adolescents. His professional career includes an internship with the San Francisco Mime Troupe, touring an original political comedy throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, and being the assistant director for Horla Theatre Company in London.

Emmett students incorporated their shop skills into this theatrical production. The hairdressers designed wigs and hairstyles for the play's characters that mirrored the trends of the 1940's.  The drafting students designed a ground plan for two homes as they would appear on stage for the two main families in the play.

The penpal exchange and the dialogue about the play with High School in the Community in New Haven continues to have a positive impact. The students of two neighboring schools have developed a clearer image of one another and now stand "On Common Ground."