The National Players, a professional acting company, brought one of the world’s oldest stories to life on stage in a new adaptation of The Odyssey. All LMK students were treated to this theatrical event that used innovative storytelling techniques to relay this epic story. The performances of this traveling company were made possible by a generous grant from The Harrison Educational Foundation.
During a slick and accessible 75 minute production, students were engaged as Odysseus and his crew encountered dangerous and strange lands along their way; meeting incredible non-human characters like the Sirens and the Cyclops. Actors conducted a post- show discussion where LMK students posed questions and enjoyed learning about life as an actor. That afternoon, all sixth graders were up on their feet as the actors, also trained teaching artists, led Common Core aligned workshops. The workshops ignited students’ creativity and intellectual inquiry. Students made remarkable connections of characterization and themes in The Odyssey to current work in ELA and Social Studies.
The company of ten actors rounded out an 11 month tour of the United States visiting over 30 states with The Odyssey and two Shakespearean productions. LMK was their last stop on the road, and they brought with them an energy, warmth, and creativity that was infectious. Students enjoyed this unique opportunity to see Homer's epic on stage at LMK!
